Malaysia takes extra security measures
Team Malaysia will be accompanied by two police officers when they depart for New Delhi to take part in the upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said extra security measures were taken to ensure the athletes'
safety in the Indian capital, which was recently rocked by a series of unfortunate events including the shooting of two Taiwanese tourists. He explained that the main duties of the police officers are to co-ordinate with their Indian counterparts and assess
the security situation.
The inclusion of the two officers to the Malaysian delegation has already been approved by the National Sports Council. NSC director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong said they decided to send their own security personnel after receiving the latest update about
the security situation in New Delhi.
"We will take all necessary steps to ensure the safety our athletes," he said. "That is the reason for the inclusion of the two police officers. They will have accreditation to go to all the stadiums so that they can verify all the reports."
Embong also clarified that the athletes will depart for New Delhi as scheduled. The national lawn bowls team are the first Malaysians to head to the Indian capital. They are scheduled to leave tonight. The main delegation will leave on Monday. A total of
203 Malaysian athletes will see action in this year's Commonwealth Games. They will vie for medals in aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, lawn bowls, rugby sevens, table tennis, shooting, squash and weightlifting.
Malaysia is aiming to surpass their best ever performance of 10 gold medals, which they achieved when they hosted the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. Team Malaysia won seven gold medals four years ago in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian secretariat has arrived at the Athletes Village to facilitate the arrival of athletes.
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