Michael Johnson Believes Commonwealths Were 'Doomed'

Michael Johnson believes that 2010 Commonwealth Games were 'doomed from the start'.

The event in Delhi is scheduled to get underway at the weekend but the run up to the Games has been plagued with problems and complaints.

The quality of the athlete's village has been called into question while parts of the complex have collapsed.

A series of athletes, including Philips Idowu and Elena Baltacha, have pulled out of because of health and safety fears.

A whole host of British athletes chose to miss the event, which comes late in the season, as it did not fit in with their winter training plans.

But 200m and 400m Olympic Champions believes that the timing of the Games was always going to cause a problem.

Speaking to The Times of India Johnson said: "This edition of the Commonwealth Games was doomed from the start.

"First, the timing was all wrong...Keep in mind the traditional season for athletics - which would be one of, if not the, premier sports of the Commonwealth Games - takes place from April to the end of August," he said.

"That's if the athlete has not competed in the indoor season taking place in January and February. To finish the season in August and then go back into training or try to maintain peak competitive form is extremely difficult in preparation for an event that takes place more than one month after your last race.

"This is also taking place at a time when most track and field athletes are in their annual four to six-week break from training and this off-season could be one of the most important of all with the World Championships taking place next August.

The Commonwealth Games gets underway 3rd October.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw