You know things are bad when the “ultra competitive” Kiwis threaten to pull-out because the standard of accommodation is not up to scratch.

But surely Delhi can’t be much more dangerous than world triple jump champ Phillips Idowu’s Hackney home where he will stay put after refusing to compete citing safety worries.

Just a couple of thoughts before I leave the rather distasteful world of Commonwealth Games bashing.

Obviously the bridge drop was a disaster but any construction job visited two weeks before completion will always look chaotic so no wonder the visiting officials were worried about the athletes’ village.

From what I could see the “appalling conditions” consisted of little more than a bit of site dust in the bathrooms which should easily be sorted in the finishing phase.

And imagine if the worst happens and London suffers another terrorist attack in the run up to 2012. We can hardly urge the rest of the world’s competitors to tough it out when our team are so quick to swerve any perceived danger.

But enough about track and field. Let’s get on with the real business of winning a few quid on this weekend’s football.

First up on Saturday is the battle of the billionaires as Man City play host to Chelsea – and I’m predicting a glut of goals.

Rich owners always like to buy strikers rather than defenders and both sides are laden with attacking talent while their back lines look well short of world class.

Paddy Power will give you 11/5 on more than 3.5 goals and that’s a bet I’m keen to be on.

Elsewhere Blackpool versus Blackburn hardly has the same whiff of glamour. But if Sam Allardyce is half a good a manager as he thinks he is then Rovers can oblige at 13/10 with Coral.

West Ham take on Tottenham at Upton Park so an afternoon of torture beckons for me as Harry Redknapp picks up his usual three points.

Oh, and London Underground have shut down the District Line all weekend so supporters will struggle to get to the ground.

Imagine that, construction work disrupting a major sporting event……

Running Total for all bets to a £10 stake:   +£65