The Commonwealth Games Federation has labelled concerns over security at this year’s event in Delhi “ill informed”.
There has been mounting speculation that England is considering pulling out of the event over fears its athletes will be victims of a terrorist attack, while two fires – one at an athletes’ village being built for the Games and the other at a rugby stadium – have broken out in recent weeks.
But CGF president Michael Fennell said: “The CGF regards the safety and security of the Games, for athletes and spectators alike, as being of paramount importance and of the highest priority.
“A number of recent media reports on Games’ security come from comments by those who have not worked on any aspect of security planning for the Delhi 2010 Games, and do not have any serious knowledge of the detailed plans across all aspects being put in place by local authorities.
“I am please to report that, where it counts most – with our members – cool heads prevail, and their planning remains on track to bring the athletes of the Commonwealth to Delhi in October this year.”
