Canadian sports minister lends support to CWG

Despite their initial reservations, Canada sports minister Gary Lunn said they will no get influenced by the adverse reports around the Commonwealth Games and vowed to support the crisis-hit event.

Like several participating nations, Canada had delayed the departure of their athletes due to poor hygienic conditions at the Games Village but Lunn said “difficulties occur in big events”.

As the first first batch of Canadian athletes arrived on Sunday, Lunn telephoned his Indian counterpart in the evening, saying that he was not worried by the negative media coverage of the Games.

“We are not worried by the international media reports about the CWG Delhi which are often exaggerated. Difficulties do come at such large events. We had them in Vancouver Winter Olympics. We are confident that you will overcome them. We are coming in full force. I look forward to meeting you in Delhi,” Lunn reportedly told Indian sports minister M.S. Gill over telephone.

Gill assured Lunn that Indian authorities had been working hard to overcome the shortcomings.

“We look forward to have Canadian contingent at the Games,” Gill said.

A group of 35 Canadian athletes and support staff move in to the village on Sunday while about 40 athletes and coaches from women’s gymnastics, shooting, table tennis and men’s hockey are scheduled to arrive on Monday.