Pakistan delegate claims theft in Games village

Pakistan's delegation leader at the Commonwealth Games has claimed he had about $550 stolen from his room at the athletes' village.

Dr. Mohammad Ali Shah, who almost sparked a boycott by Pakistan's weightlifters when he decided at the last minute to carry the national flag into the opening ceremony, told The Associated Press on Friday that 24,800 rupees ($550) was taken from a blazer in his room while he was out having breakfast.

Shah, who is also Pakistan's provincial sports minister, said he kept the money in a blazer pocket inside a cupboard.

"When I came back the money was not there," Shah said.

He lodged a written complaint to the Commonwealth Games organising committee and said police were investigating.

Shah said he'd asked managers at the village not to allow anybody into the rooms of Pakistan's contingent in their absence.

"But I think somebody used the master key and have stolen the money," he said.

Shah was at the centre of controversy when he marched with the national flag at the opening ceremony last Sunday instead of weightlifter Shujauddin Malik, who had been designated for the honour.

A boycott by the weightlifting team was averted when Pakistan Olympic Association president Arif Hasan intervened.

The athletes village has been the focus of attention since delegates from some teams complained of finding human excrement in rooms just days before the first athletes were due to arrive, sparking concerns over health and hygiene.

Local organisers reacted quickly to intensively clean the accommodation, which has since been praised by most athletes.

Three Ugandan officials were treated in hospital for minor injuries sustained when a spiked safety barrier malfunctioned and rammed into their car at the entrance to the village earlier in the week.