Just returned from BBC Broadcasting House Llandaff Cardiff, having contributed to the Radio Wales news and current programme Good Morning Wales. This provided a good opportunity to contextualise some of the reaction to the problems with the organisation and planning of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

The past few days have seen the print media, radio and television competing with each other in generating panic amongst sportspeople and the wider public about the conditions for the competitors once they set foot in India. Even allowing for the genuine difficulties that do exist, there has been little effort to reflect on the wider issues for the competitors, the Indian nation, and the enormous question of allocating the hosting of mega sports events, be they multi or single sport.

Athletes have been swamped by the anxiety driven media, yet the work of sport governing bodies and coaches has helped some athletes to ally fears that they and their family members have acquired. Other competitors (including serious medal prospects)have withdrawn for health and safety reasons however,this may simply be a cover for either pressure applied by commercial sponsors or the lack of willingness to put up with basic, yet adequate living conditions in the athletes village. Fears over the physical state of sporting arenas and the question of security have also factored in these decisions.

For India the past ten days have been very difficult. Although it is not as sport conscious a nation as many of the nation-states it is hosting, the damage done to a thrusting economy with aspirations of big power status will take a long time to repair. However, the White Commonwealth should not be patronizing in its attitude towards both the Indian government and its sport authorities. It needs to remember that the India was for many years locked into the Soviet sphere during the Cold War era, and therefore the bureaucratic ways that hamper swift decision-making take more than twenty years to fully evaporate and remain a staple fact of Indian national life.

As regards the doling out of major sporting events by international governing bodies, surely some newer mechanism needs to be found, particularly as the present system is mired in political ambition, with politicians essentially abusing sport for their own ends rather than the needs of their citizens. The next few years will see Brazil, Russia and possibly Qatar using sport for these ends with either or both the IOC or FIFA being fully compliant. As far as the Commonwealth Games is concerned it is right that Asia is hosting the event and India can organize major sporting contests involving individuals from a range of countries, witness the success of the recent IPL cricket tournaments.