When will it end? The constant negative news-feed from the Delhi CWG Games has now turned into a regular groanfest.
Call it a case of schadenfreude - the German reveling in the misery of others - or perhaps a case of "I-told-you-so". Either way India's image is taking a beating - partly because if you give the media an opening it will take it. But mostly because India's absolutely corrupt bureaucracy, with its hierarchy, low standards and lack of accountability has been hoist on its own petard.
From the never-ending loop of a photo segment of a dirty toilet; doggie footprints on bed sheets; flooded basements to other assorted Indian exotica, now comes word that the leopard-skin clad South African envoy claims to have "found a snake" in the tower assigned to South African athletes.
"I have found a snake", he intoned in a James Earl Jones voice, adding: "if snakes are found we can't stay there but.. I don't know if it was an Indian snake".
Aha! said the Indian Minister for Snakes, Mongoose, Poisonous Reptiles and other Lesser Gods, "...definitely this is not an Indian snake - look at the shape of the head and the body...Indian snakes strike first and ask questions later. This is just a piece of rope that one of the athletes used to tie up his luggage".
Meanwhile the Minister for Superstitions, Silly Stuff & Other Nonsense told international media:
"For goodness sake - you are coming to India. We have put snakes in every athletes bed as this is not only a traditional welcome but a good-luck charm, so stop your silly whining!"
His colleague, the Minister for Obfuscation & Defending All Things Indian with a Thunderous War of Words thundered:
"It is a matter of perception. Many of you westerners only bathe once a week but do you hear us Indians complaining about your horrible meaty smell? You wear dirty underwear and wipe your backsides with 2 squares of thin paper and your feet stink like horrible French cheese. You let your dogs lick their shitty, wormy backsides and then kiss you on your mouth and you say we are filthy...how dare you insult us...."
The angry Prime Minister squirted him with a water gun before crowd control cops dragged the frothing Minister away.
Meanwhile baskets of snakes have been delivered to all other athletes rooms accompanied by serenading snake charmers.
