Construction accident at Med Games raises doubts

MERSİN - Hürriyet Daily News

Six workers have been injured in an accident at the site of the athletes’ village for the 2013 Mediterranean Games. AA photo

Six workers have been injured – one critically – in an accident at the construction site of the Olympic village for the 2013 Mediterranean Games in Mersin, Doğan news agency reported yesterday.

The accident raised questions about safety at the construction sites, which workers are rushing to complete ahead of the June 20-30 Mediterranean Games, but an official from the organizing committee said there was no safety risk and that all facilities would be ready by the beginning of May.

Kutlay Bulut, the director of facilities for the Mersin Provincial Youth and Sport Administration, said a mishap occurred during construction of the athletes’ village but added that the cause of the accident was not known.

“We cannot determine the reason for the damage; there are many theories that I cannot list now,” Bulut said. The games village is being constructed by the Kalyon Construction Company, and the workers were “most probably” a subcontractor’s workers, Bulut added.

Turkish unions and nongovernmental organizations have repeatedly criticized subcontractors over safety issues and poor working conditions.

Event managers have no concerns that all facilities will be completed on time, Bulut said, adding that construction was continuing 24 hours a day.

Turkey’s coastal city of Mersin was selected to host the Games on Feb. 24, 2012, after Greece failed to fulfill its commitments.

Bulut said a wide range of sport complexes was continuing in Mersin and that, thanks to the games, Mersin was gaining international-standard facilities, such as the city’s first Olympic swimming pool and target ranges.

Sertaç Aksan, the general coordinator for the games, also said government officials had lent their full support to the works and that there was no question that Turkey would complete construction on time.
More than 6,000 athletes will attend the games from 24 countries.