8 Sep 2010

Mosquito headache for Games organisers

4:10 pm on 8 September 2010

All the venues to be used at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next month have been approved for use - but organisers now face another challenge - mosquitoes.

On Wednesday, the army was called in to combat an increase in mosquito breeding at the athletes' village.

Officials in the Indian capital have a confirmed an outbreak of potentially life-threatening dengue fever, which is transmitted by mosquitoes.

The chairman of the local health committee saying the athletes' village is in particularly bad shape.

The village is built on the riverbed of the Yamuna River, a natural habitat for mosquitoes, and nearby hospitals are reporting more than 50 cases of suspected dengue fever each day.

Earlier, it was feared some events might have to be cancelled after organisers missed a completion deadline of 31 August.

But the Commonwealth Games Federation has received safety certificates for all venues.

Chief executive Mike Hooper says the federation can now focus on getting the overlay in place for the Games.

As well as construction problems, the 19th Commonwealth Games has been dogged by controversy over security and accusations of corruption.

The Games will run from October 3 till October 14.