British diver Peter Waterfield pulls out of Delhi CWG citing ‘family fears’
September 25th, 2010 - 12:17 pm ICT by ANILondon, Sep 25(ANI): British diver Peter Waterfield has become the latest athlete to pull out of the Delhi Commonwealth Games over health and security fears.
Waterfield, who won Commonwealth gold in 2002 and silver in 2006, said that he decided to withdraw from the October 3-14 Games out of duty to his family.
“I have attended two Commonwealth Games and three Olympic Games in the past so I always knew that the living conditions would be basic, but I do not want to put myself at risk in Delhi,” The Telegraph quoted Waterfield, as saying.
“I have a wife and two young children who were very concerned about me attending the event and this decision is one that we have made as a family. I hope that people will understand and respect this,” he added.
The 29-year-old 10-metre platform specialist now joins cyclists Russell Downing, Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh and Ben Swift and Ian Stannard, who have already withdrawn from the Games citing health concerns.
Dengue fever remains a serious threat for the athletes due to the large amount of standing water left in the athletes’ village following weeks of monsoon rain.
Meanwhile, the first wave of English athletes, the men’s hockey team and the lawn bowls squad, arrived in New Delhi on Friday, but will stay in hotels until work on England’s three residential towers in the athletes’ village is complete.
“Our next wave of athletes arrives Sunday and a lot still needs to happen before then. More and swift action is required,” said Craig Hunter, the England chef de mission. (ANI)
- CWG on track - amid criticism and cyclists pulling out (Afternoon Lead) - Sep 24, 2010
- Four world class British cyclists pull out of Games - Sep 24, 2010
- As athletes begin arriving, CWG finally on track (Night Lead) - Sep 24, 2010
- Commonwealth Games finally on track, athletes begin arriving (Evening Lead) - Sep 24, 2010
- Now, Kiwi cyclist Henderson pulls out of Delhi CWG citing 'family fears' - Sep 24, 2010
- First England athletes arrive in Delhi, to stay in hotels - Sep 24, 2010
- Two more Australian athletes withdraw from CWG - Sep 26, 2010
- Oz road cyclist Renshaw pulls out of Delhi CWG citing dengue fever concerns - Oct 04, 2010
- Foreign athletes pour in; African nations frown at CWG Village (Intro Night Lead) - Sep 27, 2010
- New Zealand cyclist pulls out of CWG - Sep 24, 2010
- 'Games Village has set benchmark for London 2012' - Sep 16, 2010
- South Africa's world champion pulls out of CWG - Sep 28, 2010
- England hockey, lawn bowls teams become first overseas athletes to arrive - Sep 24, 2010
- CWG venues' lockdown delayed, two Australian athletes back out (Afternoon Lead) - Sep 26, 2010
- New Zealand confirms participation in CWG - Sep 25, 2010
Tags: athletes village, chef de mission, commonwealth games, commonwealth gold, craig hunter, cwg, family fears, first wave, geraint thomas, health concerns, hockey team, monsoon rain, next wave, olympic games, peter waterfield, residential towers, security fears, stannard, swift action, thomas peter