Australia hockey coach Ric Charlesworth has raised concerns over India hosting two major events, the hockey world cup and Commonwealth Games, in 2010 in the aftermath of the attacks on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore on March 3.
Charlesworth lashed out against the security conditions in the sub-continent, claiming it will be very difficult to keep things under control. “My feeling is that for the Commonwealth Games, they would lock down all the streets, similar to what they did for the Olympics in Beijing. Ordinary people won’t be anywhere near the athletes or the competition.
“The problem for the hockey World Cup, however, is that they won’t be able to close down the streets. No doubt, there will be assurances given, but I find it very difficult to feel that things will be under control.”
Saying that one of the reasons he decided to end his stint in India was mainly because of the frightening security situation in the country, Charlesworth said the condition in the whole of the sub-continent is a concern. “Pakistan is a rogue state, I understand, but there was the attack in Mumbai and, when I was in India, bombs were going off in Delhi, in Hyderabad… From my experience there, I just don’t see how you can manage such a large population for big events,” he was quoted saying in The Age.
“I was living in India last year and one of the reasons I left was because I believed the security situation had deteriorated. My kids were going to school with armed escorts. That was a fact of life in Chandigarh, which is considered a very livable city in India, even though it’s only an hour to the border.”
His comments have disappointed the Indian Olympic Association, but they believe it won’t do any harm to the country hosting the prestigious events. Mohd. Aslam Khan, the ad hoc committee convener and the vice president of the Indian Olympic Association, said Charlesworth’s case is a perfect example of double standards.
“If we did not give him security then he would have been disappointed. And now he is complaining about the security given to him. It is ridiculous!” Khan said. “Moreover, he has just requested the ad hoc committee to arrange a Test series in India later this year. What else can we say?” he added. “The tournament will go on as scheduled,” Khan assured.
