Although the opening ceremony took place in front of a 60,000 crowd at the Nehru Stadium, attendances at events on the first two days have been either sparse or non-existent, and there have been reports that the computerised ticket systems have broken down at some venues.

The vexed question was raised by Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Mike Fennell at an awkward press conference in the Main Press Centre where TV screens showed sport being played all around the city to a mass of empty seats.

Kalmadi, who was jeered during the opening ceremony, shifted uneasily in his chair as Fennell persisted with his questioning, maintaining the problem would be sorted within 24 hours.

"There are a number of operational issues that we are looking at," Fennell said.

"The area that causes us concern is ticketing.

"It was clear a number of venues didn’t have many spectators.

"We are working with the Organising Committee on that and they are very conscious of that situation.

"As a Games we want to know that the seats are filled.

"We are happy with the start of the Games but we have a number of days of competition and it’s not over until it’s over."

Kalmadi responded: "Hopefully this situation has been rectified and all the venues will be able to sell their tickets.

"There is great interest in tickets - it won’t be a problem.

"We are working on maybe getting children from schools to attend and also distributing tickets to the lower level of society.

"All the ticket stores have now been installed and there are long queues."

It was clear that some attempts had already been made to fill the gaps at some venues, notably the netball, where England’s match against South Africa was boosted by the arrival of several groups of excited youngsters in matching bright shirts.

Mike Hooper, the CGF chief executive, took the opportunity to defend himself against locally reported allegations that he had lived the high life while staying in the city to check how the organisation of the Games was progressing.

The reports prompted an effigy of the New Zealander to be burned on the streets.

"It was upsetting personally but I won’t dwell on it," he said.

"But do I feel safe in Delhi?

"Yes I do.

"As regard my lifestyle here, there have been lots of numbers bandied around, but it’s not true - unfortunately for me."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]