Alexjc Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Don't worry about it Alexjc88 . I am not taking that bait. Lets Put it this way Kuala Lumpur is the only logical place for a relocation even with Abuja's slightly newer stadium which indeed is a scaled down version of CWG's 1998 Main stadium. Much of what is needed is indeed existing there as Tracks have been torn up in Manchester and Melbourne. Kuala Lumpur has everything except the Athletes Village and maybe the IBC. Two Arena's and A Rugby Sevens Stadium would have to be created for next year in Abuja plus the Transportation system upgrades for 2014 are going ahead but will not be ready for next year. jim jones Actually the idea of KL jumping in has never crossed my mind...Malaysia could probibly cobble together a paired down but successful games... Still if Australia walks away, then the CWGs are in trouble - or would they be? It would have to take another major nation (eg Canada, or England) to pull out out as well to really finish them off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim jones Posted March 17, 2009 Report Share Posted March 17, 2009 Actually the idea of KL jumping in has never crossed my mind...Malaysia could probibly cobble together a paired down but successful games...Still if Australia walks away, then the CWGs are in trouble - or would they be? It would have to take another major nation (eg Canada, or England) to pull out out as well to really finish them off. Well check out the Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure before you classify it as cobbling together. Kuala Lumpur 1998 was the start of the great expansion of the Games . Every single Venue Exists on the ground today in Malaysia where as no place including England , Canada , Australia , Scotland , India or Nigeria have that despite a few having a great inventory of White Elephant facilities. Montreal or Sydney the last two Commonwealth Nation cities to host the Olympics have long changed their main stadia away from athletics. The track is still there in a 100,000 seat national stadium with a modern engineered Track with Jumping pits between the Track and the Audience per IAAF Class one Layout. The largest problems with relocation of any sports festival is certainly Athletes and officials Accoms and the operations finances. 20 years is about the service life of a track and I know myself from a friend who does this type of work that less then 30 days an old surface can be take off and replaced in. As to England pulling out of New Delhi 2010 the British Athletics administration people basically would love to mark the Commonwealth Games off their list completely. That was evidenced with 2006 where they were actually not wanting to field an Athletics Team for Melbourne to save their athletes for the European meets . The English Commonwealth Games association is so far down the list for Commercial Support that they actually had to recruit about the Tenth largest Athletics sports apparel Company in the UK to make the uniforms at cost let alone getting an in kind sponsorship or even Paid. Canada has the Hudson Bay Company or HBC provide the Team Kits for Team Canada and that is now the case with Vancouver 2010 as well. The Broadcast fee for the entire British Isles for 2002 was a mere 4 million pounds. Not one retailer picked up or even took on concession Manchester 2002 merchandise. Manchester had to open and run their own 2002 merch stores. It seems on the Website "around the rings " Mike Fennel has come out with a strong statement that the games are not moving from New Delhi and the federation is pleased with the progress of the Construction . Mike Fennel has seen this before not only with the commonwealth games but the Pan Am Games in both 2003 and 2007. 2007 where he really laid on the get your act together Message for RIO. Hey so much for that theory of moving the games with secret meeting . I read today Queensland is making the wacky gesture to host in Brisbane and Gold Coast for 2010. Yeah if you can't actually win an international bid for the Commonwealth Games like Australia why not hi-jack it from Asia who beat you 40 to 25 for the 1998 games LOL. Looking more like any excuse that Australians with an interest in this can use to hasten the return of the games is in the Air LOL. The Choice for the Federation could be very clear cut, Have Australia sit it out for 2010 which would probably piss off many in the commonwealth and certainly hand more bid victories to anyone opposing Australia. Have the Australian Tv rights holders lose all 30 million for the commonwealth games thus killing the interest probably in Australia with the absence of their teams on the field in New Delhi. Seems envy , Fear and greed by the "big four" is generally at work here LOL. This is why we have a country like Scotland bid on these games to make it once for every 2 million of population LOL. jim jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim jones Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Yeah Scotland hosting Three Times for a mere 6 million population while that equals all Asian Caribbean and African hostings combined. Goes to show why Africans generally consider the olympics and the Commonwealths a White persons set of sports festivals. Jim jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfm Jeremie Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Yeah Scotland hosting Three Times for a mere 6 million population while that equals all Asian Caribbean and African hostings combined. Goes to show why Africans generally consider the olympics and the Commonwealths a White persons set of sports festivals. Jim jones Again, how many decent credible bids from Africa for the Olympics? One (Cape Town 2004). