England's Chef de Mission for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi (from 3 to 14 October this year), Craig Hunter, today expressed confidence that England will send a full team to the multi-sports events, which start 200 days from tomorrow.
After a 9-day visit to the Indian capital as a member of a five-person delegation that included Sir Andrew Foster, the Chairman, and Ann Hogbin, the Chief Executive, of Commonwealth Games England, Hunter said that security concerns would not prevent England from sending a full team to the Games, though individuals were free to make a choice as to whether they wished to compete.
England is looking at a team of 560 athletes from 17 sports. Security concerns are greater among the families and friends of those competing, with security cordons less robust beyond the parameters of the official Games compounds and venues.
One of the main areas of concern beyond security is slow progress in construction projects, and all eyes are on the aquatics centre, which remains far from being completed. Some commentators have noted parallels with Athens 2004, where the show went on, of course, but did so without the planned roof at the pool because time simply ran out.
"There’s been massive progress since we were last there in October," said Hunter. "It was clear from the quality of the presentations that were made to us in various seminars we attended that there’s a lot of joined-up thinking going on, so that related issues between the Village, catering and transport are all being addressed. Having seen every competition site, we believe it will all be ready."
Hunter, noting the value of the Games as a stepping stone in many a fine athletic career, including that of double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, said: "Of course, individuals will be able to decide if they wish to go, for whatever reason, and we will respect personal choices. But the competitions out there will be very important for many athletes keen to get experience in a multi-sport Games ahead of 2012."
Hogbin, the England General Team Manager added: "I came away from Delhi feeling greatly re-assured as significant progress has been made since our previous visit last October both in terms of the building works and in the key functional areas. There is still a lot of work to be done but the Organising Committee has given their commitment that everything will be ready in time and I know that they will work tirelessly to ensure that this is the case. We look forward to reviewing the further progress when we return with our Team Managers in early June."
Hunter, meanwhile, characterised Delhi, a city of 14 million, as "an enormous building site, there’s works going on everywhere, even without all the massive Games projects". He and his team were satisfied on this latest visit that much progress has been made with the roads, Metro railway and other infrastructure. "We have built up a great working relationship with the Indians, and there’s no doubt that they will stage a unique Games - as different from Melbourne as Melbourne was from Manchester. And that’s one of the outstanding features of visiting different countries and cultures for events such as this."
The Games will feature 17 sports - archery, aquatics (swimming, synchronised swimming and diving), athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, rugby 7s, shooting, squash, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.
