THE troubled Commonwealth Games in Delhi have been hit by a new problem: thousands of condoms blocking drains at the £150 million (€171 million) athletes’ village.
Games organisers have said they will work round the clock to clear the prophylactics from pipes at the accommodation blocks housing more than 7,000 athletes and officials.
Mike Fennell, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation, sought to put a positive spin on the story at a news conference, saying: “If that is happening, it shows that there is use of condoms and I think that is a very positive story. Athletes are being responsible.”
“If they are so active then that’s very good,” a spokesperson for the organisers said. “We are promoting safe sex.”
One official told the local Mail Todaynewspaper, which broke the story, that more than 4,000 condoms had already been taken from free vending machines since athletes started arriving for the games 10 days ago.
The condom blockage follows an outbreak of gastrocolic problems such as diarrhoea among swimmers this week.
Mr Fennell said an urgent inquiry had been ordered into whether contaminated water at the event’s newly refurbished swimming pool was responsible for 15 Australian and English swimmers becoming ill. “If there is something that is unsafe, you can’t swim in that water. It’s a matter we have to deal with with the greatest of urgency,” said Mr Fennell, who has been criticised for his handling of the chaotic run-up to the games.
The Indian organisers have insisted that water in both the main pool and the warm-up pool at the aquatic complex was tested, with nothing untoward found.
“We don’t know why they have fallen ill but it is not the water. Not all the swimmers have fallen sick.
“Maybe this group went out to eat something somewhere,” a spokeswoman said. – (Guardian service)