CWG

Wales ready to fly to Games, Scotland heartened

Published on Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 19:46   |  Updated at Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 22:27  |  Source : Reuters

Email

Print

Share

Ads by Google

SBI Life Insurance

SBI Life Smart Shield. Low cost life insurance plan. Know More Now!   www.sbilife.co.in

Wales gave their athletes the all-clear to fly to New Delhi for the troubled Commonwealth Games on Thursday after saying they had received requested assurances from the Indian authorities.

Scotland, who had delayed the departure of their first group of participants, said they were also heartened by progress on the ground and hoped to be able to confirm their travel arrangements on Friday.

"The Commonwealth Games Federation has received assurances from the Delhi 2010 Organising Committee that all venues and village are fit for purpose," Team Wales, who had set a Wednesday evening deadline for the assurances, said in a statement.

"We are confident in the assurances that have been provided," added the statement. Wales have 200 athletes due to take part.

"The advance party will now be moving into our accommodation and we look forward to welcoming our athletes in the coming days."

Several other nations have delayed their departures for the Games, which start on Oct.3, due to concerns about security, health and the state of the athletes' village with reports of filthy apartments and stray dogs roaming around.

While a first group of 22 England athletes were due to fly out on Thursday, Scotland delayed on Wednesday the departure of a first batch of 41 competitors and officials.

Scotland have 191 athletes entered for the Games.

There was more optimism on Thursday however after Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit appeared to have taken charge of resolving the problems.

"We are heartened that Sheila Dikshit has personally taken control of the situation and ensuring that the necessary additional resources are brought in," Team Scotland's chef de mission Jon Doig said on the Scotland website (www.cgcs.org.uk).

"We have continued to make progress addressing the maintenance and operational issues within our own accommodation block and things are looking much better.

"Therefore subject to a number of assurances from the Organising Committee being realised over the next 24 hours, we feel we will be in a position to confirm tomorrow that our team will travel as scheduled on Saturday," he added.

PRABHAKAR MANI PGDM 1 SEM