Thursday 23 September 2010

When You Have A Duty To Risk Your Health & Safety…

Amelia Gentleman (social affairs writer for the Guardian) on the Commonwealth Games and the duty of athletes to suck it up and risk their health and safety because…

Wait. What?
A few years ago, when I was working in India, I spent several days talking to poorer Delhi residents whose homes had been demolished in preparation for these games. These were familiar stories of individual catastrophe; in recent years there has been a lot of painful upheaval as politicians try to create a city worthy of its status as gateway to an emerging superpower.
You mean shoddy, jury-rigged and falling apart before it’s even open?
But there was a particularly depressing absurdity in the amount of misery triggered during the planning of the athletes' village – a construction that would only be operational for a short period.
A period that might now be shorter than they’d planned!
In the context of the profound unhappiness that families such as Parvati's have endured, complaints from team officials about the standard of accommodation might be viewed as rather petulant.
You mean, because of the actions of the Indian government, the athletes have no right to be concerned that part of the roof may fall on their heads?
Feeble even, when you put them next to those of people such as Mahavir, a farmer who saw the 10-acre plot of land where he grew flowers and vegetables reclaimed by the state for the project.
That’s hardly the athletes fault, is it? They didn’t instruct the Indian government to uproot Mahavir’s vegetable plot.
The buildup to the Commonwealth Games has been chaotic and troubled by allegations of corruption. The resettlement of so many city residents raises uncomfortable questions, and the environmental damage to the banks of the Yamuna river is likely to be permanent.
But, presumably, the Indian government saw an upside; increased tourism, increased trade…
But however misguided these decisions were, the price has already been paid. It would be even worse to think that the sacrifices made were entirely pointless.
So, the athletes should risk shoddy, dangerous conditions?

In the spirit of friendliness the games is meant to evoke, the athletes should fret less about their personal comfort and insist on travelling to Delhi. Turning up to take part is the least they can do.
They aren’t so much fretting about their ‘personal comfort’ as their safety, and that of the attendees!

10 comments:

Mr Eugenides said...

What makes this funny is that I read the article two minutes after I had seen the photos...

PT Barnum said...

As someone who has a family member who pulled out of the Games before the appalling state of the venues and village were known, presumably the same logic of sacrificing oneself for the greater good of India also applies to dengue fever (it being monsoon season) and threats of terrorist action against athletes? Chances are this will be the last Commonwealth Games. Or it really will become a sport's day for the more benighted regions of the world.

Chuckles said...

Brand new, falling apart, and not paid for? Yup sounds about right for all vanity projects.
Perhaps she should cast her eyes towards the East End of London? Much closer to home, and I doubt the prelude or results will be much different.

Anonymous said...

I think the national teams should be taking all their responsibilities very seriously.

Those buildings should not be occupied until they have passed independant tests for structural integrity, electrical safety, fire safety, and safety tests on any gas installations. Because I don't reckon they would pass muster. And the responsibility isn't just towards the athletes, it is towards the fans and spectators who may be enticed into an unsafe arena to see the games.

Angry Exile said...

Chuckles beat me to it with the London Olympics point, but to be fair at least Dengue fever is off the list of things to worry about in 2012.

Umbongo said...

"at least Dengue fever is off the list of things to worry about in 2012"

Oh I don't know. After all, since, according to the warmists, catastrophic climate change - sorry climate disruption - is imminent, the danger of dengue fever at London 2012 is all too real.

James Higham said...

Perhaps they should just forget all about the whole thing now.

Angry Exile said...

... the danger of dengue fever at London 2012 is all too real.

Yes, well, you're right that the warmistas like to say that sort of thing, but back on Planet Earth the only thing anyone's really likely to catch at the London Olympics is firstly the clap from one of the local mongrels and secondly MRSA from the clinic they go to to get rash treated.

JuliaM said...

"What makes this funny is that I read the article two minutes after I had seen the photos..."

Bit of paint, bit of polyfiller, it'll be fine.. :)

"Chances are this will be the last Commonwealth Games."

I suspect there's too many vested interests. They may choose their host country a bit more carefully next time though.

"Perhaps she should cast her eyes towards the East End of London?"

Can't wait...

"And the responsibility isn't just towards the athletes, it is towards the fans and spectators who may be enticed into an unsafe arena to see the games."

They were unaccountably missing from the article, weren't they?

JuliaM said...

"...but to be fair at least Dengue fever is off the list of things to worry about in 2012."

There's always TB...