The Commonwealth Games organisers got a big boost on Tuesday when Australia, which has been severely critical of the CWG facilities and arrangements, expressed satisfaction over the preparations, including the security arrangements for the officials and the athletes.
Australia also sought to downplay Prime Minister Julia Gillard's remarks cautioning her countrymen on travel to India. “I don't think we should read too much into it as she only stated the factual material in the travel advisory,” High Commissioner Peter Varghese told reporters at the launch of the Australian Business Club here.
Stating that India was safe to travel, Mr. Varghese said Australia was ‘impressed' with the strong commitment and “vigour on part of the Indian Government with regard to security arrangements.”
“We are happy with the security issue that has been taken up in right earnest by the authorities,” he added.
Public interest
Stating that CWG preparations had been a high-profile issue in Australia, Mr. Varghese said, “In our system, making such a statement is a typically normal thing for a Prime Minister to do, at a time when there is a high level of public interest and the Prime Minister's comments were related to factual material in the Australian travel advisory. We were also not alone in raising issues pertaining to health,” he said.
Ms. Gillard had last week said: “Our travel advice has made clear that there is a high risk of terrorism in New Delhi, and since 2000, there have been at least 14 major terrorist attacks in New Delhi.”
India had replied that terrorism recognised no boundaries but there was no need for concern as adequate measures had been taken to ensure security of the visitors.
Asked about the Games preparations, Mr. Varghese expressed satisfaction and said a big contingent of sportspersons from his country would participate in the event. “Some athletes have already arrived yesterday [Monday]. I think, by and large, they are satisfied with the arrangements and the accommodation. It has been a good start,” he said.
“We have also been in very close consultations with Indian authorities on security arrangements. We see a very strong commitment on the part of the authorities to ensure safe and secure games,” he said.
Asked about reports of some Australian athletes pulling out, he said it was possible that individual athletes might pull out for one reason or another, but said a very large team would take part.
