Funding concerns for Commonwealth Games team

With just a year until the opening of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, Australian Games officials fear that the countryâs domination of the event is at an end.
Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) Chief Executive Perry Crosswhite, has warned that delays in the Federal Government's review of the allocation of sports funding could seriously damage Australia's medal chances.
Crosswhite recently told The Age, âthe Government just hasn't come to the party ⦠I've made that known to the Government ⦠a lot of our athletes are young and going into their first major competition and they just haven't got the support that has been there in the past.�?
The independent review of sports funding, commissioned by the Federal Government and led by lawyer David Crawford, was initially due to be completed late last year. That deadline was then changed to early 2009, then to mid-year, but the Government is still waiting on the final report before it begins consulting with sporting bodies and drafting a funding plan.
Funding for sporting federations has been frozen at levels set for the 2004-8 period as all sports anxiously await the delayed report.
However, recent statements by Sports Minister Kate Ellis and Australian Sports Commission Chief Executive Matt Miller have suggested that the Governmentâs sport funding objectives will shift to community recreation and preventative health.
There is concern that while Australia has awaited the results of the review (and with National Sporting Organisations anticipating reduced or frozen funding), competitors such as England, South Africa and Canada have been preparing for the Delhi Games by raising their commitment to elite sport.
Crosswhite said huge gains had been made by Australia since the creation of the Australian Institute of Sport and a golden period of success, stating âit took us basically 20 years to get results ⦠it only takes you two or three years to go back to where you were.�?
Speaking of the event, to be held from 3rd to 14th October 2010, Crosswhite explained that Australians should expect the event to be staged in the âIndian way�?.
It is anticipated that the ACGA will send its largest ever team to compete in an overseas campaign, with more than 425 athletes and 175 officials expected to be selected.
Despite the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) recently expressing their concerns regarding operations and the Indian organisersâ ability to match the high standards set by Manchester and Melbourne, the ACGA remains confident that come Games time, the organisers will deliver a successful event.
âThe 2010 Commonwealth Games will be an exciting and unique experience for participants and visitors,�? added Crosswhite.
âFor the future relevance of the Commonwealth Games it is very important that nations like India host the event, and do so in such a way to reflect its society and values.
âThis diversity in the Commonwealth Games family is both a challenge and a strength.
âThe CGF have expressed their concerns regarding venue construction and transport projects running behind, and we will see how the organisers respond to these concerns next month at the CGF assembly.
âBoth participants and spectators alike will go away and say it was an overall success â and that they did it with excitement and enthusiasm.�?
Athlete security in Delhi has also been high on the agenda, an issue the ACGA has been monitoring closely. Although the ACGA are doing everything within their power to ensure the safety of the Australian team, they will leave it up to the individual sports and athletes to make the final decision.

âAs it is with any Games or any other major sporting event, there is always a security concern,�? said Crosswhite, adding âthe Indian organisers are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of participants and spectators, and we are working closely with the relevant Indian and Australian auth