The Gold Coast Organising Committee (GOLDOC), overseeing the preparations and conduct of the XXI Commonwealth Games, has been caught on its wrong foot again.
While in an earlier incident with regard to the printing of tickets, in which April 4 was listed on Tuesday instead of Wednesday, the GOLDOC found itself as butt of widespread criticism early this year, it is another printing error which has the committee on the mat yet again.
The latest glitch to have forced the heads of the organisers down is the glaring mistake of listing England (of all nations!) as an African country in the official programme of the Games, to be sold at Australian $10 per copy.
The 130-page souvenir which has a welcome message from Queen Elizabeth II also has put England’s capital as Banjul instead of London, its population at a little over 2 million in contrast to the correct figure of 66.5 million. The mistakes has apparently been caused on the part of the publishers of the book who mixed England’s profile with that of Gambia, which after being out of the Commonwealth for some years now, only rejoined the group a few weeks ago.
Mark Peters, GOLDOC CEO, said that his committee took full responsibility for the errors which has crept into the book. "We have already taken up with both the Commonwealth Games Federation and the England Commonwealth Games Association. In fact, we had undertaken to order a total reprint but both these organisations have stopped us from doing it. However, 500 copies will be made afresh and handed over the CGF and the English CGA for their official records."
The official programme, being sold in the open market, is often collected by sports enthusiasts and preserved for several years.
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