Saturday, January 2, 2010

England deny Games pullout report, says ‘full steam ahead’ for Delhi

British government and sporting officials Wednesday assured India that no British team will pull out of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi after a newspaper said the England squad was so worried about Pakistani terrorists it was opting out.

Both government sources and sports officials denied reports in the Daily Telegraph, which quoted an unnamed senior British official as saying there was virtually no chance of an England squad being sent for the 2010 Games.

“That is definitely not the case. Our strong intention is to field a team in Delhi next year,” said Commonwealth Games England (CGE) head Ann Hogbin.

CGE marketing director Duncan Lewis added: “This is not something where you make a one-off snap decision a period of time out from the Games at the moment, we are full steam ahead for Delhi.

The foreign ministry in London said it has not told any of the four British teams - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - to stay away from the Game.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office statement said: “We are aware that the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) had some concerns about preparations for the Games.

“We continue to work closely with the Indian authorities who are doing everything they can to ensure a safe and secure Games.”

In New Delhi, the chairman of the Games Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi said: “There is no truth in it. We have not received any official intimation to this effect.

“The Security Commanders meeting was held at the Home Ministry recently and all Commonwealth Games Associations were satisfied with the security arrangements outlined for the Games.

A foolproof security was discussed for the Games during the security liaison conference in New Delhi in September,” he added.

Experts from 26 of the 71 participating nations, including England, Australia and New Zealand, took part in the conference and were satisfied with the preparations.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Metropolitan Police Commissioner Paul Stephenson, who visited New Delhi earlier this month to inspect the Games sites, had voiced “serious concerns” about the security arrangements.

The newspaper report sent officials in India and Britain in a flap, with memories still fresh of England’s controversial pullout from the World Badminton Championships in Hyderabad in August.

Although the event passed without an incident and other British teams stayed back, sporting officials in New Delhi were furious.

Hogbin, who has worked at nine Commonwealth Games, said: “Despite having been given extensive briefings from relevant authorities we have not received any indication that we should not participate in the Games and we will continue to work hard to put in place the best possible arrangements for our team.”

England’s chef de mission Craig Hunter, who was in Delhi for 18 days in October, added: “At no point during the 18 days did I feel any sense of threat or uncertainty walking down the street.

Australia’s Commonwealth Games chief Perry Crosswhite told the BBC: “I’m not a security expert, but India have employed people that are and the reports are good.”

“I have not had one athlete, one manager, one coach, contact me with the view that they shouldn’t be going.”

However, a crowded sporting calender has prompted some leading English athletes to opt out. They include world champion gymnast Beth Tweddle and heptathletes Jessica Ennis, who won the world title in August, and Kelly Sotherton, the reigning Commonwealth champion.


Courtesy - Dipankar De Sarkar & Abhishek Roy, IANS

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