Delhi 2010: India's fight to assure athletes the Commonwealth Games are safe

As the lead-up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi begins, so too do the inevitable questions about security, terrorism and the posturing about attendance.

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Delhi shouldn’t feel victimised; this happens before nearly every major sporting event on the global calendar.

Towards the end of December, 2009, rumours were rife that England were considering withdrawing their team from the games. Officials, of course, dispelled these rumours, and Ann Hogbin, General Manager of the England team, reiterated a “strong intention” for England to participate - hardly an unequivocal statement.

The athletes, however, are finding other excuses not to turn up in October. Whether it’s the chance of tummy bugs, the proximity to World Championship events in cycling or gymnastics, European athletics championships or just training for the London 2012 Olympics, the excuses are a bit transparent.

The security issues surrounding Delhi 2010 are complex, to say the least. There is a lot of hard work going into preparations, but there will always be those who have doubts.

When one of those with concerns is the Commissioner of the English Metropolitan Police, the concerns need to be taken seriously.

A big part of the issue is perception. There is a consistent reference to the sub-continent – a region that includes Pakistan. While India has its problems with terrorism, they pale next to those in Pakistan.

Despite this, the atrocities in Mumbai in 2008 and the 2009 decision to hold the Indian Premier League tournament in South Africa for security reasons, weigh heavily on the mind of those who have expressed reservations.

While the main reason for the IPL decision was a refusal of the central government to provide protection for the tournament – something that would not be an issue for the Commonwealth Games - it feeds the perception that India is a dangerous place.

Now Australian athletes are expressing concerns over their safety. The final decision on participation has been left to individual athletes and although no-one to date has come out and said they definitely won’t go, swimmer and part-time hitman Nick D’Arcy has put up his hand as a certain starter should he be selected. I’m sure that there’s a line in there somewhere, but better not to go there.

The problem with any mention of an Aussie boycott is that with current tensions between India and Australia over the terrible attacks on Indian students in Melbourne, any move to pull out could lead to an international incident.

But, at the end of the day, it’s the Commonwealth Games that we’re talking about - the festival of bland; a celebration of mediocrity.

It is an event almost entirely without relevance on the international sporting calendar – a sentiment underscored by Usain Bolt’s decision to “give the Games a miss” to prepare for the 2011 World Championships and London Olympics.

In a risk-reward analysis, it’s hard to imagine competing at the Commonwealth Games coming out on top, unless safety is completely guaranteed.

On the other hand, posturing about security and preparedness always haunt the lead-up to meets of this kind.

Before the Athens Olympics in 2004, there was a consensus that none of the stadiums would be complete and if, by some miracle, they were, then the local infrastructure wouldn’t cope with influx of athletes and visitors. Or al-Qaeda would kill everyone who turned up. Sound familiar?

The stakes are way too high for India for them to allow anything to affect the smooth execution of the games.

India is forging a new position on the world stage, particularly in the wake of the Copenhagen climate-change love-in. There is no way that they will allow terrorists to embarrass them on a large-scale, if irrelevant, event such as the Commonwealth Games.

It’s not hard to see Delhi 2010 as a practice run for an Indian Olympic bid at some point in the future, even though it has apparently been ruled out for 2020.

A major incident or failure would put paid to any chances of success but, more importantly, it would be another sporting tragedy that the world can do without.

Let’s wish the organizers all the luck they need.