Safety concerns at the World Para Athletics Championships rise after stray dog attacks
The World Para Athletics Championships (WPAC) in New Delhi faced urgent safety questions after stray dogs attacked participants and staff on Friday morning. Two foreign coaches and a security guard were bitten on the warm‑up track at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN), disturbing preparations as competition rounds approached. The incidents, occurring within a half‑hour of each other, have intensified concerns about the welfare of differently‑abled athletes, coaches, and volunteers at the event, which India is hosting for the first time.
What happened on Friday
According to an official medical incidence report, the first bite occurred at 9:18 am on the JLN warm‑up track when a Japanese fencing coach was seated nearby and supervising her athlete. The laceration to her left calf required cleaning, dressing, and stitches, with anti‑rabies measures initiated and referral to an anti‑rabies clinic for vaccination, immunoglobulin, and tetanus. A second incident followed at 9:42 am as a Kenyan sprint coach assisted a para athlete during a 200 m warm‑up and sustained a bite to the posterior aspect of the right calf. That wound, measuring a few centimeters, likewise prompted standard anti‑rabies management and wound care. A security guard at one of the stadium gates was also attacked in the same period, underscoring the risk to staff across multiple entry points.
Local organizing committee (LOC) communications highlighted that the attacks were linked to individuals feeding stray dogs near the venue, even though measures had been taken to clear the stadium ahead of the championships. A message in the WPAC LOC WhatsApp group described the sequence as three bites in 30 minutes, prompting calls to remove dogs from the venue.
Organisers’ response and preventive measures
The WPAC’s organizing committee later issued a statement detailing actions taken and planned, noting that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had cleared the stadium’s premises prior to the event and that dog‑catching vehicles had been stationed since Day 1 to ensure swift responses. Despite these precautions, organizers acknowledged that ongoing feeding of stray dogs near the venue allowed some animals to re‑enter the stadium. In response, authorities pledged intensified sanitisation and the implementation of stronger preventive measures to safeguard the remainder of the championships.
Officials emphasised coordination with civic agencies and border‑to‑boundary security arrangements to maintain a secure environment for athletes, officials, and spectators. The incident also prompted a review of access controls, on‑site medical readiness, and post‑bite care protocols for foreign staff and local volunteers alike.
Public health context and risk management
Public health data cited by Indian authorities show the country faced a substantial burden of dog bites in 2024, with more than 3.7 million recorded cases nationally (37.17 lakh). The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously documented rabies deaths in India, underscoring the broader risk posed by stray animals. The WPAC incidents highlight the challenge of balancing large public events with ongoing animal management programs, particularly in urban spaces where stray populations are substantial.
Experts and event organizers stress that safety must be simultaneously proactive and preventive: maintaining strict control over stadium premises, ensuring real‑time reporting of incidents, and sustaining public health measures such as vaccination and responsible pet management among nearby communities. The WPAC in Delhi thus serves as a case study in incident response, risk assessment, and interagency coordination during major international sports events.
Looking ahead for WPAC and stakeholders
With the championships continuing, the emphasis is on reinforced barriers, vigilant monitoring, and faster, transparent communication with participants. Organisers say they will rely on a combination of engineering controls, heightened patrolling, and community outreach to prevent reoccurrence. For athletes, coaches, and staff, the priority remains clear: secure training and competition spaces, and access to prompt medical care should any incident occur.
Bottom line
The Friday incidents at JLN Stadium have raised legitimate concerns about safety at the WPAC in Delhi. While authorities have moved quickly to clear the venue and tighten security, the episode underscores a broader public‑health and event‑management challenge: how to balance large‑scale international competition with responsible animal control and ongoing urban safety measures.
