Chandigarh:
Legendary Milkha Singh on Tuesday recalled his experience of having been made to stay in Army and Air Force barracks during the 1958 Cardiff Games, saying that he and other athletes never made any fuss about it, thinking that participation and winning medals was their only concern.
"In the 1958 Games at Cardiff, our stay was arranged in Army and Air Force barracks, but nobody ever complained about the poor arrangements. We were focused on winning medals and taking part in the Games," the 'Flying Sikh' said.
He said that non-stop criticism of the alleged poor facilities at the Delhi Commonwealth Games from various quarters was "only an attempt to show India in poor light, which is not good".
"I am shocked to hear the comments made by some delegates about the poor arrangements. As a senior sportsperson, I would urge all the participating nations not to throw mud on the organisers. I think the Games are held to maintain and enhance the spirit of brotherhood, friendship, cultural exchange and sportsmanship among nations and let's all help to realise this," he said.
Milkha Singh, who had participated in 80 international races, out of which he won medals in 77, said, "In many countries, there was something or the other lacking but we never complained," the 81-year-old said.
The build-up to the Games has been marred by controversies with the Games Village being termed by some foreign officials as "filthy and unlivable".
The Chandigarh-based Milkha, the only Indian to have won a gold in Commonwealth Games track and field event, also said that it was time that the country should rise to the occasion and unite to make October Games a success.
"The blame game should stop. Sports Minister M S Gill, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, the Games top brass including Suresh Kalmadi and others should all work in unison to see that the Games are a big success and whatever negative things have been talked about become history," he added.