Top British gymnasts pull out from Commonwealth Games

British Gymnastics (BG) has decided not to send its top stars, including world champion Beth Tweddle, to Delhi for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, citing its scheduling as the reason.

The October 3-14 event ends three days before the world championships in Rotterdam, which is also a qualifying event for the London Olympics and a major part of their preparations for 2012.

“As with all Olympic sports, the priority for British Gymnastics over the next 36 months will be to qualify for, and compete with distinction at the 2012 Olympic Games,” Tim Jones, British Gymnastics’ Olympic Performance Director said, responding to a query from The Indian Express.

“The qualification for this begins at the 2010 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Rotterdam. This does result in logistical issues as they are scheduled in extremely close proximity to the Commonwealth Games. British Gymnastics will be looking to ensure that our long term goals of success in London will not be compromised,” he added.
Another BG official, Eddie Van Hoof, told a section of the British media that apprehensions regarding the gymnasts’ participation in the Games included “potential for tummy bugs and diarrhoea”.

“It’s not just the travel and jet lag but the potential for tummy bugs and diarrhoea that exists in making the trip. We just cannot afford to take the risk when so much is at stake,” he was quoted as saying.

Besides Tweddle, who is the reigning world champion in the floor event, the decision also rules out world silver medallist Daniel Keatings and Olympic medallist Louis Smith from the Commonwealth Games.

This is latest in the series of setbacks to Games, which has seen quite a few top athletes pulling out and many more refusing to commit.

Last week, another world champion, heptathlete Jessica Ennis, had said she won’t be participating in the Delhi Games as its “timing is not great”. Paula Radcliffe, who holds the world record in marathon, has also confirmed she won’t be coming to Delhi and will instead participate in one of the big city races.

Among those who are in doubt for the Games include Usain Bolt. Last month, Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi had said that the triple Olympic gold medallist would participate in the Games, following which Bolt’s management issued a statement denying that the athlete had committed for the event. Bolt’s fellow Jamaican former world champion Asafa Powell and Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser are also doubtful starters due to the scheduling of the event.

Bruce James, president of the MVP Track & Field Club to which Powell and Fraser belong, had told The Indian Express: “No final decision has been made with regard to their participation in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, however the timing of the Games makes it unlikely for our athletes to run in New Delhi next year.”

The latest to join that list is British world champion cyclist Mark Cavendish, who may give the Commonwealth Games a miss in favour of the world road race championship which begins on September 29 in Australia.