Oz satisfied with security for CWG, Hockey WC

London, Feb 19: Australia has expressed confidence in India's capability to safeguard the upcoming Commonwealth Games despite the warning issued by terror organisations advising the international athletes against visiting India.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, who visited India in 2009 to review security arrangements for the CWG 2010 to be hosted in Delhi, said, "I was satisfied then and I'm satisfied now that all of the necessary co-ordination and consultation continues to occur and, of course, we are deeply interested in those arrangements."

Speaking to reporters here, he added, "It is a very regrettable fact of the modern era that there are always the risk of security risks in major sporting events, whether they're conducted in Australia, the Sydney Olympics or the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, or whether they're conducted in India."

India is also hosting other international sporting events such as men's hockey World Cup in Delhi and the Commonwealth Shooting Federation Championships.

Mr Smith said that he was sure that the security measures were in place for these events too.

The third season of Indian Premier League, starting on Mar 12, will also be held in various venues across the country. The cricketing event sees participation of players from international teams, and majority of players are Australian.

Following the Feb 13 Pune blast, HuJi (al-Qaeda linked group) chief Ilyas Kashmiri warned international sportspersons against taking part in these international sports events.

While some of the Australian sports bodies are considering the threat, other have just brushed it aside.

Australian Commonwealth Games officials have said that they will be sending a team to Delhi while Hockey Australia has said none of the players have indicated they want to pull out of the men's World Cup. Australian shooters are already in Delhi.

Coming to IPL, Australian Cricket Association and Cricket Australia are waiting on a security report to be tabled next week to assess the threat.

OneIndia News