Delhi a victim of western 'conspiracy'

Games organising chief Suresh Kalmadi believes the Commonwealth's western countries have conspired to unleash the scathing criticism which has marred the buildup to the event.

Kalmadi says a conspiracy from western countries, who cannot accept India can organise a successful Games, has been a definite part of the negative publicity, Newstalk ZB reports.

The lead-up to the Games have been blighted by terrorism threats, dengue fever, construction deadlines, a footbridge collapse and filthy, unsafe and incomplete apartments at the athletes village.

But Kalmadi says he's never considered resigning during the controversy.

Meanwhile the first New Zealand athletes have started settling into the athletes village in Delhi and say conditions are better than expected.

The bowls team, coached by Dave Edwards, arrived in Delhi a few hours ago.

"The facilities are not up to the standards the team is used to but they are habitable and functional," Mr Edwards said.

Things were a little bit better than they had expected after some of the reports but there were still a few disappointing aspects which were not up to New Zealand standards.

"But the plumbing is working at the moment and the air conditioning is working. It will be fine, I'm sure it won't be a problem for us," Mr Edwards told Radio New Zealand.

The team had been briefed on the importance of wearing insect repellent to avoid contracting dengue fever, a mosquito-borne virus, and using hand sanitiser to keep hygiene levels up.

"The team is desperately keen to get out on the green and we can't wait for the first round of competition. I'm sure we will be bringing some medals home," he said.

The boxing and archery teams, complete with officials, arrived a few hours later.

Last week the unhygienic state of the accommodation areas and the amount of work that still needed to be done cast doubt on the Games, which are due to open on Sunday and run until October 14.

The situation led the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) to delay the arrival of the first New Zealand athletes into the village from last Saturday until today.

The bowlers were originally scheduled to get into the Indian capital last Saturday, as they wanted plenty of time to get used to the slow greens at the competition venue.

Instead, with the accommodation delay, they headed to Abu Dhabi to continue their preparations.

A 13-strong New Zealand operations team moved in on Sunday to spend its first night on site.

New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie was among them. This morning he told Radio New Zealand the venue was very different from the "bomb site" it was two weeks ago.

It was starting to look more like a games venue and less like the ghost town it had been, he said.

"They've taken out 40 tonnes of rubbish from around the village and had the street sweepers in and the cleaners...so it's a very different place from the bomb site we arrived in 13 days ago."

It had not afforded the best preparation period but it was the reality and all countries were in the same situation, Mr Currie said.

Yesterday he reported that there was more consistency in the power supply and the fire safety measures were satisfactory.

"We're still working hard to prepare the village for athletes' arrival. We must provide a safe and secure environment."

Any ordeal he faced paled in comparison to the incoming South African athlete who found a live snake had taken first dibs on his apartment.

"I don't know whether it was an Indian snake, but it was there in one of our rooms," said South African high commissioner Harris Mbulelo Mejeke. Botswana arrived at the village and reported that their accommodation was far from acceptable, with filthy bedsheets and construction materials littering the rooms.

The African nation is now another looking at alternative hotel accommodation should their rooms not be ready for the influx of athletes.

Australian chef de mission Steve Moneghetti yesterday said the first athletes to arrive had enjoyed a "smooth transition" into the village.

Security

There is concern that the plethora of problems associated with the village have ended up taking the emphasis away from the security of athletes, officials and spectators.

New Zealand fans have been warned against displaying their patriotism too boldly after a threat that those people from countries involved in the war in Afghanistan could be targeted by Muslim extremists.

Fennell admitted there were still huge concerns about the security and safety of athletes and officials, particularly away from Games venues and the village.

Athletes' Federation boss Rob Nichol said that was why it was important to receive assurance from the NZOC that their athletes would be kept within the Games bubble.

Nichol said there were still concerns over the implementation of security plans, particularly while athletes were in transit, and the execution of emergency response procedures as the late handover of venues had left little time for testing.

- Newstalk ZB (additional reporting by Dylan Cleaver and NZPA)