New Zealand confirms participation in CWG

After days of indecision, the New Zealand Olympic Committee on Friday confirmed participation in the Delhi Commonwealth Games after seeing positive steps being taken by the organisers to improve the situation.

New Zealand Olympic Committee board gave its nod for the planned departures from September 28 after being briefed by NZOC President Mike Stanley and Secretary General Barry Maister, who were in Delhi to take stock of the situation.

Staneley said the situation was grim but it has started changing following intervention by the state and the central governments.

"We remain hopeful that things can be turned around. What we found was inexcusable and unacceptable but we've seen a change in leadership and this is positive," Stanley said at a press conference in Auckland.

The build-up to the Games has been marred by a lot of problems including construction delays, bad conditions at the Games Village, collapse of an overbridge near the main venue Jawaharlal Nehru stadium and an attack on a tourist bus.

It led several Commonwealth nation including New Zealand to put on hold the departure of their teams for the Games, which Stanley said was a wise decision.

"Working with sports to delay the arrivals of the first athletes has also been the right decision and we appreciate everyone's flexibility," Stanley said.

The board also agreed that athletes will be advised to stay within the security 'bubble' during the games and that the situation will continue to be monitored by the team in New Delhi.