The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) today told its athletes to delay their arrival in the Indian capital until at least next Tuesday, just five days before the showpiece event is due to open.
New Zealand's lawn bowls, hockey and badminton teams, and officials from cycling and athletics, were all scheduled to begin arriving in Delhi from Saturday.
“The long-list of outstanding issues has made it clear the village will now not be ready for New Zealand athletes to move in as planned,” NZOC President Mike Stanley said in a statement. “This is not a matter of comfort or luxury, it’s a matter of hygiene and safety.”
The run-up to Delhi’s hosting of the event has also been marred by collapsing infrastructure, an outbreak of dengue fever, monsoon floods and security concerns after the shooting of two Taiwanese people near a mosque over the weekend.