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rafa Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Don't deny Africa Jeremie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim jones Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Again, how many decent credible bids from Africa for the Olympics? One (Cape Town 2004). Well of course they have to bid to win but lets face it how many times did Africa Bid for the World Cup Finals Prior to 2010 being awarded to South Africa ? At least Fifa had made a policy 2010 is the year it goes to Africa so we are finally the first sports festival to be held on practically every continent . There have been a few Olympic bids outside the EU-America Domain yet we have a much more lopsided amount of appearances of the Olympics in Europe for a games with a history nearly four decades longer then the WC. Twice the World Cup would be held in South America before it ever left the European-America regions. Three games out of how many in the non G20 nations for 100 plus years is pretty bad. As to the Commonwealth Games the very first internationally contested bid had an African City being Salisbury, Rhodesia for 1966. Kingston Jamaica by a miracle won over Edinburgh and Salisbury. Wonder if they would have won if they actually had a Black head of State at the time of the Bid ? The All-African Games were denied staging of the games until 1965 by the British Thou Baron Pierre de Coubertin was the original driving force to have Africa its own continental games much sooner like the Americas with the Pan Ams. Jim jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfm Jeremie Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Well of course they have to bid to win but lets face it how many times did Africa Bid for the World Cup Finals Prior to 2010 being awarded to South Africa ? At least Fifa had made a policy 2010 is the year it goes to Africa so we are finally the first sports festival to be held on practically every continent . There have been a few Olympic bids outside the EU-America Domain yet we have a much more lopsided amount of appearances of the Olympics in Europe for a games with a history nearly four decades longer then the WC. Twice the World Cup would be held in South America before it ever left the European-America regions. Three games out of how many in the non G20 nations for 100 plus years is pretty bad. As to the Commonwealth Games the very first internationally contested bid had an African City being Salisbury, Rhodesia for 1966. Kingston Jamaica by a miracle won over Edinburgh and Salisbury. Wonder if they would have won if they actually had a Black head of State at the time of the Bid ? The All-African Games were denied staging of the games until 1965 by the British Thou Baron Pierre de Coubertin was the original driving force to have Africa its own continental games much sooner like the Americas with the Pan Ams. Jim jones The point being? Your previous post claimed that "Africans generally consider the olympics and the Commonwealths a White persons set of sports festivals", to which I pointed out that Africa only came up with one credible bid. As usual your post does not address the issue. Plus comparing WC and Olympic Games is dubious: they are absolutely not on the same scale in terms of the pressure they put on a city infrastructure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim jones Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 The point being?Your previous post claimed that "Africans generally consider the olympics and the Commonwealths a White persons set of sports festivals", to which I pointed out that Africa only came up with one credible bid. As usual your post does not address the issue. Plus comparing WC and Olympic Games is dubious: they are absolutely not on the same scale in terms of the pressure they put on a city infrastructure. Where the Olympics are compact in comparison a present day world cup would certainly be on the economic scale of an Olympics but spread to many cities within a single country. You Are still looking at Countries outlaying multiple billions of dollars to stage either. While an olympic city hardly builds an intercity rail system or modernizes an existing national system the world cup usually has to . That has always been the barrier between developed and developing world to stage either. Back in 1930 and 1950 the South American stagings of the WC involved a small amount of Venues relative to today. The same was true of the Olympics in many cases of those era's . There were no athletes villages early on with the Olympics. You did not have Mountain Biking and a list of sports that have just come on the seen for the Summer Olympics. It was not until 1984 that Women had their own marathon. Generally Both Events are about the Same for the resources that have to be put into staging just very much different for Footprint. Jim jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruling Czar Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 I think it was absolutely reckless of the Intenational CWG Committee to have awarded these games to Delhi. It wasn't prctical at all. Isn't it strange that as the games get nearer and nearer we are seeing so much strife in that part of the world? A message is being sent and if anything happens to International athletes during these games, they or their families deserve full compensation from the International Commonwealth Games Commitee. Enough said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 I think it was absolutely reckless of the Intenational CWG Committee to have awarded these games to Delhi. It wasn't prctical at all. Isn't it strange that as the games get nearer and nearer we are seeing so much strife in that part of the world? A message is being sent and if anything happens to International athletes during these games, they or their families deserve full compensation from the International Commonwealth Games Commitee. Enough said I don't see why not? Delhi hosted the Asian Games 2x without any incident... