Haz.
Regular Member
imported post
Tight gun control means nothing when"some idiot canpull up next to the team bus and blow themselves up". Australian Olympic and Commonwealth shooters are in danger and conserned for their lives.
Haz.
A flying visit to the Delhi Commonwealth Games for Aussie shooters
Safety concerns ... Olympic gold medallist Russell Mark / Pic: Alex Coppel Source: The Daily Telegraph
SECURITY concerns at the Delhi Commonwealth Games have led Australia's gold medal-winning shooters to request they stay outside the Athletes Village and "fly-in, fly-out" to their events.
The frank admission by Olympic gold medallist Russell Mark comes just days after the latest warning about security and terrorist attack fears at the Games in October.
He has predicted that one more incident in India would result in the Games being cancelled or relocated.
Mark, a veteran of 10 Olympic and Commonwealth Games, told The Daily Telegraph he had discussed fears with fellow shooters and, despite tight security at a recent test event, the shooters would feel safer at a hotel closer to the shooting venues to avoid the risk of "some idiot pulling up next to the team bus and blowing themselves up".
One venue, the CRPF Campus at Kadarpur, is 60km from the Athletes Village, while the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range is 21km away.
Mark said the shooting team was also contemplating missing the Opening and Closing Ceremonies to avoid unnecessary risk.
"We have asked if we can stay in the hotel where we stayed during the test event [in March]," he said.
"It was very safe, very secure, very close to the shooting range. The Athletes Village will be at least an hour away. If you are going to get into trouble, that's where it will happen, out in the open travelling to the event. You would have to be worried about some idiot pulling up next to the team bus and blowing themselves up.
"That's the risk, blowing themselves up at the gates to the venue."
There is growing concern among Australia's Commonwealth team about security at the event, despite assurances by organisers the security for athletes will be adequate.
"If I don't need to be at the Opening Ceremony, I won't - why take the risk?" Mark said.
Australian Games organisers discuss security with their Indian counterparts each fortnight, although Australian Commonwealth Games Association head Perry Crosswhite said the latest warning was yet to be discussed.
He said he remained satisfied about preparations for the athletes' arrival but warned that "tourists obviously have to be careful".
Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivan acknowledged safety was an issue and could understand some might contemplate not marching at the Opening or Closing Ceremonies.
"It is a shame that it has come to this but I think people's safety should be the first priority," he said.
Tight gun control means nothing when"some idiot canpull up next to the team bus and blow themselves up". Australian Olympic and Commonwealth shooters are in danger and conserned for their lives.
Haz.
A flying visit to the Delhi Commonwealth Games for Aussie shooters
- By Nick Leys and Todd Balym
- From: The Daily Telegraph
- May 15, 2010 12:00AM
Safety concerns ... Olympic gold medallist Russell Mark / Pic: Alex Coppel Source: The Daily Telegraph
SECURITY concerns at the Delhi Commonwealth Games have led Australia's gold medal-winning shooters to request they stay outside the Athletes Village and "fly-in, fly-out" to their events.
The frank admission by Olympic gold medallist Russell Mark comes just days after the latest warning about security and terrorist attack fears at the Games in October.
He has predicted that one more incident in India would result in the Games being cancelled or relocated.
Mark, a veteran of 10 Olympic and Commonwealth Games, told The Daily Telegraph he had discussed fears with fellow shooters and, despite tight security at a recent test event, the shooters would feel safer at a hotel closer to the shooting venues to avoid the risk of "some idiot pulling up next to the team bus and blowing themselves up".
One venue, the CRPF Campus at Kadarpur, is 60km from the Athletes Village, while the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range is 21km away.
Mark said the shooting team was also contemplating missing the Opening and Closing Ceremonies to avoid unnecessary risk.
"We have asked if we can stay in the hotel where we stayed during the test event [in March]," he said.
"It was very safe, very secure, very close to the shooting range. The Athletes Village will be at least an hour away. If you are going to get into trouble, that's where it will happen, out in the open travelling to the event. You would have to be worried about some idiot pulling up next to the team bus and blowing themselves up.
"That's the risk, blowing themselves up at the gates to the venue."
There is growing concern among Australia's Commonwealth team about security at the event, despite assurances by organisers the security for athletes will be adequate.
"If I don't need to be at the Opening Ceremony, I won't - why take the risk?" Mark said.
Australian Games organisers discuss security with their Indian counterparts each fortnight, although Australian Commonwealth Games Association head Perry Crosswhite said the latest warning was yet to be discussed.
He said he remained satisfied about preparations for the athletes' arrival but warned that "tourists obviously have to be careful".
Olympic swimmer Eamon Sullivan acknowledged safety was an issue and could understand some might contemplate not marching at the Opening or Closing Ceremonies.
"It is a shame that it has come to this but I think people's safety should be the first priority," he said.
