Commonwealth happy with security arrangements

Several participating nations are so far satisfied with India's security arrangement for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

76 officials from 28 countries, mostly security experts attended the Delhi convention. Delegates from Commonwealth countries attended a two-day international security conference ahead of the games where Indian organisers managed to convince them of its capability to host the event and fend off any security threat.

"As of now there is no specific threat to the Commonwealth Games, or to India or to any (participating) countries. By and large, security experts are impressed with security and traffic arrangements," India's home secretary G. K. Pillai told the media Thursday.

India's Home Ministry formed the International Security Liaison Group to coordinate security arrangements, as several participating nations pressured the country to shape up its security for athletes and officials.

"Not a single country said they were not satisfied with our arrangement. Overall they are satisfied with our presentation but they want us to manage the perception of threats being played up in the media," added Pillai.

He said 76 delegates from 28 countries, mostly security professionals, who attended the meeting in Delhi, also assured India that they would share any information on any sort of threat to the Commonwealth Games, which is being held in the Asian region for the second time.

Many countries taking part in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games have so far expressed their satisfaction concerning India’s handling of security arrangements.

Representatives from Commonwealth countries recently were invited to attend a two-day international security conference where Indian game organisers managed to persuade the various delegations that it was capable and competent to offer proper security and fend off any threat which might arise during the event.

India’s home secretary G. K. Pillai told the media at a recent press conference that Indian security authorities were presently not detecting any threat targeting the Commonwealth Games, or to any (participating) countries. He added that in large, international security experts had expressed their approval and satisfaction with security and traffic measures taken so far.

India’s Home Ministry created the International Security Liaison Group in order to oversee security arrangements, as many participating nations have put pressure on India to shape up its security measures surronding officials and athletes.

Mr Pillai added that none of the invited delegates have said they were not contented with the arrangements in place for the games. Overall, the representatives expressed satisfaction with the security presentation but need the security team put in place by the Indian government to manage the perception of terrorist threats being hyped in the media.