Toronto, Sep 23: Lengthening the list of athletes withdrawing from the Commonwealth Games 2010 (CWG), two Canadian archers have now opted out of the Delhi Games citing security and health concerns.
Kevin Tataryn and Dietmar Trillus on Wednesday, Sep 22 withdrew from the soon approaching CWG due to the plight of the Games village at Indian national capital.
“I"ll take my safety over a medal any day. When other athletes are deciding not to go as well, it kind of hit home a bit more that you are not the only one thinking it"s not the best place to be going," said 25-year-old Tataryn.
"It seems like it"s all a bunch of little things that they are having problems with, what the people in India make it seem like. But I think it"s quite a bit larger of a problem from what I"m being told by our Commonwealth Games representatives," he added.
With the Games just days away, visiting international delegates made some scathing remarks against the Athletes village. A knockout statement came from Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief executive Mike Hooper, who termed the games village 'filthy' and 'uninhabitable'.
Announcing the archers' decision, Scott Ogilvie, Archery Canada"s executive director, said that their decision was personal and independent.
While terming their decisions "unfortunate", the director confirmed that the rest of the 10-member team is still expected to depart on Tuesday, Sep 28.
However, Canda has advised its athletes to delay their departures as the country has decided to review the situation in Delhi for a couple more days.
“We have to review that in the next couple of days, and we"re keeping a very close pulse on (questions of) is this safe, is this meaningful, is this going to be an experience we promised our athletes and coaches... and that becomes the 64 million dollar question," Canadian chef de mission Martha Deacon told a news channel.
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Kevin Tataryn and Dietmar Trillus on Wednesday, Sep 22 withdrew from the soon approaching CWG due to the plight of the Games village at Indian national capital.
“I"ll take my safety over a medal any day. When other athletes are deciding not to go as well, it kind of hit home a bit more that you are not the only one thinking it"s not the best place to be going," said 25-year-old Tataryn.
"It seems like it"s all a bunch of little things that they are having problems with, what the people in India make it seem like. But I think it"s quite a bit larger of a problem from what I"m being told by our Commonwealth Games representatives," he added.
With the Games just days away, visiting international delegates made some scathing remarks against the Athletes village. A knockout statement came from Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief executive Mike Hooper, who termed the games village 'filthy' and 'uninhabitable'.
Announcing the archers' decision, Scott Ogilvie, Archery Canada"s executive director, said that their decision was personal and independent.
While terming their decisions "unfortunate", the director confirmed that the rest of the 10-member team is still expected to depart on Tuesday, Sep 28.
However, Canda has advised its athletes to delay their departures as the country has decided to review the situation in Delhi for a couple more days.
“We have to review that in the next couple of days, and we"re keeping a very close pulse on (questions of) is this safe, is this meaningful, is this going to be an experience we promised our athletes and coaches... and that becomes the 64 million dollar question," Canadian chef de mission Martha Deacon told a news channel.
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