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruling Czar Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 yes.certainly Baron. But as the profile of events grow, so does the threat. the asian games are still pretty much regional in a way. But the commonweaths are more international. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim jones Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Add to the fact that New Delhi hosted the Asian Games in 1982 and 1951 (the first Asian games) is the fact that India and Pakistan conducted three very serious Wars between 1947 and 1971. The 1965 war had some tank battles as big as some tanks battle in World War 2. There has been sabre rattling at times but for the most part the relations between these two nations that were once one nation are fairly good compared with 35 years ago. Nuclear Weapons held by a side usually stops wars . At some point the Games have to come to the Indian Sub continent being the largest amount of Commonwealth citizens anywhere exceeding any two other commonwealth regions combined. India with the largest population in the Commonwealth and second largest in the world . Pakistan being the second largest population in the commonwealth Bangladesh being the Third. The former countries ranking 6th and 7 th for populations. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh expended a great amount in World War Two to help save the Empire from Japan. 60 years after the fact it is certainly time to have the games there and it is actually long overdue having Canada Host a 4th time at New Delhi's expense for a mere 30 million people in Canada who could care less or a 3rd hosting with New Zealand who with Auckland denied New Delhi for 1990. The Federation has long wanted India to host in fact holding off ratifying the 1962 decision to have Adelaide, Australia host. The information being floated in the late 1950's was that an India city wanted to host . The 1962 bid decision was an all Australian Affair Adelaide Vs Perth with Adeliade winning 13 to 3. the first decision was made in 1956 at the Melbourne Summer Olympics. The Federation delayed ratifying to May of 1958 just before the Cardiff British Empire and Commonwealth Games on this information. The bid Victory for Adelaide was put to a second vote and Perth won 9 to 7 . If you took the view that there had to be peace before a games them Edinburgh 1986 would not have happened . The IRA was bombing the hell out of the UK even hitting the financial district of London years before and years after. Lord Mountbatten on his yacht in the Irish Sea and was assassinated via a Bomb. Parliament and a few places in London were bombed in the 1970s, The Tory Cabinet was close to being killed in a bombing of a hotel that they had gathered in two years prior to Edinburgh 1986. So when do you say any place is safe with what went on in the 70's 80' and 90's with the IRA in the UK or the 2000's with the threat of muslim extremists. The threat is everywhere and the federation knows that . Jim Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim jones Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 yes.certainly Baron. But as the profile of events grow, so does the threat. the asian games are still pretty much regional in a way. But the commonweaths are more international. If Terrorists could kill Athletes at the Asian Games or create some type of act then it would be worldwide news. If they could do it at the Florida State Fair it would be World Wide News and accomplish their goals . The Asian Games in 1951 would have been a great target for Pakistani Militants with an axe to grind with New Delhi. Same could have happened in 1982 with the Second hosting of the Asian Games in New Delhi . Jim jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Rols Posted March 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2009 Personally I hope things go well and Abuja is the Lone 2018 Candidate which is looking very likely . Gold Coast next week may lose its driving CWG force with Premier Anna Bligh Labor Party considering the Liberal National Party of Queensland, a Right Wing Party are ahead in the Public opinion polls We could see Australia's small burning embers of 2018 CWG ambitions snuffed out this Saturday. Considering the LNP is now running ads saying they will save a Children's hospital by axing the proposed Stadium it does not look like a Commonwealth Games Bid will come from Australia for 2018. The Same thing has happened to the Musings of Perth Forwarding a Bid for the CWGs in 2018. The Labor government of western Australia had a billion dollar Stadium on the Table and went down to defeat . The Stadium required to host has since been Axed by the new State