Say what,Ms Gillard?

If Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillards statements on the Commonwealth Games did not so obviously convey her inexperience in the conduct of diplomacy,one could have seen a grand conspiracy afloat. Reacting to the fever-pitch speculation on Delhis preparedness for the Games,she made the obvious point that athletes would decide whether they wanted to show up for competition or not. But she went on to violate that very sentiment by issuing an impromptu travel advisory: Our travel advice has made clear that there is a high risk of terrorism in New Delhi and since 2000 there have been at least 14 major terrorist attacks in New Delhi. What on earth could she be implying?

If Gillards purpose indeed was not to sabotage the Games,she must be charged with inexcusable insensitivity. International sport these days,anywhere in the world,is conducted amidst an extraordinary security bandobast. It doesnt just invite the motivated sort of violence that eventually scarred the Munich Olympics; its a magnet for perpetrators of random violence. At least thats the assumption on which all organisers proceed. The hosts are not always as overt in their security preparations as the Chinese were in Beijing in 2008,with security cameras sweeping the city and anti-aircraft missiles on the ready during the opening ceremony. No host can declare its events foolproof,as the Americans found at the Atlanta Games,and as participants understood. But the abandon on the field of competition is almost always secured by some very stringent measures at the gates,to the unavoidable inconvenience of spectators. Its unfortunate,but thats the way of things these days. In fact,if Gillard had spoken to her countrymen currently in India for a cricket series,she may have been counselled better.

Or maybe not. Perhaps appended to Gillards insensitivity is an immature attempt to show clout and the temptations to do so for a politician running a minority government are evident. The Commonwealth is a strange organisation. At one level,especially in competitions like these Games,there is immense charm in the diversity: where else would you have Indians competing with Pakistanis,Rwandans,Barbadians,Samoans,Scots,but no American or Chinese champions? Look up the list of nations in the fray: its enough to put you in company with the atlas for hours. But its also a grouping where certain countries seek to reinforce a dominance harking back to the 20th century. They should take care,lest the grouping be consigned to the history books as a relic of another age.