FILE: World champion athletes Philips Idowu and Dani Samuels abandon plans to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi

Record ID: 723435

  • Title: FILE: World champion athletes Philips Idowu and Dani Samuels abandon plans to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi
  • Date: 23rd September 2010
  • Summary: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS TRIPLE JUMPER PHILLIPS IDOWU (WHITE HAT) IDOWU SPEAKING IDOWU WITH NEWS CREW
  • Embargoed: 8th October 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAW5SKC6PO5RE72HIR7J0S69TD
  • Story Text: World champions Phillips Idowu and Dani Samuels have withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games in a further blow for the beleaguered organisers.
    World discus champion Samuels of Australia pulled out because of security and health concerns, as did England's world triple jump champion Idowu.
    "Sorry people, but I have children to think about. My safety is more important to them than a medal," Idowu wrote on his Twitter feed.
    Four other champions have quit due to various reasons, including injuries, in the last 24 hours.
    "This is the hardest decision of my life and not one I took lightly," Samuels, the bronze medallist from the 2006 Commonwealth games in Melbourne said in a statement.
    "I love competing for Australia, winning a Commonwealth Games is important to me and something I've dreamed of.
    "My whole year's training has been planned for this event but yesterday I couldn't even bring myself to train with stress and anxiety regarding the issues surrounding the Games."
    The 22-year-old informed Australian team officials of her decision on Tuesday, two days after two Taiwanese nationals were wounded when suspected militants opened fire on a tourist bus outside the Jama Masjid mosque.
    Samuel's withdrawal strikes a huge blow for organisers, who have been at pains to assure athletes will be able to compete safely despite heightened security fears and some threats from militant groups that the Oct. 3-14 event would be targeted.
    There have been reports of stray dogs, stagnant water and human faeces being found at the unfinished Games village where the athletes will live. Stagnant pools of water, breeding grounds for Dengue fever-carrying mosquitoes, lie around.
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