Report: Snake in room adds to Commonwealth Games woes

Two more Australian athletes withdrew today and a South African competitor reportedly found a snake in his room as complaints over cleanliness, security and construction continued to dog the troubled Commonwealth Games a week before the sporting event opens in New Delhi.

While international sports officials have said the situation had improved dramatically in the athletes’ village over the past couple of days – after inspections last week turned up rooms spattered with chewing tobacco and human excrement – some teams said the situation remained grim.