Source: www.nzherald.co.nz
Organisers of the Delhi Commonwealth Games have dismissed Australian government warnings of terrorism risks at the sporting event.
The government's official travel advisory for New Delhi warns Australians of a "high risk of terrorism" surrounding the October 3-14 Games.
But organisers have dismissed the warning as overtly alarmist.
Delhi this week has gone into security lockdown ahead of the Games, with 175,000 paramilitary bolstering 80,000 police in the Indian capital.
Organising Committee secretary-general Lalit Bhanot has assured Australian athletes and officials of their safety.
"We will provide them the full security," Bhanot said.
"We will provide them the best facilities and it is going to be the best ever Commonwealth Games, but they must participate and enjoy.
"There should be no worry as to regard their security and in regards to their safety."
The build-up to the Delhi Games has been plagued by controversy, with terrorism, corruption and health concerns looming large.
Organisers have also been criticised for missing deadlines to complete venues, with tenders for some Games services still being decided.
Among the outstanding tenders is for flag poles at Games venues, but Bhanot was unfazed at any lingering concern.
"I'm fully comfortable as far as the preparations of the Games are concerned," he said.
"We are fully ready.
"The venue operations teams are in place, we have all the international certification, whatever is required, as well as the completion from the local agencies for the safety of the buildings.
"So we are ready to hold these Games and it will be a great Games."
Monsoon rains have recently troubled organisers, with workers toiling day and night to complete infrastructure at venues.
"Yes, this excess rain in Delhi is more than we have seen in the past so it is creating problems," Bhanot said.
"But I don't think it will have an impact - if we get another week where it is not raining, everything will be perfect."
The organising committee';s vice chairman, Randhir Singh, was similarly optimistic, saying only cosmetics around venues remained to be completed.
"We are very well organised and we will, God willing, stage a good Games," Singh said.
"Fortunately, we managed to complete all the work that had to be done before the rains and it is only the furnishing things that have to happen."