New Delhi/Melbourne: As speculation mounts about Delhi's prospect of losing the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi today quashed the rumours saying the apprehension was baseless.
International media reported that security fears were clouding the Delhi Games - raising the prospect of a switch.
"Security is a major issue. What is disturbing is that this (trend) has been continuing for the last nine months. In that backdrop, we continue to assess the situation, although we have not taken a definitive position," Commonwealth Games Federation (CWGF) Chief Executive Mike Hooper was quoted as saying in the media.
"We have our own security consultants who would continue to monitor the situation in the country," he said and added that "One can only speculate. It's still too premature to comment on that (transferring the Games)".
When contacted, CWG organising Committee Chairman Kalmadi told PTI that there was no chance of the Games being relocated.
"The Commonwealth Games will be held in Delhi in 2010 in October. All the infrastructure is being readied for the event which is still around two years away," Kalmadi said.
Asked if the situation had changed in the backdrop of the Mumbai massacre, Kalmadi said, "There is no apprehension about it, no one in the Commonwealth Games Federation is talking about it."
"When 9/11 happened in America or blasts in London stations, they came out with new and stricter security measures. We will also have strict measures for the high-profile event," he said and added that "all aspects are being well taken care of."
