Alison Williamson defies Commonwealth Games concerns
One of Shropshire's top athletes today revealed she had no intention of pulling out of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi despite fears over safety and poor facilities. One of Shropshire's top athletes today revealed she had no intention of pulling out of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi despite fears over safety and poor facilities. County archer Alison Williamson, from Much Wenlock, said she would be travelling to New Delhi on Sunday. The 38-year-old will travel with fellow members of the British archery squad. A huge cloud currently hangs over the event after a series of last-minute hitches. A vital bridge to the main stadium collapsed yesterday, injuring 27 labourers. And today the ceiling at the weightlifting venue caved in. Read more in today's Shropshire Star
English, Welsh and Scottish officials have expressed concern at the state of the athletes' accommodation and anger over India's last-minute preparations for the event, due to start on October 3.
Trepidation
England's world champion triple jumper Phillips Idowu and Australian discus world champion Dani Samuels both withdrew from the games yesterday, citing concerns over health and security.
But Williamson, a veteran of five Olympic Games and a bronze medallist in Athens in 2004, said the archery squad was looking forward to competing.
She said: "It's the first time archery has been at the Commonwealth Games since 1982 and so we're all very excited about it.
"There's no trepidation and we're all looking forward to it, it hasn't affected us at all."
Williamson, who is also targetting a medal at the London 2012 Olympic, has visited India twice in the run-up to the games.
She added: "We rarely get five-star accommodation so I'm sure we'll be fine."
She was speaking at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, near Newport, as Sport England unveiled a £3.5m upgrade at the venue.
GB Olympic Archery coach Lloyd Brown, who is based at Lilleshall and will be looking after the athletes in Delhi, said he had no concerns about the facilities. "We have not really worried about it," he said.
By Alex James
