Bermuda Olympic Association president Judy Simons said the Island's preparations for the Commonwealth Games will go ahead as planned despite several countries having some serious concerns about the event.

Shootings, shody building work, dengue fever and conditions in the athletes village which have been described as 'unfit for human habitation' are just some of the things that are threatening to turn the Games in India into a farce.

A footbridge between a parking lot and the main Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which is to host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as showpiece athletic events, collapsed yesterday injuring 27 people, five seriously.

On Sunday, two Taiwanese tourists were shot by militants outside a mosque, and officials from several major nations have expressed serious concerns about accomodation in the athletes' village, which they labelled 'unliveable'.

New Zealand team manager Dave Currie told radio network newstalkZB that New Delhi organisers "are in severe difficulties," identifying problems with cleanliness, plumbing, electrical wiring, Internet access and mobile phone coverage. With two weeks to go, only 18 of 34 residential towers at the village are complete.

Despite all these things, however, Simons has no doubts about the Island's participation at the Games, and said she had been 'very impressed' with the living conditions when she had seen them.

'We've double-checked with Dehli with reference to security and the health situation, and we're pleased to date that they seem to have everything under control," said Simons. "They've assured all Associations that they are happy with the progress and they are saying this should be one of the best Games ever.

"When I last saw the athletes' village, and when my chef de mission (Stanley Douglas) saw it, we had no problems with it. I have to be honest with you, I'm not aware of the larger countires having concerns with the village, but from our point of view, where they have us situtated we seem to be quite happy that our athletes will be secure and safe.

"The rooms that I saw, and I understand they have improved since then, we were very impressed with the living conditions. Unless things have drastically changed from the time that our chef was there in April until now, what he saw, he was happy our athletes would be living in good conditions."

And Simons said that even though it was understandable for people to have concerns about safety, none of Bermuda's 14 participants had yet expressed any reservations about taking part.

"We've made everybody aware of the health issues that they (India) have had, and we're very well prepared, and I'm happy with everything that has been done to make sure our athletes are ready to represent their country," she said.

"Absolutely no athlete has expressed a desire to pull out. They are all happy to be representing their country and hoping to put their best performances to the record."

Other countries, however, are not as convinced as Bermuda appear to be. Commonwealth Games Scotland said the area allocated to the team was "unsafe and unfit for human habitation," while Commonwealth Games England said "there is a lot to be done in the village and this needs to be done with some urgency so that it is ready for the arrival of our first athletes on Friday."

Australia's chef de mission, retired marathon runner Steve Moneghetti, said Indian organisers "have got two days to do what's probably going to take about two weeks."

And some athletes are already beginning to vote with their feet with Australia's discus world champion Dani Samuels, and Britain's world triple jump champion Phillips Idowu, both withdrawing over concerns about the Games preparations.

The pair's decisions come on the back of the withdrawal of several other high profile athletes including Usain Bolt and Kenya's David Rudisha, who broke the 800 metres world record twice last month.

"This is the hardest decision of my life and not one I took lightly," said Samuels, the bronze medallist from the 2006 Melbourne Games. "I love competing for Australia, winning a Commonwealth Games is important to me and something I've dreamed of.

"My whole year's training has been planned for this event but yesterday I couldn't even bring myself to train with stress and anxiety regarding the issues surrounding the Games."

Organisers continue to insist that the Games will go ahead as planned. "I am as confident and as cool as ever about our organising. These are all minor hiccups," Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy said.

(Full Commmonwealth

Games wrap-up, see Page 19)