Delhi Commonwealth Games Security
In the years leading up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, many visiting sporting teams have had concerns about their security when traveling around the country, and many have postponed or canceled their trips. This is a problem that the organizers had to address, with possible boycotts always looming.
Terrorist activity in the years leading up to the games had been blamed on the group Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based organization fighting against Indian control in Kashmir. In Delhi, there were bomb attacks in October 2005, which killed more than 60 people, and an armed raid on the Indian parliament in December 2001. Closer to the event date, Lashkar-e-Taiba was linked with the Mumbai terrorist attacks in November 2008, which killed at least 188 people.
Athlete Boycott?
A story run in newspapers in December 2009, said that England was seriously considering pulling out of the Commonwealth Games in India over fears its athletes will be victims of a terrorist attack. Police and security advisers fear the England team will be targeted by Pakistani militants and feel the safety of athletes cannot currently be guaranteed. Closer to the Games, many other countries considered a boycott. Several athletes from Australia and England (and possibly more) chose not to attend citing security risks.
Related Pages
- About Delhi 2010
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