India has had seven years to prepare for the Games Australia’s Olympic Committee president has said the Commonwealth Games should not have been awarded to Delhi.
John Coates said the Commonwealth Games Federation lacked the resources to monitor progress and to ensure that construction deadlines were met.
Preparations for the event have been plagued by setbacks, and several nations have delayed their arrival.
A New Zealand cyclist has become the ninth athlete to pull out, citing health and safety fears.
Greg Henderson, who has won four medals at previous Games, cancelled on Friday, a day after four British cyclists withdrew from the October 3-14 competition.
“It is vital that all remedial work that has already started continues with the greatest urgency”
Mike Fennell Commonwealth Games Federation President
On Thursday, the BBC obtained pictures showing flooding, leaking toilets, dirty bathrooms, incomplete apartments and paw prints on beds in the athletes’ village.
The build-up to the event has been marred by construction delays, corruption scandals, a dengue fever outbreak, the collapse of a footbridge near the main stadium, and security fears after Sunday’s shooting of two tourists outside a Delhi mosque.
“The Games shouldn’t have been awarded to Delhi in hindsight,” Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates told Australian radio on Friday.
“The problem is the Commonwealth Games Federation is under resourced. It doesn’t have the ability to monitor the progress of cities in the way the [International] Olympic Committee does.”
Nevertheless, Mr Coates said his country’s team was likely to attend.
The England team has begun arriving in the Indian capital, but they are expected to stay initially in a hotel.
Wales said its athletes would also travel to India as planned, while Scotland said it was “increasingly optimistic” it would take part, too.
But New Zealand and Canada have delayed their arrival.
Friday was supposed to be the day when the first of 7,000 athletes began arriving in Delhi.
But Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell warned urgent improvements were still required to the athletes’ village.
“It is vital that all remedial work that has already started continues with the greatest urgency,” he said in a statement on Friday.
“We must ensure that a suitable environment is provided to ensure the welfare of the athletes and their support staff.”
The first athletes, from India’s team, have just moved into the accommodation.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has taken control of the crisis.
He held talks on Thursday night with his sports minister and Delhi officials.
But Games organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, whose team has been mired in corruption allegations, was not asked to attend.
Athletes’ village – Indian media reports only 18 of 34 towers are completedYamuna River – flooded in worst monsoon rain for 30 years, leaving pools attracting mosquitoesNehru Stadium – part of false ceiling collapsed in weightlifting areaBridge leading to the Nehru Stadium – collapsed on TuesdayJama Masjid Mosque – Two tourists injured in shooting near mosque, Indian Mujahideen threatens more attacksShivaji Stadium – no longer to be used as a venue because it was not going to be ready in timeYamuna Sports Complex – roof damaged by heavy rain in July
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