GAMES BRIEFS

Bugs in the pool?

A SPATE of illnesses among competitors at the Commonwealth Games has been blamed on the quality of the water in the pool at the aquatics centre. More than 50 swimmers have reportedly fallen ill.

"We must investigate this immediately. If the water is unsafe then clearly you can't swim in it," said Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell.

Stomach problems being experienced by swimmers have already forced two Australian medal prospects to pull out. - Sapa-AFP

Tiny republic's thanks

THE chaotic organising of the Commonwealth Games has received widespread criticism, but the world's smallest republic, Nauru, has only good things to say about the embattled Delhi officials.

The team manager of the tiny Pacific island, Sean Oppenheimer, said that he and his country's seven athletes, including four boxers who trained for the Games in a shed, were very thankful to the Games organisers. - Reuters

Mokoena in training

KHOTSO Mokoena will be back in training on Monday. The South African long-jumper controversially withdrew from the South African athletics team for the Commonwealth Games.

The South African Olympic Committee said the Olympic silver medallist had been cleared to compete, but he did not join the team. "I will not ruin my career by risking an early return," he said.

Mokoena said he had his sights set on the 2012 Olympics in London. - Andile Ndlovu

Aussie spoilsports

AUSTRALIANS are gaining a reputation for bad sportsmanship at the Games. On Wednesday, cyclist Shane Perkins made a rude gesture to the judges after he was disqualified for causing a crash that eliminated South Africa's Bernard Esterhuizen from the keirin.

Earlier in the week disgruntled Aussie wrestler Hassene Fkiri did the same after refusing to shake hands with an opponent who defeated him.

Perkins, 23, lost a scholarship some years ago for drunken behaviour but has recently been celebrated as a reformed man. He won the sprint yesterday.- Sports staff

Safe but cloggy sex

COMMONWEALTH Games chief Mike Fennell was happy to see competitors engaging in safe sex at the athletes village even if it caused problems with the plumbing.

Reports claimed that thousands of used condoms had been clogging up the toilets at the village, which is home to 7000 competitors. - Sapa-AFP

Uganda officials hurt

THREE Ugandan officials, including the team manager, spent a night in hospital after an accident during a security check at the Commonwealth Games.

Wilson Tumwine and two aides were hospitalised on Tuesday after their vehicle hit a barrier at the entry to the Games village. - Reuters

A heavy on a tuk-tuk

INDIA'S weightlifting champion Renu Bala had to catch a rickshaw back to the athletes village after she missed the official transport.

The 24-year-old, who retained her 58kg title on Wednesday, left the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium with her parents, leaving officials to claim that they didn't know where she had gone.

Auto-rickshaws, or tuk-tuks, are a common sight on the gridlocked roads of the Indian capital, with 55000 registered vehicles scrambling for trade. - Sapa-AFP

Overcoming hurdles

SWIMMER Amini Fonua yesterday reached the semifinals of the men's 50m breaststroke, an achievement considering there is no pool in his home country, Tonga. The 19-year-old was sixth fastest behind world record-holder Cameron van der Burgh.

The Pacific island kingdom has no public swimming pool, and the only practice area is a 100m-long tidal hollow in the coral sea, which is prone to treacherous currents and sharks. - Sapa-AFP