A leading Australian official claimed next year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi could be cancelled if a security assessment one month from the start of the event deems it unsafe.
The 2010 Games security, which is due to be held from 3 - 14 October, has come under scrutiny following terrorist attacks on the Indian subcontinent in Mumbai and Lahore in the last 6 months.
Chief executive of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) Perry Crosswhite said: “At one month [out], if for whatever reason it's determined it is not secure, the Commonwealth Games Federation has got to determine whether the Games go on.”
“From six months before the Games there will be information on security and we will speak to the [Australian] High Commission and the Foreign Affairs department on a regular basis. I'd say a year out will be a crucial point in time and then six months, three months and one month.”
The Indian Government has promised to spend an additional 782.6 million rupees (£10.8 million) to upgrade security at the Games after the attack on Sri Lanka's cricketers in Lahore earlier this month.
They also announced that they will create a Special Task Force to protect the 2010 Athletes' Village and the venues.
