March 5 - Confidence in India's ability to be able to stage a secure and trouble-free Commonwealth Games later this year is growing among the countries due to take part in the event, it has been claimed.


Mike Hooper, the chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), said that the successful hosting of the Commonwealth Shooting Championships and the current hockey World Cup in New Delhi had helped allay many of the fears about security for the Games, which are due to open on October 3.

He said: "The Chef de Missions of all the 71 nations are arriving here next week and there will be presentations by the Delhi Government, the Delhi Police about the security and other aspects."

"I think the security [at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships and hockey World Cup] has been fantastic.

"It’s almost impossible to breach this kind of security ring.

"We have had a successful Commonwealth Shooting Championships which went off without any untoward accident.

"I think all reservations about the security will be put to rest once the delegates come over to Delhi and have a look at the progress themselves."

The New Zealander said that several participating teams had reservations before coming for the World Cup, but after arriving here all their doubts have been dispelled.

Hooper said: "Yes, there were players and teams which had a few reservations about the security here.

"But ever since the teams have arrived here, I am sure no one has had any problem with the security."


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