The dangers of delightful Delhi were overhyped
The West overhyped the dangers of Delhi on several fronts.
Liz McColgan predicted that athletes would skip the 2010 Commonwealth Games because they would be scared of getting sick. Just how much effect did warnings like hers have on the decision of some to wimp out?
Although the Games have been chaotic, India, and particularly Delhi, has been a winner.
Without tempting fate, Delhi (we were told by someone who should know his safety and statistics but because of his job has to remain nameless) is safer than London.
Yes, it'll be hard to forget the little girl who does backward somersaults through a hoop at the same set of traffic lights every morning to earn money.
The image of homeless families sleeping roadside will be imprinted on my mind forever, as will the small children calling us "uncle" and putting hand to mouth in a universally understood plea to be fed.
And I can't figure out if drivers smoking illegal substances as they crash into roundabouts will ever take off in Glasgow.
But athletes are in a protected bubble and I, as a broadcaster, have felt more susceptible to a mugging in Glasgow than in Delhi.
Eilidh Child won a silver medal for Scotland in the women's 400m hurdles
The athletes' village, as a footnote, became one of the success stories of the games.
In general terms most of us are sick, to coin a phrase, of being asked: "Do you have Delhi belly?"
My understanding is that only 8% of the 280-strong Scottish camp, including athletes and management, got tummy upsets over here.
Crikey, when the five-strong Beattie family went on holiday to Centre Parks more than 8% percent of us got ill.
According to the Scottish medical staff, it is an accepted statistic that up to 40% of Western travellers get stomach problems when they head East.
And I suppose that's partly because athletes aren't merely travellers.
They have a medical team looking after them, the caterers are a specialist company who have cooked food for Commonwealth and Olympic Games - in fact it is so good that the Tongan team skipper Tom Cocker complained that his athletes were putting on too much weight - and it's the usual coughs and colds that have caused the most problems.
The upshot is that, so far, my guess is that Indian athletes coming to Scotland will encounter as many problems as Scottish athletes in Delhi.
We Westerners should take a long look at ourselves sometimes.
I watched swimmers and interact beautifully with poor Indian children during one piece of filming we set up and I know the process enriched them.
My last two days now are taken up with finishing some links for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland's Commonwealth Games highlights programme for Sunday.
The city is as stunning as the day I landed and the plan is to go to the biggest flower market in Asia at five in the morning - and getting ready for the closing ceremony and the handover to Glasgow on Thursday night.
I've been to see a sneak preview of the Glasgow display at the ceremony. I wasn't homesick when I walked in but I was by the time it was finished. A blend of old and new Scotland is all I'll say.
Here are a few closing thoughts: India is a fantastic place, and one of the safest I have been to. Mosquitoes, beggars and wild elephants do not assault you as soon as you step off the plane. You do not vomit within 20 minutes of landing.
And Scottish athletes have, predominantly, been healthy.
In short, there was a massive hyping of the dangers of India before these Games started that was completely unwarranted.
You do not understand what the mean until you are in the middle of them and see how a city buzzes around them.
In fact, if I wasn't married, and didn't have children, I think I'd stay on. If I didn't come from Glasgow, that is, and have to get back for 2014.
I was born in Borneo, spent my formative years swinging from the trees, and you might know me as an international rugby player, but now I'm off to London to give you my opinion on all things Olympic as part of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland Sport Nation Olympic team.
Comment number 1.
At 13th Oct 2010, whadsup wrote:Thanks John,
You are a great sport and have a golden heart. Appreciate your support for Delhi. It will be great if you visit a few more places in India as a tourist. A Himalayan trek through villages almost untouched by modernity is highly recommended. :)They are not too far from Delhi.
My best wishes to Glasgow.
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Comment number 2.
At 13th Oct 2010, Varun wrote:Loved your article John. I'm sure once you go back to Scotland, you'll read stories of corruption charges being levelled against each one those involved...I just hope so. I hope when the games finally finish tomorrow, each and every OC guy comes together , maybe after one or 2 weeks break, and jot down each and every learning for the future reference.
I hope you had a wonderful time. I wish these games were held in December/November end because then you'd have felt more like a scottish summer here down in India.
India is a place that one can either hate it or love it completely! You've got to stay here long to understand it completely and Im sure whoever does that, comes back again. Mark Tulli, that famous ´óÏó´«Ã½ correspondent who covered india in 80's, has made India his home and now speaks hindi too. He is the one who can truely tell you about India from a westerners mind!
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Comment number 3.
At 13th Oct 2010, G_K___ wrote:"And I can't figure out if tuk-tuk drivers smoking illegal substances as they crash into roundabouts will ever take off in Glasgow."
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LOL - well if George Michael's musical career take a turn for the worse, you never know...
Good article, but I think perhaps - in the good cause of exploding some fallacies - you have perhaps slightly overestimated the safety aspect of visiting India. In my experience, seasoned travellers (i.e. folk who like to spend a few months in the countries they're passing through) still recommend visiting India your twenties-to-forties. At least on a first trip. There are a number of fairly dangerous conditions you can pick up there that are pretty much unknown in the west, but quite widespread in the subcontinent - certainly if one is planning to venture outside the mass tourist routes.
Also the 40% figure for stomach upsets depends on the fact that the great majority of western visitors spend their time in westernised hotels. For those actually getting around a bit, it's probably nearer 90%. But what a shame it would be if people let that dissuade them from visiting such a marvellous country.
If the legacy for the Games was just that a lot of folk said to themselves - wow I'd love to go see this place for myself - then that alone would be worthwhile.
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Comment number 4.
At 13th Oct 2010, the-tiger wrote:The negativity has turned into positivity all around. Its a shame that it has taken so long. Better late than never.
The London & Glasgow authorities better toughen up to face the intense media scrutiny. The public transport network and the condition of hotels, etc is not good in London as of now. And the security aspect is also right....there is more chance of a security mishap in UK...
These games have raised the spirits in India.
The media from the West have really missed an opportunity to make friends with a billion plus people...by these constant negative attacks.
It was the best chance England had to make amends for the sins and crimes during the Raj days and the govt, the queen, the media and the public have failed to grasp the opportunity by being friendly and positive...the athletes have been good though...apart from the ones who did not show up...
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Comment number 5.
At 14th Oct 2010, Aru wrote:Hi thats a great blog and appreciate the difference people are feeling and positivity.Here are some links to the laurels about Delhi CWG2010.
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Comment number 6.
At 14th Oct 2010, Aru wrote:#4
you are exactly right and its time media acts in responsible way than hunt for headline grabbing negative stories.I hope everything goes well tomorrow and good luck for Glasgow CWG2014.
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Comment number 7.
At 14th Oct 2010, A Fine Disregard wrote:John, I'm surprised that you conclude that the dangers of Delhi were/are overstated and hyped. That is the norm to be negative in the British (read English) media.
Cast your mind back to the winter Olympics in Vancouver BC, Canada earlier this year. The games were an overwhelming success in just about every measure; attendance, performances, management, administration, yet the British (read English) media painted them as the opposite.
Of note here is that the world media, even the Americans, were unanimous in their conclusion that Vancouver were the best winter games ever. However, not on Fleet Street!
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Comment number 8.
At 15th Oct 2010, Kaustav wrote:Hi John, thanks for this last nice piece of this article in this website. I always mentioned, you are the only sensible reporter in this section, who maintained and presented view om the CWG 2010.
Thank you again, Delhi definitely going to miss you.
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