New Zealand boost for Games

The president of the Commonwealth Games Federation has been heartened by the "considerable improvements" made to the facilities for the 2010 Delhi Games, as have New Zealand officials who today confirmed their team would compete.

New Zealand were the only nation still contemplating a boycott but, while insisting they would review conditions on a daily basis, they have committed their athletes to travelling.

It is more welcome news for organisers after CGF chief Mike Fennell confirmed earlier he had received encouraging reports from federation's CEO Mike Hooper ahead of a tour of the athletes' village and a meeting with Indian government officials today.

The village had been described by Hooper as "filthy" previously, raising serious questions over whether it would be suitable to host athletes from around the world, but Fennell insists the picture now looks far brighter as competitors from England and Australia begin to arrive on the sub-continent.

He told the federation's official website: "It is good to be in Delhi, and the briefing I've received from my CEO, Mike Hooper, was that considerable improvements have been made within the village, with further significant resources deployed by Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs Dikshit, to make good what was a concerning situation.

"I am looking forward to spending the morning with my colleagues from the Commonwealth Games movement and evaluating the situation with all the key stakeholders."

Fennell was today attending a meeting of the Games' chefs de mission and a separate briefing with Indian cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar after a dreadful week in which fears were raised that the Games may be boycotted or cancelled following the collapse of a bridge between a parking area and the main stadium, and the partial collapse of a ceiling in the weightlifting arena.

He added: "I am certainly pleased to arrive in Delhi to the news that Australia has moved into the village ready for the arrival of their athletes, and with the confirmation late yesterday that England and Wales will be on their way to Delhi shortly.

"Already so many athletes from around the Commonwealth have started their journey to Delhi. Our job across the next week is to help ensure that all the corrective work is completed in good time.

"We must ensure that a suitable environment is provided to ensure the welfare of the athletes and their support staff. It is vital that all remedial work that has already started continues with the greatest urgency."