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Kiwi Olympic body to consider CWG participation after September 12 | Mid-September could turn out to be crunch time for the New Zealand Olympic Committee, as it would have to then decide on whether the country will compete in the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi from October 3-14. With reports
coming out of India suggesting that the Games are enmeshed in a cesspool of corruption
and financial irregularity, a September 12 security assessment by a large group
of Kiwi officials in Delhi may emerge as a make or break situation for them. An
NZOC spokesperson last night confirmed that New Zealand security officials had
seen "broad police security plans around the Games, and they are in accordance
with best international practice. "Now we're looking forward to September to test
the systems and their operational capability," the New Zealand Herald quoted the
spokesperson, as saying further. If at that time India cannot convince security
experts from a range of nations that the Games are in good hands, it will significantly
heighten concerns for athletes' safety. Athletes' Federation boss Rob Nichol said
that "hand on heart" he could not say whether New Zealand would send a team. "The
biggest mistake we can make right now is forcing ourselves into a position where
we have to make a decision," Nichol said. "There will come a point in the future
where hard decisions will have to be made about whether it is go or no go. But
at this stage it is premature to be focusing on those decisions. "We've [NZFA]
not been furnished with a copy of the Delhi police plan for the Games so I cannot
put my hand on heart and say I know what's going to be completed yet. "The best
thing we can do is to plan as if they are going to go ahead." And if a country
such as Canada , Australia or the British representatives - countries with whom
New Zealand is closely aligned - decided to withdraw from the Games, would the
NZOC follow suit? "It would be a significant red flag," said NZOC president Mike
Stanley last night. "We would want to talk with them very carefully as to their
reasoning. We'd want to understand that and we would reflect on our position."
The Athletes' Federation - formed out of the existing players' associations of
rugby, cricket, netball, hockey and soccer - met NZOC and Government officials
on Thursday, where they outlined three major security concerns: * A lack of dedicated
New Zealand security personnel embedded in the team. * Potential corruption of
the accreditation process. * The potential for attacks on athletes and officials
in transit on Delhi 's roads. "We don't want to be alarmist, but we've got to
be thorough. We believe we need more people embedded with the team," a federation
spokesman said. Stanley said Thursday's meeting was "constructive, both in tone
and content" and confirmed the suggestion of getting more security personnel engaged
within the team was "helpful, and we are looking into it now". He said the accreditation
process is "consistent with what happens at other Games". Stanley said developments
were monitored on a "day-by-day" basis. |
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