England dismiss fears of mass exodus from Delhi Commonwealth Games

Chef-de-mission Craig Hunter has quashed suggestions that the Commonwealth Games will see development squads of gymnastics and athletics from England and allayed fears of a mass exodus of top athletes from the next year's mega event in the Indian Capital.

Athletics' officials have admitted that the European Championships in Barcelona next summer is of much more importance, while England's top gymnasts will compete in the World Championships in Rotterdam in a bid to qualify for London 2012. But Hunter, who managed England's swimmers at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games said, ''Let's wait until we board the plane in September. The majority of the household names have said they will be there but a lot of things can happen along the way.'' Team England will be sending over 380 athletes plus 200 team staff to Delhi, while Australia expect 425 athletes to travel for the October 3-14 Games. The Commonwealth Games are being viewed as a pathway into London 2012 and some sports are focusing on final preparations into the Olympics, such as Aquatics who are using it as their principle event next year. Double Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington has already given his word for the Delhi Games, saying a gold medal ''will be a highlight of my career''. However, Hunter did admit that there were a few problems that the Commonwealths pose to other sports. ''The calendar does clash and with funding the way it is there are other priorities for the governing bodies,'' Hunter told 'The Telegraph Sport.' England's Commonwealth Games chairman, Andrew Foster had earlier said that England's aim would be to beat Australia in Glasgow 2014.

''We can only set ourselves a target when we have done the work behind it,'' he had said earlier this year.

Hunter meanwhile said, ''That's a challenge for us. We want to achieve our best ever Games. We are continually raising the bar to be the top nation in the Commonwealth.''