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Commonwealth Games venues 'sound'

An Australian architect firm responsible for designing four of the Commonwealth Games venues in New Delhi says the buildings are structurally sound.

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Source: AAP


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Melbourne-based firm Peddle Thorpe designed the Thyagaraj Stadium (netball), the rugby sevens venue at Delhi University, the Siri Fort Sports Complex (badminton, squash) and the Yamuna Sports Complex (table tennis).

Only 10 days remain before the Games open in the host city and concerns over the integrity of venues was raised after a footbridge under construction at the main stadium, Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex, collapsed on Monday, injuring 23 labourers.

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Peddle Thorp director Carlo Corallo said the venues his firm helped produced have experienced only minor problems.

"Obviously there are some challenges with working in India," Mr Corallo said in a statement.

"There are some issues with design and fittings, but these are minor ones."

"We are satisfied that the basic structural conditions of our buildings at least are sound."

In late July, India's anti-corruption watchdog threatened to derail preparations for the Games by citing suspected dodgy building practices and alleging construction firms had inflated their costs.

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) inspected 15 roadway projects and sporting venues and found examples of substandard concrete and steel works.

The watchdog also found that regulatory approvals for work had been forged.

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief executive Mike Hooper demanded the Indian government produce occupancy certificates to confirm the venues met regulatory building requirements and were safe to occupy.

The Organising Committee missed two deadlines in August to supply the certificates but eventually produced them to the CGF in early September.

On Wednesday, Mr Hooper would not speculate that work on the collapsed footbridge was rushed to meet Games deadlines or whether the accident was due to substandard construction.


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