Commonwealth athletes have raised concerns about the conditions awaiting them in Delhi with the contingent’s psychologist, but the Malta Olympic Committee is working on ironing out these distractions.

“They have been mentioning all the issues that cropped up and I’m trying, as much as possible, to ask them to focus on competitions and we will look after everything else,” said Adele Muscat, MOC official and psychologist.

Ms Muscat said some athletes had raised concerns about the cleanliness and safety of the games in Delhi, whose bad press culminated last week when individual athletes opted out of the multisport showcase due to the “uninhabitable” athletes’ village.

Just yesterday, international media reported that a snake was found in an athlete’s room, and in a separate incident an Indian newspaper reported that a deadly cobra was found slithering down a drain in the Delhi tennis centre.

Last Tuesday a footbridge at the athletics stadium collapsed injuring 27 labourers and in another embarrassing incident for India a boxer fell through his bed in one of the village rooms.

Speaking to The Times, the athletes voiced mixed feelings about the games. While previous bronze medallist William Chetcuti expressed health concerns on Friday, long jump athlete Rebecca Camilleri speculated yesterday whether the media was blowing the situation out of proportion.

“They were rushing so much the quality went down but I think in the end they will deliver,” Ms Camilleri said. She confessed that the hype surrounding the incident scared her but did not think it would affect her performance.

“It’s a once in a lifetime experience and I’m not going to miss it. I think it is very silly that some athletes are not going... They’re there to compete and not to have a five-star holiday,” she added, pointing out that the stadium in Delhi looked better than the Marsa track where she trained daily.

Shooter Eleanor Bezzina agreed with the athletics national record holder: “I’m a bit disappointed but as long as the shooting range is good and well equipped and the accommodation is enough for me to get a good rest, it’s adequate.”

Wrestling coach Jesmond Giordimaina said the security situation had been worrying athletes’ family and friends but he was quick to point out that games of this magnitude were frequently surrounded by rumours of problems “but when we go all is well”.

The psychologist said it was not only health concerns that worried the officials. India was a totally different country from what most of them were used to and it was going to make a difference when they see all those people, the traffic congestion, the food and so on.

All these things served as a distraction for the athletes and may stop them from focusing on their competitions. The committee, however, was working hard to keep their minds solely on the games, she said.

The contingent yesterday met the President who welcomed them as “ambassadors of the country”. The 22 athletes, who will be leaving for India on Friday, were not all present as several members of the contingent will be leaving from Australia, MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco said.

Dr Abela wished them success at the games and commended the team for their “serious preparation”.

Speaking at the Palace in Valletta, he also touched upon the situation in Delhi, saying he had been following the events on the news and had heard that accommodation for “our top athletes” would be three-star.

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