government. jim jones Well, sorry to disappoint you Jim, but Anna managed to beat off the forces of the Right and win. So the bid's still on track. AFL licence coming our wayNick Smart March 23rd, 2009 THE Gold Coast Football Club will be told this week it will become the AFL's 17th club in 2011 following the re-election of Premier Anna Bligh on Saturday. The ALP victory guarantees a $60 million State Government grant towards redeveloping Gold Coast Stadium, a pledge that was not matched by the opposition Liberal National Party. The Bligh Government will spend $2 million in the first year and $60 million in total over the next two years on a project that will provide enormous long-term economic benefits for the Gold Coast. For their investment, they get a stadium worth $130 million plus all the jobs that it creates in construction and tourism revenue. The boutique stadium will be used as the home of the new AFL club. Construction is expected to begin later this year. But it will also attract one-day cricket internationals, Twenty20 matches and concerts. It will be used to service other sports such as athletics and will help the city's 2018 Commonwealth Games bid. Financing to redevelopment of the stadium into a 25,000-capacity venue had been the major hurdle the AFL needed to clear before giving the expansion club the final go-ahead. The AFL is now almost certain to act swiftly and award the GC17 bid team the licence it has craved. The league will hold a strategy meeting regarding the Gold Coast this morning in Melbourne. AFL spokesman Brian Walsh yesterday said an announcement on the licence was expected this week. It is a big victory for the John Witheriff-led bid team and the AFL, which have had to fend off speculation that bold expansion plans would not get off the ground. "We are an inch closer to having that glass of champagne," said Mr Witheriff yesterday. "We were happy to work with an LNP government and we think we would have got there anyway. "It was just the timing that was the question mark. "But we are far happier now knowing we have that commitment from the Labor Government." GCFC chief operating officer Scott Munn said all the planets had aligned for the Gold Coast bid team. "It is all looking extremely positive," he said. "I am pretty hopeful we will get an announcement this week." But Munn said he was not sure what day the announcement would be made. The final piece of the puzzle is the $40 million needed from the Federal Government to help with the redevelopment. But Federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese has already told The Gold Coast Bulletin that Canberra would almost certainly kick in the required funding. A formal announcement on the funding commitment is expected in the coming days before the Gold Coast Football Club is finally admitted into the AFL. Goldcoast.com.au Gold Coast celebrates Labor Win Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim jones Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 Well, sorry to disappoint you Jim, but Anna managed to beat off the forces of the Right and win. So the bid's still on track.Gold Coast celebrates Labor Win So how do you host a Commonwealth Games without Funding from Camberra which is devoted to hosting a possible World Cup in 2018 or 2022 ? Thing is unless you have that and silent from all opposition parties the federation does not want to have anything to do with course corrections or competing with a World Cup or Olympics. This is how indeed stupid Anna Bligh actually is. Hamilton Canada not only lost to New Delhi because of Training grants but they also Lost because Canada had the 2010 Winter Olympics awarded earlier in the year to Vancouver. Hamilton Lost with National government funding while Queenland does not indeed have that commitment and has been turned down because of the World Cup bid. Hey what an opponent for Nigeria , 4 games hosted equaling the most hosted by an country tied for Canada so no one can say that Australia is under serviced. No bids won in an international bid election and two fantastic defeats Christchurch 39 MELBOURNE 2 and Kuala Lumpur 40 ADELAIDE 25. The only Two time bidder to ever be turned away on the second attempt was indeed New Delhi and Abuja would be indeed a two time bidder. Funny thing is Sir Roltel I read an article that Athletics Groups in Brisbane and the Queensland are trying to convince the Federation to relocate the 2010 games to friendly Australia mainly The Gold Coast and Brisbane . Seems some people there know what I know. A campaign for 2018 is pretty much dead on arrival simply because the Australian Government has to first resolve the World Cup 2018 2022 question . It is likely that Australia could indeed be awarded that sports festival thus ending the CWG bid in mid stream. THe last round of bids included candidate cities at two critical meetings . The first at Melbourne 2006 during the games to make presentations that were required and the second as orientation 3 months later in Melbourne. Under that Schedule The first meeting is October 2010 and the second meeting is January 2011. This is if the Federation does not step that ahead to next spring or summer. The World Cup Decision does not come until December so Gold Coast would be indeed Absent for the Job Interview. It would kind of like having a potential employer that you recently worked for Ask you to come in Friday for a full time job interview. You say well 'I can't because Monday I find out if I have a job with a