No threat to Commonwealth Games, same security for all: India

NEW DELHI - India Thursday said there was no security threat of any sort to 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi next year and all participants, irrespective of their countries, would get same level of security.

“To the best of our knowledge, there is no specific threat to the Commonwealth Games,” Home Secretary G.K. Pillai told mediapersons after the conclusion of the two day international security liaison conference here.

Around 76 delegates comprising security professionals and representatives from high commissions of 26 Commonwealth countries like Australia, Britain, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, Kenya, Nigeria and Singapore, among others, were briefed about security and traffic related arrangements to be put in place during the games. The delegations were also shown around the venues of the games.

Pillai said all delegates were “impressed” with the professional nature of presentations and suggested few things.

“There were ten major issues that came out of the deliberations. The most important was the management of public perception of threat to the Commonwealth Games. Other included appointment of nodal officers for co-ordination. It was also decided that all countries would share their threat perceptions with each other,” he said.

He said the delegates’ inquiries were mainly accreditation related and more specific about the security for the head of their states who would be visiting the country during the games. The delegates also inquired about health services and other contingency plans.

Pillai said the games venue would be sealed at least a fortnight ago as part of preventive security measures. India is hosting nearly 8,000 athletes and officials for the Commonwealth Games which would be held in various parts of the national capital from Oct 3-14, 2010. Around 15-20 head of the states are also expected to arrive in Delhi.

Another 100,000 visitors are expected to be in the city for the event. Besides, there will be 30,000 volunteers guiding visitors to the games. The total city infrastructure investment has been estimated at $2 billion.

Pillai said the security would also be provided to athletes not only in the games village, but on their visit to historic places in the country.

He also said there was no input that level of threat was more for athletes for any particular country. “The level of security is same for every one.”