Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

New Zealand PM wants C'wealth Games to proceed

By The Assam Tribune

WELLINGTON, Sept 20 (IANS) - New Zealand Prime Minister John Key remained confident that his country will field a team for the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games despite Sunday's firing incident outside a New Delhi mosque.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) is seeking more information about the shooting incident outside the Jama Masjid mosque that left two Taiwanese nationals injured.

Key said he is hopeful that the Games will proceed and New Zealand will get a rich haul of medals.

"One always takes attacks like these seriously but we are also very hopeful that the Commonwealth Games will proceed, that New Zealand will go and do very well," Key was quoted as saying by the New Zealand Herald.

"We are providing the best advice we can to the NZOC who have to make that decision by Sept 24 whether to travel to Delhi or not. I understand there has been extensive work looking through the Commonwealth Games Village and other security areas," Key said.

New Zealand's chef de mission Dave Currie is in Delhi assessing the state of security and facilities at the Games Village.

The NZOC earlier said the decision on New Zealand's participation would only be taken after Currie returns from Delhi.

The NZOC is responsible for the safety of the team and said the Games will take place amid tight security.

Games athletes will live and compete inside an intense security cordon, which Currie said "appears to be working very well".

Athletes' federation boss Rob Nichol said Monday the attack in the Indian capital was not surprising.

"It is important to remain reasonably calm and continue to have a bit of faith in the process," Nichol told Radio New Zealand.

"It is definitely concerning, but it is not something that should necessarily result in a 180 degree shift."

Nichol said it was too early for him to take a call on whether the team should go to Delhi or not.

"We always plan and ask questions around the worst-case scenario, because the reality is Delhi and India are at high risk of terrorist attack and there is a Commonwealth Games being staged there.

"If the athletes are going to go and if the games are going to go ahead then you have to have security measures in place," Nichol Said.

Next Story