bigger company that pays better Could I come in On Tuesday ? ROTFLMAO @ Roltel . This is Indeed how idiotic Anna Bligh and her people actually are. A bid on track hardly I quess Abuja will probably have to look to another White Candidate city Co opting the games with a fromer host which is very possible with Brisbane being so close. Again another example of the greed and ignorance in the White Commonwealth who seem to think making African's a guest in their cities for the games is a Right reversed for the Big four . This is where all this nonsense about moving the 2010 games is coming from Jim Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rafa Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 IPL cricket has been officially moved from India to South Africa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Rols Posted March 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 A bid on track hardly I quess Abuja will probably have to look to another White Candidate city Co opting the games with a fromer host which is very possible with Brisbane being so close. Again another example of the greed and ignorance in the White Commonwealth who seem to think making African's a guest in their cities for the games is a Right reversed for the Big four . This is where all this nonsense about moving the 2010 games is coming from Jim Jones Yeah, I figured you'd be happy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim jones Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 Yeah, I figured you'd be happy! Yeah I am happy except for one thing an actually bid announcement coming out of Abuja Jim Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apple Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 They've begun airing Incredible India tourism ads here locally in Hamilton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim jones Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 They've begun airing Incredible India tourism ads here locally in Hamilton. There should be some great takers on that from Hamilton LOL. Jim Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim jones Posted March 29, 2009 Report Share Posted March 29, 2009 I would say with the news that Abold has been Hired on an exclusive contract for the Australia Wordl Cup bid that Gold coast might save their breathe talking of a Commonwealth Games i 2018. Here is the Passage from the Age about Abold and their involvement in successful world cup bids recently. http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/soccer...023.html?page=2 Jim jones FIFA will not release its stadium criteria for the 2018 and 2022 bids until next month. Only then will nations bidding for the event know how many venues are needed. The current criteria requires at least 10 compliant venues. These would most likely be drawn from a possible pool, including Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, the Gold Coast's Skilled Park or Carrara, the redeveloped Energy Australia Stadium in Newcastle, the Sydney Football Stadium, ANZ Stadium, Canberra Stadium, MCG, Swan Street Stadium and new venues in Adelaide and Perth. Launceston's Aurora Stadium is also under consideration. State governments would be required to foot the bill for new facilities or stadium refurbishments. Buckley is meeting with all state premiers to inform them of the changes likely to be needed. THE GERMANS Abold — the German firm responsible for preparing the "bid book" for the German and South African bids — will perform the same role for Australia, compiling the information required by FIFA's executive committee and using it to create a slick expression of Australia's credentials that will be the official bid document. The German firm has also created winning bid books for the 2011 women's World Cup and 2009 and 2010 club World Cups. The firm has unparalleled experience in presenting documents that win favour with FIFA. Significantly for Australia, Abold has been signed to an exclusivity deal. No other bidder may use the company's services to prepare any aspect of its bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cups. "They have a demonstrable record of success with FIFA tournaments and other major events, and we are very excited to have them as part of the team," Buckley said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rafa Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 Abold — the German firm responsible for preparing the "bid book" for the German and South African bids — will perform the same role for Australia, compiling the information required by FIFA's executive committee and using it to create a slick expression of Australia's credentials that will be the official bid document. The German firm has also created winning bid books for the 2011 women's World Cup and 2009 and 2010 club World Cups. The firm has unparalleled experience in presenting documents that win favour with FIFA. Significantly for Australia, Abold has been signed to an exclusivity deal. No other bidder may use the company's services to prepare any aspect of its bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cups. "They have a demonstrable record of success with FIFA tournaments and other major events, and we are very excited to have them as part of the team," Buckley said. They also prepared Cape Town's bid for the 2010 FIFA World Cup International Broadcast Centre and have prepared Cape Town's 2010 Accommodation and base camp guide! