Commonwealth Games ‘safe’

Organisers insist New Delhi Commonwealth Games will be safe, after a weekend gun attack sparked new security fears.


Afp September 21, 2010

NEW DEHLI: The New Delhi Commonwealth Games will be safe, organisers insisted, after a weekend gun attack sparked new security fears as the city gears up to host thousands of athletes.

Australia issued another warning about safety, saying there was a “high risk” of an attack in New Delhi, adding to jitters in participating nations about the games being targeted. Two attackers opened fire outside the capital’s main mosque on Sunday, injuring two Taiwanese members of a television crew travelling in a tourist minibus.

“Yesterday’s shooting was a one-off incident which was not targeted at the Games,” said Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the Commonwealth Games organising committee. “All security measures for the athletes and tourists who will be coming for the Games are well taken care of. I assure that.”

The shooting came just a fortnight before 7,000 athletes and officials from countries mostly from the former British empire, visit New Delhi for the multi-sport event that starts on October 3.

New Zealand show concern

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said sports chiefs would decide this week whether to send athletes, acting on the advice of security experts.

“One always takes these things seriously but we are also very hopeful that the Commonwealth Games will proceed, that New Zealand will go and do very well,” he said.

Most expensive Games

The Games, the most expensive in the history of the event, were meant to be a chance for fast-growing India to showcase itself on the international stage. But the Delhi event has been mired in cost-overruns, corruption allegations and political infighting. Construction of venues has lagged way behind schedule, and many richer residents are deserting the city during the event.

A cancellation now from a major sporting nation like Australia or Britain would wreck the event with the start date so close at hand. Many international stars such Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt have already opted to stay away.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2010.

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