Canada's commitment to the Commonwealth Games continued to weaken Wednesday, after two Canadian archers withdrew from the event in New Delhi over concerns about their health and safety.

Coach Richard Towler told The Canadian Press that Kevin Tataryn and Dietmar Trillus have pulled out of the event.

Their decision comes after Canada and several other countries complained about the worrisome conditions of the athlete's housing facilities, which are incomplete and unlivable, just days before athletes from around the globe are to arrive in India.

Other Canadian athletes are being told to delay their trips to the Commonwealth Games while Indian officials scramble to improve the worrisome conditions at the athletes' village.

The housing is incomplete and in desperate shape, reportedly soiled with human excrement. Athletes are scheduled to arrive as early as Thursday.

Dr. Andrew Pipe, president of Commonwealth Games Canada, said on Wednesday they remain "cautiously optimistic" that the facilities will be improved in time to accommodate the more than 7,000 athletes expected later this week.

"We are working closely with our national sport organization partners, and some of them have decided to delay their departures," Pipe told CTV News Channel from Montevideo, Uruguay. "All of that logistical work is ongoing, and in response to what we find on the ground. Clearly we have had to deal with some very specific and very unique challenges – challenges which, unfortunately, we have been talking about for months with the Indian authorities."

Canada's women's field hockey team, three shooters and members of the delegation's mission staff were scheduled to leave for New Delhi on Wednesday. A Commonwealth Games Canada spokesperson confirmed that the athletes would not be departing as scheduled.

The decision comes just one day after Canada joined a chorus of other countries in demanding improvements, including the immediate installation of proper plumbing, lighting and electricity in housing designated for athletes during the Games.

"These need to be very aggressively cleaned; they have not in some cases been completed," said Pipe. "We have been overseeing scores of workers working countless hours in finish these facilities and then overseeing the cleaning of these facilites to make them acceptable and to our standard, and a standard one would expect from an athletes' village at a major Games."

Scotland elected on Wednesday to delay the arrival of their athletes until they say some improvement. Australia, New Zealand and England have also expressed concern over the state of preparation in New Delhi.

An English official said the fate of the Games rested on a "knife-edge." New Zealand officials suggested the Games could be cancelled altogether.

The Commonwealth Games Games Federation President Mike Fennell rushed to New Delhi on Wednesday for emergency talks with India's prime minister about the woeful condition of the athletes' village and other factors surrounding the country's state of preparation.

On Tuesday, a 90-metre pedestrian bridge collapsed at the main stadium, injuring 27 construction workers. On Wednesday, the ceiling of another venue, to be used in weightlifting competitions, also collapsed.

The recent building collapses, compounded by issues over unfinished housing, security concerns and fears of an outbreak of dengue fever, have many participating countries concerned the Games will not be ready for opening day on Oct. 3.

Australian discus world champion Dani Samuels and England's world champion triple jumper Phillips Idowu both withdrew from the games Tuesday, citing safety concerns.

But Indian officials have downplayed concerns, ultimately declaring them misplaced.

"We are absolutely prepared," Cabinet Secretary K. M. Chandrasekhar, told CNN-IBN television Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.

Another official said Tuesday's bridge collapse was being made out to be bigger than it was.

Martha Deacon, Canada's chef de mission for the Delhi Commonwealth Games, told CTV's Canada AM that are a number of concerns with infrastructure and planning, but Canadian officials are primarily focused on the safety and health of their athletes.

"The village is a challenge. A great variety of rooms and towers in the village need some significant, very rushed last minute work. There are some rooms in the buildings and towers that, with great effort in the next several days, may be acceptable to our athletes," Deacon said on Wednesday.

Deacon said while they haven't had an opportunity to view the sporting venues recently, they were spectacular in August. But concerns remain about getting the housing facilities up to standard.

"We are monitoring it by the hour. We are working really closely with other countries, making sure our athletes have the safety and comfort they need to perform," she said.

"It is a very significant challenge and it is one that the next 48 hours will tell us whether it is surmountable or insurmountable."

The Games bring together 71 countries from the former British Empire, which send more than 7,000 athletes every four years. This year's event was supposed to showcase India's growing stature in the international community, but instead has been wrought with backslides and embarrassment.

With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press