Then we saw that a South African athlete found a snake in the room he was allocated. English officials went into their assigned accommodation and did the big clean-up themselves; Australian team medical staff did much the same. An Indian boxer lay on his bed and it collapsed. The list goes on.
The Indian Government has responded by employing teams of cleaners from the International-standard hotels to ensure that at least the accommodation is rendered hygienic, at least.
Separate to this problem, there are terrorist fears. A tour bus group from Taiwan was shot up by a gunman from the pillion of a motor cycle. No-one really knows who or why. A representative of the Indian Government gave assurances that there will be security troops accompanying every athlete bus as they travel to and from venues. It is very difficult to prevent terrorist attacks in a city like New Delhi where traffic chaos is the norm.
And on top of this, the monsoon season has lasted longer than usual and there are real fears of Dengue Fever and other diseases being picked up by the myriads of visitors, who will not have the same immunity as the locals. India is not renowned for its healthy environment at the best of times, as many former visitors will tell you.
Many leading athletes from a wide variety of sports, who do not need the Commonwealth Games to compete at top level, have withdrawn. Their valid argument is "why take such a chance when their real competitions, their wealth-creation events, and more importantly – their health - may necessarily be put at risk?"
As an example, the Commonwealth Games was not even on the radar for 100 metre sprint sensation, world record holder and Olympic Gold medallist, Jamaican Usain Bolt.
Family concerns too are high on many athletes' agendas. A New Zealand cyclist said that his immediate family did not want him to take such an unnecessary risk; and some do not want to expose their families who would want to come and watch their events.
On the other hand, M V Tronson says he would like to present both macro and micro arguments in favour of the Games going ahead.
The macro arguments look at these Games in the context of other world renowned events.
The countries of the second world, such as India, will never get an international guernsy unless they are given an opportunity to illustrate they can do it. Certainly the Commonwealth Games is such an opportunity. I would like to note that the Hockey World Cup was successfully held in New Delhi earlier this year, despite fears of terrorism; and Cricket's IPL has continued to show its wares in such matters.
There has been no greater supporter to the Commonwealth Games than India and now the nation has finally been given its chance to show its worth. Of course many people had concerns, but we can recall that some of the 2004 Athens Olympic venues were not completed until days before the opening ceremony; in 1976 Montreal had needed to overcome many problems with their constructions and preparations, and some of the venues were 'not quite ready'. Even Melbourne in 1956 was struggling to 'make it' in time for their Olympics. New Delhi is not alone in this.
Security is a real issue; but so too was it for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as it was for Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. And who can forget the tragedy of the actual massacre of the Israelis within the Olympic Village in Munich in 1972, or the bomb that really did explode in Olympic Park in Atlanta during Olympic celebrations in 1996. The test can only come with the prevention of breaches of security, and there are no guarantees in any crowded situation, anywhere. Security processes can only do their best.
I remember how the TV comedians of the Chaser program illustrated how easy it was to get through security at Sydney's CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) in 2008. The actors hired a black motor vehicle with the Canadian flag on the bonnet, with dark suited actors posing as security men running along side, and an Osama Bin-Laden look-alike in the vehicle wearing white robe and fake beard. They managed to get through all the security checks, and even had a hard time convincing the genuine guards at the end that it really was just a TV stunt.
At the micro level are the health and safety issues for each national team. The medical advisers are hard at work preparing the individual members in the best ways they can in their health endeavours.
Much of the safety of individuals is with common sense (not drinking water, or even ice; remembering mosquito repellent and long sleeves; only eating very hot, cooked food etc) and some of it is in preparation (having all the recommended vaccinations in plenty of time, for example).
Missionaries are regular travellers to India. Baptist personnel for example, have always been medically checked. There are numerous physicians associated with baptist churches who have helped with this. M V Tronson says that in the eighties when living in Wallacia, their former family doctor Dr James Kidd (now retired) was well recognised in this area.
Any touring hockey or cricket team to India faces those same issues. Indeed, any travellers from the high-end tour groups to the young back-packers also faces these same health issues.
In the end, each athlete will make up their mind whether they attend or not, as they should. Their families are rightfully concerned. Yet I would also add that, equally, a great deal is in place - as it has been in other great cities in the past - to ensure these New Delhi Commonwealth Games will be a great success.
M V Tronson says that he for one, hope all will be well and that India will be seen as a first class world venue for international events in the future.
