Melbourne:
The world should not be worried about Indian organisers' race against time to complete venues for the Commonwealth Games as delays are part of Indian way of preparations, Australia's Commonwealth Games chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said on Thursday.
The overlays work is yet to complete at many venues as heavy monsoon rains played havoc with the work, pushing back the deadlines further.
But Moneghetti was full of optimism, saying there will be a unique spin to it and everything will be in order soon.
"People ask me 'oh, they're way behind' -- that's the Indian way. Probably from a western culture they might be, but in India that is way they do things.
"They're actually going fine from an Indian perspective, it's just internationally that we're all worried. It will have a quite unique spin on it and that will make it a really cultural experience," Moneghetti said.
Moneghetti, a former Commonwealth Games champion marathon runner, urged the Australia CWG Association to embrace the multi-sports event scheduled for October 3-14.
"I think it's brave of the Commonwealth Games -- you have got to go. It's the Commonwealth Games, it's not four nations. There are 71 countries represented in the Commonwealth and we need to embrace that," he said.
Moneghetti said athletes should travel to India without any fear and enjoy there.
"For most countries that go, it's not about winning medals, it's about being a welcome part of the Commonwealth and enjoying that cultural experience.
"So to have them in India, it's just fantastic. Rather than close in or be scared and that 'we're losing the Commonwealth brand,' we are actually taking it out and exposing it to another part of the world, which is a fantastic thing."
The overlays work is yet to complete at many venues as heavy monsoon rains played havoc with the work, pushing back the deadlines further.
But Moneghetti was full of optimism, saying there will be a unique spin to it and everything will be in order soon.
"People ask me 'oh, they're way behind' -- that's the Indian way. Probably from a western culture they might be, but in India that is way they do things.
"They're actually going fine from an Indian perspective, it's just internationally that we're all worried. It will have a quite unique spin on it and that will make it a really cultural experience," Moneghetti said.
Moneghetti, a former Commonwealth Games champion marathon runner, urged the Australia CWG Association to embrace the multi-sports event scheduled for October 3-14.
"I think it's brave of the Commonwealth Games -- you have got to go. It's the Commonwealth Games, it's not four nations. There are 71 countries represented in the Commonwealth and we need to embrace that," he said.
Moneghetti said athletes should travel to India without any fear and enjoy there.
"For most countries that go, it's not about winning medals, it's about being a welcome part of the Commonwealth and enjoying that cultural experience.
"So to have them in India, it's just fantastic. Rather than close in or be scared and that 'we're losing the Commonwealth brand,' we are actually taking it out and exposing it to another part of the world, which is a fantastic thing."
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