Scots to fly out to Delhi Games

Team Scotland Athletes. Pic by Duncan KirkhopeTeam Scotland athletes are flying out from Glasgow Airport

Hundreds of athletes and staff will begin to fly out from Scotland to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Concerns about security and unfinished facilities had raised doubts about the Scottish team’s involvement with the sporting event starting on 3 October.

But guarantees have since been given by the Delhi 2010 Organising Committee and the Commonwealth Games Federation that the problems have been solved.

The first of the athletes will fly from Glasgow Airport at about 1400 BST.

Those travelling on Saturday include competitors from archery, lawn bowls, shooting, tennis and weightlifting.

Team Scotland’s rugby players, boxers and wrestlers are due to head out on Tuesday.

Scottish team manager Vicky Strange, who is already in Delhi, told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sports Weekly: “Our accommodation for Team Scotland is actually very much ready.

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“It’s been a hard week, I’ve had easier working weeks as have the rest of the guys out here.

“But, it definitely has paid off and the organising committee have now taken notice of everything that has been said and there’s been a lot of progress.

Scotland’s Sport Minister, Shona Robison, who travelled to the airport to wish the athletes good luck, said she was “very pleased” to see them boarding flights for Delhi.

She said: “We are continuing to review the progress made on the ground and I have once again spoken to the Indian sports minister to stress the importance that the assurances given by the Indian government translate into action in order that the village is ready to receive the athletes due to stay there.”

“I would like to take this opportunity to once again commend our team who have dealt extremely well in what has been very challenging circumstances.

preparations at the commonwealth games in India

“These challenges however should not distract from the efforts of the athletes who have devoted years to training in a bid to pull on the national jersey and represent their country on the international stage.

At least eight nations, including England and Wales, had expressed reservations over the preparations for the Games.

Teams hit out at accommodation for athletes described as “unfit for human habitation”.

Individual athletes, including reigning Commonwealth triple jump champion Phillips Idowu, decided not to attend over safety fears.

These were heightened when a footbridge to the main stadium collapsed and the roof of the weightlifting venue fell in.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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