Doubts remain for Games teams

DOUBTS remain over the participation of the England, Wales and Scotland teams at next month’s Commonwealth Games because of safety, security and health fears in Delhi.

Preparation for the Games scheduled to begin on October 3 have been beset by problems with the collapse of a ceiling at the weightlifting venue on Tuesday following the collapse of a footbridge on Monday.

Commonwealth Games England will send its first group of athletes to Delhi today as planned, despite chairman Sir Andrew Foster admitting the competition was on a “knife-edge”. The Scotland team have delayed their departure and Wales are demanding safety guarantees, while conditions in the athletes’ village have been described as “filthy”.

But the parents of two of Yorkshire’s youngest athletes said they remained confident their children would be kept safe and healthy in the Indian capital.

The mother of 15-year-old Ripon diver Jack Laugher and the father of his 17-year-old team-mate Oliver Dingley admitted concerns but said they placed their faith in the national sporting authorities to make the correct decision.

Jackie Laugher, whose son is the double world and European junior champion on the one-metre and three-metre springboard, said: “I’m as concerned as any parent would be but I’ve been given lots of advice and I’m confident they’ll get their act together and that British Swimming will make the right call.

“UK Sport and British Swimming are issuing information to us, particularly on health and what prescriptions and medicines Jack should take.

“Jack is a fearless 15-year-old boy. He’s seen what’s going on but just wants to get out there.”

The outbreak of dengue fever, a tropical disease carried by daytime mosquitos, is the primary worry of Chris Dingley.

“Security is a concern, but health is foremost,” said Mr Dingley, whose son is a British senior and European junior diving champion.

“Oliver and all the athletes have been briefed on how to apply treatments to prevent mosquito bites.

“We also had a briefing with the National Performance Director yesterday and were told that, based on what the people in Delhi are saying, at this moment in time everything will come together.”

The Games have already been hit with a number of withdrawals, after Christine Ohuruogu and Lisa Dobriskey this week joining Sheffield’s world and European heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis in staying at home.

Triple jumper Phillips Idowu became the first high-profile English athlete to pull out because of security and health concerns, a decision that drew sympathy from his former opponent and the 2002 Commonwealth champion, Jonathan Edwards.

Mr Edwards said: “Phillips has the liberty to make the decision that is best for his family and I’m sure there’ll be a lot of athletes under pressure from loved ones not to go. You can understand the athletes not wanting to go.

“Thinking from the perspective of an organising committee you want the athletes to go, and you want the host city to get everything together and put on a great Games.”

England’s first competitors to fly out include the hockey team involving Doncaster’s Barry Middleton and Sheffield’s Alistair Wilson, and the lawn bowls team.

A statement issued by Commonwealth Games England said: “England continues to confirm its participation in the Commonwealth Games. CGE continues to believe that the situation in Delhi is serious and we are monitoring this constantly with our chef de mission and our team in Delhi. The CGE continues to seek assurances from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and the Organising Committee (OC) of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi that the village and venues are fit for purpose, are safe and that urgent action will be taken by the OC and the CGF to address the significant operational issues which still exist.”

Comment: Page 12.