Games will not suffer because of pullouts: Oz chef de mission
September 28th, 2010 - 5:54 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) Australian chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said Tuesday the pullout of a few athletes will have little impact on the Commonwealth Games and it will only be their personal loss.
“If the athletes have dropped out it is their personal loss, not a loss for the Games. It will be sad for the athletes. It is not about their personal performance, it is about representing Australia,” he said.
Moneghetti said only four or five Australian athletes have dropped out.
The Aussie absentees include world champion discus thrower Dani Samuels, Cyclist Travis Meyer and table tennis player Stephanie Sang.
“Just four or five athletes have dropped out and that is certainly not a large number if you compare the size of the Australian contingent.”
Australia have selected a 650-strong contingent for the Games.
Moneghetti, who was the mayor of the Village at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, said the much criticised Games Village here is in good shape, with the athletes having nothing to complain.
“We are happy with everything here at the Games Village. We arrived here Sunday morning and the transfer from the airport to the Games Village was smooth and we are absolutely happy with the traffic.
“I have not received any complaint from the athletes about the Games Village. Accommodation is perfect and the dining area is excellent,” he said, adding that the athletes are excited about attending the Oct 3 opening ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
- Two more Australian athletes withdraw from CWG - Sep 26, 2010
- Australian world champion discus thrower pulls out of CWG - Sep 21, 2010
- Two more Aussies skip Delhi CWG due to injury - Sep 30, 2010
- Oz Sports Minister warns about more athletes pulling out from CW Games - Sep 22, 2010
- Aussie athletes "looking forward" to having good experience in Delhi CWG despite concerns - Sep 27, 2010
- South Africa's world champion pulls out of CWG - Sep 28, 2010
- Four world class British cyclists pull out of Games - Sep 24, 2010
- Aussies happy with Village despite security advisory (Lead) - Sep 28, 2010
- Semenya likely to participate in the Games (Lead) - Sep 28, 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
- CWG on track - amid criticism and cyclists pulling out (Afternoon Lead) - Sep 24, 2010
- No issue flying national flags at Games venues: Oz Commonwealth chief - Sep 27, 2010
- Australian athletes asked not to move around before CWG - Sep 28, 2010
- Australia committed to the CWG: Crosswhite - Sep 22, 2010
Tags: aussie, australian athletes, chef de mission, criticised, dining area, good shape, jawaharlal nehru, jawaharlal nehru stadium, melbourne commonwealth games, New Delhi, opening ceremony, personal loss, personal performance, pullout, samuels, steve moneghetti, sunday morning, table tennis player, travis meyer, world champion