Since when did Kiwis become "snobs"?

Oh no! A snake was found in a room of a Commonwealth Games competitor! The poor South African, fresh from coming from their own football world cup, where gun crime is prolific, car jacking galore, shunting poor people off the streets, unease about security... amongst other perils as illustrated...

Despite this the rest of the world were happy to believe that the nation of Nelson Mandela was capable of pulling off a successful world cup. And in large they did, if you take out those godawful vuvuzelas. Bringing the games to the home of Ghandi is a good thing and will prove so once the journos stop picking away at everything.

Why is it then when preliminary photos come out from the 2010 Delhi games show some not so eye pleasing cleanliness issues and a few construction faults that all the western countries immediately start questioning if the people of India can cope with the games and that the nation is just too "dirty" to be able to host them?

Those Kiwis who have never been to India, and that's over 90% of you, are quite happy to make their own opinions about the conditions there. I can tell you that I found the country an extremely welcoming place. There are more 5 star hotels in India than there are in NZ, and a modern home in India is exactly the same as what you'd find in Auckland today - except possibly no leaking issues in Delhi :) If they say they will create good games they will. They are more than capable to not only deliver safe and happy games, but athletes will also enjoy themselves. Athletes will also need to consider their location and not act like spoilt Government funded elitists and get out there and embrace the country.

Sure they have levels of poverty that will shock anybody who sees them, but the people there live their days by working hard and looking after themselves and their families. Their culture isn't about sitting at home collecting a benefit and mooching off others. If you don't work, you will starve. If you are unable to work through illness or injury, your family will work harder to provide for you.

If I was an athlete or a Kiwi traveller heading to Delhi, I'd be looking very much to getting there and exploring the city and afterwards the country. The people are incredible, the food is amazing and the culture is unbelievable. I am sick of reading the quite racist articles and jokes from my so called open-minded Kiwi countrymen that these games will be terrible. Grow up; the country isn't like what you see on TV.

Now let’s get some medals!

**Update**

Now it seems that some of our athletes are pulling out for "security" reasons. It is so sad that our athletes don't do some homework before making knee jerk responses.