TROUBLE-FREE COMMONWEALTH GAMES, ASSURES INDIA

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- The 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games organisers
have assured participating nations that lingering security risks would not mar
the games while infrastructures would be ready on time.

"They (India) are very confident that all will be okay for the games,
security arrangements and the infrastructures.

"They don't see any security threats at the moment but they said they are
vigilant," Malaysian High Commissioner to India Tan Seng Sung who attended
the briefing today, told Bernama.

India was left in a tizzy after several developed countries threatened to
boycott the international games, citing poor security cover for athletes and
officials.

And, England's decision to withdraw in the midst of the World Badminton
Championship last month in Hyderabad, after an Indian newspaper reported the
dreaded Lashkar-e-Taiba was targeting the championship, added more pressure on
the organisers.

About 40 representatives from Commonwealth nations attended the special
briefing that was addressed by India's Home Secretary G. K. Pillai and top
officials from the Commonwealth organising committee and India's Sports
Ministry.

Today's session was the first of a series of briefings being planned by
Indian authorities to allay security fears among member countries and a special
talk on security matters is slated for Sept 23-24.

India has spent nearly US$2 billion (RM7 billion) so far, to host the games
in October next year, which is being held for the second time in Asia.

Malaysia was the first to organise the games in the region in 1998.

-- BERNAMA