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim856796 Posted May 10, 2009 Report Share Posted May 10, 2009 One of the venues for the Games, the Dhyan Chand Stadium, will organise the 2010 Men's Field Hockey World Cup from March 7-20. The stadium has apparently been demolished and had new stands built closer to the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted August 9, 2009 Report Share Posted August 9, 2009 Different end of the country, but stories like this aren't good: Badminton team quits after threat The England team has withdrawn from the World Badminton Championships in India because of "a specific terrorist threat" made by extremists. The championships are being played in the city of Hyderabad. The eight-strong squad pulled out of the tournament, which starts on Monday, following reports of a threat by the Muslim extremist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Badminton England chief executive Adrian Christy said it was "an incredibly tough decision". He added: "After the Olympic Games, this is the most prestigious championships in the world but we were not prepared to risk the safety of our players, coaches and staff in what we felt could have been a very volatile environment." Mr Christy said the team, which included Olympic silver medallist Nathan Robertson, had "carefully considered" information from local police authorities. And after taking advice from the Foreign Office and British High Commission, the conclusion made by Badminton England was "that safety is of paramount importance," he added. Performance director Ian Moss said: "It is a disappointing outcome, especially after we had enjoyed a very good preparation at our holding camp in Doha, Qatar, last week. "Our athletes were extremely well prepared for these championships but, at the end of the day, personal safety must take priority over performance. "This was a unanimous squad decision and is not reflective of the efforts made by the organising committee to create the safest environment possible for all athletes." Lashkar-e-Taiba is Urdu for Soldiers of the Pure, and is a Pakistan-based organisation fighting against Indian control in Kashmir. It has been blamed for several terrorist incidents in India including the October 2005 bomb attacks in Delhi, which saw 60 people killed, and is alleged to have played a part in the armed raid on the Indian parliament in December 2001. It was also linked with the Mumbai terrorist attacks in November 2008, which killed at least 188 people. Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim jones Posted August 9, 2009 Report Share Posted August 9, 2009 Different end of the country, but stories like this aren't good:Badminton team quits after threat The England team has withdrawn from the World Badminton Championships in India because of "a specific terrorist threat" made by extremists. The championships are being played in the city of Hyderabad. The eight-strong squad pulled out of the tournament, which starts on Monday, following reports of a threat by the Muslim extremist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Badminton England chief executive Adrian Christy said it was "an incredibly tough decision". He added: "After the Olympic Games, this is the most prestigious championships in the world but we were not prepared to risk the safety of our players, coaches and staff in what we felt could have been a very volatile environment." Mr Christy said the team, which included Olympic silver medallist Nathan Robertson, had "carefully considered" information from local police authorities. And after taking advice from the Foreign Office and British High Commission, the conclusion made by Badminton England was "that safety is of paramount importance," he added. Performance director Ian Moss said: "It is a disappointing outcome, especially after we had enjoyed a very good preparation at our holding camp in Doha, Qatar, last week. "Our athletes were extremely well prepared for these championships but, at the end of the day, personal safety must take priority over performance. "This was a unanimous squad decision and is not reflective of the efforts made by the organising committee to create the safest environment possible for all athletes." Lashkar-e-Taiba is Urdu for Soldiers of the Pure, and is a Pakistan-based organisation fighting against Indian control in Kashmir. It has been blamed for several terrorist incidents in India including the October 2005 bomb attacks in Delhi, which saw 60 people killed, and is alleged to have played a part in the armed raid on the Indian parliament in December 2001. It was also linked with the Mumbai terrorist attacks in November 2008, which killed at least 188 people. Link Well I watched the report on the BBC World and the decision by the English Badminton authorities was totally right. It is not only the issue of a Security threat alert but how this puts the Athletes in a frame of mind to compete. Recently Mike Fennel has stated he is impressed with the security planning for New Delhi 2010 saying nothing is being spared. The Games are going no where they will be held in New Delhi. If you really examined things in regards to security threats all Sporting events have those threats , it is only who the threats are directed at . White English Badminton Players would tend to stick out in an Indian City like Hyderabad and looking over ones shoulder 24 7 while you are in a city does not make for a good competitor. Jim Jones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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