Australia commits to Delhi Games

Australia remains committed to contesting the Delhi Commonwealth Games as other
nations consider withdrawing amid a litany of embarrassing problems with the
sporting event.
Some Commonwealth nations on Wednesday were considering pulling out, with England
saying the Games were on a "knife's edge" due to problems with the athletes village.
But Australian Commonwealth Games Association chief executive Perry Crosswhite,
despite calling for greater efficiency in security surrounding the October 3-14
Games, said abandoning the Games had not been discussed by his nation.
"No, not at all," Crosswhite told AAP from New Delhi on Wednesday.
"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."
Australia's world champion discus thrower Dani Samuels on Tuesday withdrew from the
Games but Crosswhite, who earlier on Wednesday spoke with Australian officials from
the 17 sports at the Games, said no other athletes had indicated they 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," 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."
About 400 Australian athletes will contest the Games, with most due to arrive in
Delhi next Wednesday.
Team bosses from smaller nations including Jersey and Guernsey on Wednesday said
they were considering pulling out of the Games, while Scotland has delayed its
departure for Delhi in the hope organisers can fix the athletes village.
The chairman of Commonwealth Games England, Andrew Foster, said the next two days
were critical in solving problems with the village.
"It's a situation that hangs on a knife-edge," Foster told the BBC.