Australia remains committed to Delhi 2010: Crosswhite

Published>Wed, Sep 22 10 08:28 PM

New Delhi, Sept.22 (ANI): Australian Sports Minister Mark Arbib and Commonwealth Games Association and Australia's Chief Executive Perry Crosswhite have said their country remains committed to contesting next month's Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi.

"The Australian government is committed and our number-one priority is the safety of our athletes, and those people travelling to India," Arbib told Australian radio.

Asked by Australian Associated Press if the idea of withdrawing from the Games had been discussed by his nation, Crosswhite said, "No, not at all. I think you have to be very careful to make that kind of decision because what you are essentially doing is making that decision on behalf of 400 athletes."

"The reality is, they are the ones the Games are for and in some respects they are the ones that have to make the decision about whether they want to come here or not."

"You certainly are in a situation where health and safety and all those issues need to be met. But if they are - and they are - of an acceptable standard, then the Games are for the athletes and they are the ones that should come along and make those decisions."

"... They can have their views and all the rest of it but I don't think we certainly have the right to make their decision unless it's based on something that we are trying to protect them from a security or health issue," he said

Crosswhite, who earlier on Wednesday spoke with Australian officials from the 17 sports at the Games, said no athlete barring world champion discus thrower Dani Samuels withdrew from the Games had indicated he or she would follow suit.

"None of them (Australian officials) said to me that they had any issues in respect of athletes advising them that they had similar concerns to Dani," Mr. Crosswhite said. "All athletes, particularly with what they see in the media in Australia, they have every right to be concerned because they don't see any of the better side of it which they will certainly see when they get here - but they're not here yet."

Crosswhite said Australia's accommodation at the Games Village was acceptable while acknowledging displeasure of other nations with their facilities in separate blocks. "There are things that need to be corrected. I'm comfortable ... as long as the hard work that has started now is maintained and probably increases. There are a number of defects that need to be fixed but it's not like buildings are going to fall down or anything. We are in three tower blocks and in the apartments, a few of those had things that needed to be fixed and they are being fixed now."

Crosswhite said heavy security around the village was an issue - not for any lack of safety but for expediency. "The security, which is really tight, needs to be bedded down to some extent," he said. "It's friendly, but it's just massive and it needs to be more efficient letting people through, in an out. Because when you get large numbers here, it is going to be a hassle if it doesn't get fixed." (ANI)

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