Wales give CWG officials deadline over safety

Wales have given Delhi organisers until later on Wednesday to guarantee that the Commonwealth Games venues and athletes' village are safe for the country's 200 athletes.

"We have given the Organising Committee a deadline of this evening to confirm if all venues and the Games Village are fit for purpose," a statement from the Wales team chiefs said.

Officials from Wales chiefs are in Delhi inspecting the facilities which have caused alarm for many of the competing nations. Scotland said earlier on Wednesday it had delayed the departure of the country's first 41 athletes and officials.

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On Tuesday an access bridge collapsed near the main stadium in Delhi amid concerns about conditions in the athletes' village while on Wednesday a false ceiling fell down at the weightlifting venue.

"With yesterday's news of the bridge collapse and now the roof of the weightlifting venue, we have to take a step back and examine how safe it is to bring athletes into this environment," added the Wales statement.

"The health and safety of our team has always been our top priority -- which is why we've been so desperate to resolve the issues in the Games Village."

The Wales team chiefs said that once a decision was made this evening they would contact the athletes to advise them of the latest position and issue a further update.

Even if Wales decide to send their team to India, Anne Ellis, the president of the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales, said she would sympathise with athletes who decided not to travel to Delhi.

"If any of them choose to pull out it would be their decision and we would respect and support what they decided to do," she told Sky News. "It would not jeopardise their future selection for Wales."

She said Wales would talk to other competing nations before deciding whether to send a team.

"I don't think one team will pull out on its own," she said. "I think it will be a joint decision on what is best for the athletes.