D-Day looms for Games decision

Nzherald.co.nz, 14 Sept 2010: September 23 is looming as D-Day for New Zealand's involvement in the crisis-torn Commonwealth Games. New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) chef de mission Dave Currie leaves for India today and will spend 10 days determining whether the New Delhi organising committee is capable of implementing its security plan, and whether the venues and village are ready to host the event. The Games, due to open on October 3, have been beset by problems, including a dengue fever outbreak, but the NZOC is preparing to attend. President Mike Stanley said the committee was sharing security and government intelligence with Australia, Canada, England and Wales, but it would make its own decision on whether NZ athletes should attend. "It's going to be a collective consultation and collaboration in all of this, but we are an independent body. We will make our decision based on that," Mr Stanley said. "Naturally, if you engage with a group of nations with a high level of expertise and who have got similar sorts of experience with the Games, obviously we'll take on board their view, but it's our decision." Mr Currie said the five-country approach would ensure nothing was left to chance in gauging Delhi's readiness. If the risk concerns escalated "and we haven't had feedback and response on them", then at that point it would be evident "this is not going to work". "Or, after seven or eight days, we've identified concerns [and] they've been addressed, [then] we've got a level of comfort that it is going to be okay. "We're feeding [information] back here to Mike Stanley and the board around the September 23 or 24. [It will either be] yes, it's fine, athletes can move from where they are around the world to come into Delhi, or no, we have a list of concerns a mile long and we don't think this is viable." As for the risk of athletes contracting the potentially lethal dengue fever, Mr Stanley said it was up to individuals to take responsibility for "their personal hygiene and care".
Source: Nzherald.co.nz