21 Sep 2010

Games village Progress slower than hoped

9:49 am on 21 September 2010

The New Zealand Olympic Committee says New Zealand's Commonwealth Games athletes will be moved into different apartment blocks after disappointing progress at the Games Village in Delhi.

The NZOC President Mike Stanley and Secretary General Barry Maister are heading to Delhi today to be briefed first-hand.

The team chef de mission Dave Currie says conditions are much improved but there's still a lot of work to be done before the official opening in two days and with athletes due to start arriving from Saturday.

Currie says cleanliness has been a concern and further inspection has revealed problems with plumbing, wiring, internet access and mobile phone coverage.

The delays in finishing the village and venues are have postponed the village security sweep, too.

The New Zealand delegation will also seek further information on Sunday's shooting of two Taiwanese nationals and clarification of reports overnight that Australian reporters breached stadium security.