By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

July 22 - Usain Bolt will be the main loser if he does not compete in this year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, the chairman of the Organising Committee claimed today.



Bolt, the triple Olympic and world champion, heads the list of several top stars who have announced that they will miss the event, which is due to start on October 3.

Others include Sir Chris Hoy, Scotland's four-time Olympic champion, Jessica Ennis, England's world heptathlon champion, and Bolt's fellow Jamaicans, Shelly-Ann Fraser and Veronica Campbell-Brown, the Olympic 100 and 200 metres champions.

Their decision to skip the Games have been fiercely criticised by India's Sports Minister M.S Gil.

But Suresh Kalmadi has tried to keep positive as the list has continued to grow, including earlier this week when cyclist Victoria Pendleton, England's Olympic sprint champion, revealed that she was joining Sir Chris and missing the Games.

In a blog published today on insidethegames, he writes: "We have built the Commonwealth Games around the athletes.

"Be it the competition venues or training venues or the Games Village, catering or transport, we have kept the athlete in focus when designing the facilities and making decisions.

"If any athlete chooses to skip the Games, for whatever reason, he or she will be the one missing out on a wonderful Games.

"There have been reports quoting champion sprinter Usain Bolt's manager that he may not come to Delhi.

"All I will say is that at the moment, the Organising Committee only knows the number of athletes from each of the 71 members of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

"Since the last date for entries by name is September 3, we will know for sure which athletes are coming."

Kalmadi (pictured) has tried to focus on the athletes who have pledged to compete in the Games.

He wrote: "The websites of these Commonwealth Games Associations tell us that some fabulous athletes have been named in their sides.

"Australian swimming medley queen Stephanie Rice won three gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and is a world record holder.

"England's Rebecca Adlington won two swimming gold medals in Beijing.

"Australian pole-vaulter Steve Hooker is a world champion."

To read Kalmadi's blog click here.

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