Australia Could Pull Out Of 2010 Games

Australia could pull out of next year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi unless security concerns are addressed, according to a leading sports governor in the country.

Australian Commonwealth Games Association CEO Perry Crosswhite has said a security assessment one month before the Games would play a crucial role in the event’s governing body, the Commonwealth Games Federation, deciding whether it could proceed with the event.

According to reports, sports officials are also considering hiring private security to protect the country’s athletes during the Games.

Concerns over security have heightened following the Mumbai terror strike last November and the attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore earlier this month.

The shock revelation that a laptop with sensitive security information was stolen from a Delhi Police compound last week has further fuelled fears in Australia, where news about the Games preparations are being closely monitored.

Crosswhite added: ‘We are still 18 months out. I’d say a year out will be a crucial point in time and then six months, three months and one month. At the end of the day it’s our decision if Australia sends a team and we have to make that call with the best information we have at the time.’

Reacting to the comments, Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive, Michael Hooper stated: ‘Perry Crosswhite did not say that Australia would withdraw from the Games. He said they would continue to closely monitor the situation, which is quite normal. We too are concerned at the moment and we would continue to take security issues quite seriously.

‘There’s more than 18 months to go and it would be foolish to say anything now. It’s is an evolving situation. I can say now that India is delivering on its promises of providing appropriate security measures.’

Australia had topped the medals tally in the 2006 Games with 84 golds and plans to send 550 athletes to New Delhi, which would make it the largest contingent.