Delhi To Keep Commonwealth Games

The chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation has dismissed any fears that the 2010 Games will be moved from host city Delhi as a result of this week’s terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.

The events in Pakistan have prompted a number of fears over sporting events to be held in the sub-continent with security now a major issue in that part of the world.
However CGF chief executive Michael Hooper said Delhi would do whatever is required to ensure safety.

‘There is no plan B, the Games will be here, that’s the reality. The Games are 20 months away and no other city, no matter how good its infrastructure, could manage to stage an event of this magnitude in the time now available.

‘There has never been any discussion whatsoever about shifting the Games. The Games will be in Delhi in 2010.’

Hooper’s comments follow calls from the Australian media to either cancel the 2010 Commonwealth Games or switch them to Melbourne, which hosted the event in 2006.

The Indian city has already been the subject of question marks over security after a series of bombings in Delhi killed 21 people last September followed two months later in Mumbai, where co-ordinated attacks by Islamic militants left more than 170 people dead.

Only last week a parliamentary committee warned the Indian Government that the security arrangements for Delhi 2010 were inadequate.

The Standing Committee on Home Affairs said “urgent measures” were required to make sure the event, which runs from 3rd-14th October, passes off safely.

The government’s revised plans for the Games include hiring an additional 5,000 police in Delhi and handing responsibility for security on the city’s metro system to the Central Industrial Security Force, a paramilitary unit.

The CGF has been given assurances that the Games’ organisers would implement a range of recommendations made by Intelligent Risk, the Australian-based company that advises on security matters.

The company visited Delhi last month and is scheduled to visit eight more times between now and next October.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games is scheduled to bring together over 4,000 athletes from more than 80 nations.