BRITISH PARTICIPATION AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES ‘CONFIRMED’

The organisers of England’s participation in next year’s Commonwealth Games denied a press report this week that they were considering pulling out of the event in India due to security fears.
The Daily Telegraph, quoting unnamed sources, said police and security advisers feared the England team could be targeted by Pakistani militants and that the safety of athletes cannot currently be guaranteed.
According to the newspaper there was “virtually no chance” of England sending a team, in what would be the first time that England has not competed in the 80-year history of the Games, to be held in New Delhi in October.
But the England team’s chief executive, Ann Hogbin, dismissed the claim and said: “That is definitely not the case.”
“Our current and strong intention is to field a team for the Games in Delhi next year.”
“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.”
Security for the games has been under scrutiny since last year’s terrorist strikes in Mumbai and the March attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket team in neighbouring Pakistan.
Safety concerns and lax security were cited this year when England’s badminton team pulled out of the world championships in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, and Australia refused to play a Davis Cup match in Chennai.
The Commonwealth Games are set to be the biggest multiple-sport event staged in India since the 1982 Asian Games. It is expected to feature more than 8,000 athletes and officials from 71 nations and territories which comprised or were linked to the former British empire, including Gibraltar.
Representatives of the Gibraltar team were in India last October and were briefed by security officials there.
Harry Murphy, secretary of the Gibraltar Commonwealth Games Association, said there were no current concerns.
“Obviously we would never send a team unless we were 110% satisfied that it was safe to do so,” Mr Murphy told the Chronicle. “At the moment we are satisfied.”
The report in the Telegraph also drew responses from the British Government and the Indian organisers of the games.
Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it “has not advised any of the British teams” against competing in the Games.
“We are aware that the Commonwealth Games Federation had some concerns about preparations for the Games,” it added in a statement.
“We continue to work closely with the Indian authorities who are doing everything they can to ensure a safe and secure Games.”
India also moved to ease any concerns about security in New Delhi.
“Providing security and a safe and secure environment for the athletes, visiting officials and tourists for the Commonwealth Games 2010 would be top priority for the Indian Government, Delhi administration and the organizing committee of the Commonwealth Games”, said Suresh Kalmadi, head of the 2010 organizing committee, in a statement.