India: The sports minister MS Gill has sought to play down the bad news that has been flowing on facilities, security and health risks ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next month. "Yes, I am aware there is a lot of talk on the dengue scare," he told the Indian Mail. "My information is that dengue is on the decline and the government agencies are working overtime on this." Rains have hampered the rush to complete facilities before teams start to arrive in India within the next two weeks and Gill, with a nod to the risk of inclement weather, acknowledged that he would have preferred the Games to have been held in November. When asked about the reservations expressed by athletes on the security at the Games, Gill said: "I can assure you that it is not 100 per cent work, but 120 per cent work which is being done with the home minister [P. Chidambaram] also behind it. Frankly, there is nothing to worry about." With a nod to concerns over the suitability of the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee aquatics complex, Gill said: :There is no point looking backward now. The pool is ready and I have spoken to our well-known swimmer Khazan Singh and Swimming Federation of India secretary general Virendra Nanavati. The pool is fully ready and people have gone over everything. From Friday, our entire swimming team will be able to practice at the Shyama Prasad swimming pool. I strongly feel from now on we need to put behind all the old stories. Our eyes allow us to look forward and you do not have eyes at the back of the head." His final message to those Delhi-bound: here is your chance to see "incredible India".
Australia: Olympic breaststroke champ Leisel Jones will spearhead Australia's team at FINA World Cup meets in Asia next month. Joining Jones on the Singapore and Tokyo legs of this year’s World Cup will be Olympic medallist Hayden Stoeckel and 2008 world cup winner Marieke Guehrer. "After missing 2009 I’m looking to get racing fit again and cram as much quality competition in as I can," Jones said through Swimming Australia. "I’m not particularly good at short course racing so doing the World Cup and World Short Course will allow me to practise and hone my skills in starts and turns. Also some of my best competitors will be contesting the World Cup and you want to be racing your most challenging competitors as often as you can in the lead up to 2012 London Olympics." The Singapore leg will be held from October 16-17 followed by Tokyo on October 20-21.
USA: Jenny Thompson, one of the most prolific winners of international medals in swimming history, including 12 Olympic orbs, has married her beau Daniel Cumpelik. The couple met at a Halloween party in Boston back in 2008.
