England denies media reports that it is pulling out of Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010

England has denied media reports that it might withdraw from the Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi in October 2010 over security concerns.

Ann Hogbin, chief executive of the England team, clarified that the English team has not received any security warning over the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Britain’s Foreign Office also announced that it had never asked any team in the United Kingdom to pull out of the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

A statement from Britain’s Foreign Office said that it is aware of the fact that the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has some concerns about the preparations for the Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi, adding that “we continue to work closely” with the authorities in India who are “doing everything they can” to ensure a safe and secure Commonwealth Games.

The Commonwealth Games Federation is responsible for the direction and control of the event.

Unlike in the Olympic Games, where Britain competes under the team banner of Great Britain, there are separate teams for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for the Commonwealth Games.

Security for athletes, officials and spectators for the Delhi Commonwealth Games has been a cause for widespread concern in the wake of incidents of terrorism in the subcontinent.

Media reports from the United Kingdom had hinted that England may not participate in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi owing to possible threat from terrorists.

Britain’s newspaper Daily Telegraph had reported that security experts in England think that terrorist groups in India may target English athletes and also that the safety of the English athletes cannot be guaranteed.

The report in the Daily Telegraph referred to Sir Paul Stephenson, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, who visited New Delhi earlier in December 2009 to take stock of the security situation of the Games, having expressed “serious concern” about security arrangements in Delhi.

Apart from Sir Paul Stephenson, a spokesman for the England’s Commonwealth Games organising committee had made known his “doubts” over whether English athletes will take part in the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

England, which plans to send about 100 athletes to the Delhi Commonwealth Games, mainly sees the event as the team’s crucial preparation for the Olympics to be held in London in 2012.

Already, many high-profile athletes from England have opted out of the Delhi Commonwealth Games citing as reason “other commitments.”

According to media reports, England is to take a formal decision early in 2010 on taking part in the Commonwealth Games.

It may be noted that the badminton team of England had pulled out from the World Championships held in Hyderabad, in southern India, in August 2009, citing as reason a “specific terrorist threat.” No untoward incident, however, had occurred at the event in Hyderabad.