The Delhi belly games

  Hosting a global sporting event can do wonders for a country’s image, proving it’s a sophisticated, advanced nation able to meet demanding international standards and put on a good show. Think of China hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympics or the World Cup in South Africa this year. But if the organizers are floundering just weeks before an event starts and negative publicity starts kicking in, a country’s reputation can be dragged through the gutter. India’s mismanagement of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in New Delhi last month is such a case. Qatar, which is bidding for the 2020 Olympics and the 2022 World Cup, would do well to learn from India’s mistakes if it is not to fall into the same trap. Whether a country likes it or not, dirty laundry will be aired as every minute detail of the event falls under the microscope of the global media. India