Terror threat dries up sponsors for Oz Delhi Commonwealth Games contingent

Sydney, Mar. 19 (ANI): Australia's Commonwealth Games Association is struggling to attract sponsorships needed to send a large, competitive team to Delhi Commonwealth Games because many regular sponsors have backed out of the event fearing terrorist attacks.

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Australian Commonwealth Games Association chief Perry Crosswhite as saying that only 35 per cent of the 7 million dollars needed for the games have been secured from corporate backers.

With six months remaining until the Games to begin, team officials should already have raised double that amount.

But the fear of a terrorist attack, either in the lead-up to the Games or during the 11 days of it, has dogged preparations for the event, the paper says.

“I'm really disappointed at the level of support from corporate Australia,'' Crosswhite said.

''We've always had good support in the past but they have obviously been influenced by what they have heard or read and are worried the Games are not going to go ahead or that they will be a disaster. They will go ahead,” he added.

Major backers from previous years who have not signed up for Delhi include Telstra, Commonwealth Bank and Holden.

If ACGA fails to raise sufficient funds, it will be forced to dip into its foundation - a future fund established to invest the profits from the 2006 Melbourne Games. (ANI)