Threat to Games fades but athletes sceptical

The first England team athletes flew out to New Delhi last night while Team Wales was given a series of guarantees about safety at the tournament's stadiums and improvements to the athletes' village.

It comes after a footbridge collapsed at the main arena, a ceiling fell in at the weightlifting venue and the discovery of accommodation "unfit for human habitation".

Organisers have also struggled with an outbreak of dengue fever and security fears after the shooting on Sunday of two tourists by Muslim militants.

Concerns over the athletes' village include excrement in rooms, shoddy conditions and problems with plumbing, wiring and furnishings.

Organisers and government officials have committed major resources to cleaning it up.

Commonwealth Federation chief executive Mike Hooper said: "There has been improvement each day,". However, he added: "There's more to do."

At least eight nations, including England, Wales and Scotland, expressed reservations over the haphazard preparations for the Games, which are due to begin in nine days with some of the competing nations delaying the sending of their teams until they are satisfied over improvements.

Individual athletes who have pulled out include reigning Commonwealth triple jump champion Phillips Idowu.

But ongoing concerns over the structure of venues and accommodation conditions had risked the far more damaging prospect of entire teams pulling out.

Criticism of the preparations has also been coming from within New Dehli, where a survey in the Hindustan Times yesterday showed 68 per cent of Delhi residents questioned were ashamed of the games.

But Commonwealth Games England last night confirmed the England team will go, after "unanimously" agreeing the decision with its 17 member sports, a move that should encourage other teams.

In a a statement CGE said: "CGE's chef de mission, Craig Hunter, and our team in Delhi, are now seeing the improved levels of resourcing which are required to resolve the significant operational issues, but we will continue to monitor the situation daily to ensure the village and stadia are safe and fit for purpose.

"The board continues to press the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games Federation for assurances on both the stadia and the accommodation as well as liaising with the British Government.

"At all times the safety and security of our team is paramount."

Guarantees of improvements given to teams include accommodation maintenance, plus proof that all structural safety certificates for both the village and the venues are in place, backed with full

insurance cover through the Delhi 2010 Organising Committee.

In addition, top hoteliers in the region have been brought in to

oversee the athletes' village.

Lalit Bhanot, the secretary general of the organising committee, further reassured participating nations that everything was being done to improve the buildings.

Mr Bhanot, who had previously caused controversy by claiming that the problem was in part down to different standards of hygiene in India, said he was confident the Games would be a success.

He added: "Everything is fine. We have seen the work that has gone on in the past few days and you will see that the standard will be brought to the desired level."

Four leading British cyclists are among individual competitors to have withdrawn due to worries over health.

Track and field stars Phillips Idowu and Christine Ohuruogu pulled out early this week, to be followed today by cyclists Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh, Ian Stannard and 22-year-old Rotherham racer Ben Swift.

Thomas and Kennaugh expressed fears over the mosquito-borne illness Dengue fever following the outbreak.

"It was entirely the athletes' decision," said a spokesperson for British Cycling.

Team Scotland will announce its decision on whether to take part today but last night said it was heartened at the efforts under way to make improvements, adding: "We have continued to make progress addressing the maintenance and operational issues within our own accommodation block and things are looking much better."