Kolkata: Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia feels the country would have been better off without hosting the Commonwealth Games given the organisational chaos that has marred the build-up to the October 3 to 14 event in Delhi.
The much-delayed and perhaps the most expensive Commonwealth Games ever have now been hit by allegations of wide-scale corruption and Bhutia said India never had the infrastructure to host such a mega-show.
"We should not have taken a decision to host the Games. The infrastructure is not ready. Look at the situation, the grounds are not ready. Even in hockey, there are not many Astroturfs in India. Even a nation like Malaysia is better-placed to host the Games. We should not have bid for the Games," he told reporters here.
Bhutia was part of the Queen`s Baton Relay for the Games and asked why he didn`t express his views at that time, the veteran striker said, "Since the nation has taken the decision to host the Games, I wanted it to be successful."He hoped that the Games organisers would ensure a cultural rather then a Bollywood bonanza in the opening and closing ceremonies of the October 3 to 14 event.
"Hopefully the opening and closing ceremony would not turn out to be a Film fare awards ceremony. I want it to showcase our culture," he said.PTI
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