The Hindu : Sport : No concern for volunteers

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Sunday, Oct 03, 2010
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No concern for volunteers

Vijay Lokapally

NEW DELHI: No food; then stale food. There was little respite, care and concern for the volunteers at the Siri Fort Sports Complex. If Friday was bad, Saturday was certainly no better.

The volunteers at most venues have been struggling to cope with the hard conditions imposed by the administrators. “Insensitive” as one of them bemoaned.

For the second time, the volunteers were appalled to see stale food being served to them. When they protested, they had shock in store. The administrator of the venue reportedly told them “don't come if you don't want to.”

A witness to the “sad” incident at the venue which will stage badminton and squash said the volunteers were crestfallen at the “attitude” of men in-charge of running the show.

Honorary service

The volunteers are doing honorary service in the most extravagant sporting event ever held in the country. They are not sure if they would receive a certificate acknowledging their work. “Don't we deserve the dignity of at least edible food and that too, because they won't let us bring our own stuff from home,” one volunteer remarked.

“The success of any big sporting event depends on the volunteers,” said an official who has seen many an Olympic and Asian Games.

“They are the face of the Commonwealth Games,” the Organising chairman Suresh Kalmadi had proclaimed. Volunteers from many competition venues are seeking an appointment with him to make their case. All they want is clean food.

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