Australia to send largest contingent for Delhi CWG

Australia plans to send its largest ever contingent for the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Delhi despite security apprehensions but has left it to the athletes to take a call on their participation in the multi-discipline event.

A day after Australian Commonwealth Games Association CEO Perry Crosswhite refused to give any kind of security assurance to the athletes, the ACGA on Friday, said it was planning to send a jumbo contingent for the Delhi Games.

"It is anticipated that the Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) will send its largest team ever to compete in an overseas campaign, with more than 425 athletes and 175 officials expected to be selected," the association said in a statement.

Crosswhite conceded security remained a concern for the Australians and although the ACGA was doing everything to ensure safety of the Australian team, it would leave it to the individual sports and athletes to make the final decision.

"As it is with any Games or any other major sporting event, there is always a security concern," said Crosswhite.

"The organisers are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of participants and spectators, and we are working closely with the relevant Indian and Australian authorities.

"However in the end, we will leave the final decision up to the sports and the individual athletes," Crosswhite said.

"We cannot say that we guarantee everyone's safety, however we can say that we've monitored the situation closely, that we think it is secure and that all necessary steps have been taken," he added.

Even though Crosswhite recently doubted Delhi's ability to match the Manchester (2002) and Melbourne (2006) editions of the Games, ACGA oozed confidence that the October 3-14 Games next year would prove a smash hit.

"Despite the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) recently expressing their concerns regarding operations and the organisers' ability to match the high standards set by Manchester and Melbourne, the ACGA remains confident that come Games time, the organisers will deliver a successful event," the association said.

Apart from England, Australia is a key sporting nation with an illustrious Commonwealth Games record.

Since Auckland in 1990, where Australia claimed 52 gold and 162 medals in total, Australia has improved its overall medal tally at every edition of the past five Games.

Australia's best performance was on home soil in Melbourne in 2006, where 84 gold medals were secured for a total haul of 221 medals. Crosswhite said the Aussies would try to better the mark in Delhi.

"The aim of the 2010 Australian team will be to better our performance in Melbourne and win at least 221 medals, however this will be a significant challenge," Crosswhite said.

"In Delhi there will be no home advantage, the program now includes wrestling and archery, two sports which Australia hasn't been traditionally strong in, whilst basketball and triathlon have been dropped.

"As well as the old foes, challenges to our 2010 medal tally are expected from Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, Malaysia and, of course India who are very committed to showing success at home," he added.