The front-page story, which quoted unnamed "senior Whitehall sources" under the headline "England ready to pull out of Commonwealth Games over terror risk" claimed that there was "virtually no chance" a team would be sent.

The authors of the story claim that the team, which is set to number nearly 150 athletes and officials and expected to include double Olympic swimming champion Rebecca Adlington, would be be targeted by Pakistani terrorists.

Concern of an attack on England's athletes stems from Britain's role in the international conflict against the Taliban in Afghanistan, which would make them prime targets.

“If you are an English athlete there is no way you are going to want to risk your life competing at the Games," the paper quoted the unnamed source as saying.

"We currently cannot see any way that England will be able to send a team to Delhi next year."

But Ann Hogbin, England's general team manager, tonight claimed the story was untrue and without foundation.

She told insidethegames: “That is definitely not the case. 

"Our current and strong intention is to field a team for the Games in Delhi next year.

"Of course, we have a duty of care to the athletes and other team members which we take very seriously.

"Despite having been given extensive briefings from relevant authorities we have not received any indication that we should not participate in the Games and we will continue to work hard to put in place the best possible arrangements for our team."

The Foreign Office also denied that the Government had given any advice to Commonwealth Games England (CGE) that they should not travel to Delhi.

A spokesman said: "We are aware that the Commonwealth Games Federation had some concerns about preparations for the Games.

"We continue to work closely with the Indian authorities who are doing everything they can to ensure a safe and secure Games."

Privately, GCE officials are furious, claiming the report is "rubbish" and are angry over a story they claim is just "scaremongering" and that they are confident that its team, which is also set to include Olympic sprint gold medallist Victoria Pendleton (pictured) and world diving champion Tom Daley, need not have any fears travelling to the Indian capital for the Games, which are due to open on October 3, 2010.

A number of overseas countries, including Australia and New Zealand, have previously expressed concerns over security at the Games following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai last year, when at least 173 people were killed, and in Lahore in March when the Sri Lanka cricket team were ambushed.

England's team were heavily criticised in August after they withdrew from the World Badminton Championships in Hyderabad after they claimed they had received a "specific terrorist threat".

Badminton England said had said their decision followed media reports of a specific Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist threat, referring to the Pakistan-based militant group who were blamed for the attack on Mumbai.

But Britain's Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe later apologised on their behalf and promised India that England would participate in the Commonwealth Games.

Australia also refused to play a Davis Cup match in Chennai in April, even though the International Tennis Federation (ITF) claimed there was no danger.
 
The Indian Government have promised extensive measures will be taken during the Games, including exclusive lanes for vehicles, four-layered security checks at venues, experts to battle chemical or biological weapons as well as helicopter surveillance during the Games.

Australia said that it is now satisfied with security arrangements in Delhi and has no fears about competing there in the Commonwealth Games.

Perry Crosswhite, the chief executive of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA), said: "I was in Delhi two weeks ago and the security arrangements were well-organised and also had improved since we had seen them previously.

"Also Australian Government and our security advisers are certainly not recommending similar action [withdrawing] for ourselves.
 
"In the past I've seen similar stories which have proved to be groundless and I would be looking to speak to the English Commonwealth Games Association before I would really want to say anything more.

"We had a full presentation from the Delhi security officials and authorities and all of us were pleased with the progress and we certainly had no other information that suggested there was any security threats."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected] 


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