Key: NZ unlikely to go against Games grain

NZ Prime Minister John Key. Photo / Steven McNicholl

New Zealand would be unlikely to go against the grain of countries such as Britain and Australia in deciding whether to pull out of the Commonwealth Games, Prime Minister John Key said this afternoon.

After issues were brought to light overnight in relation to sanitary conditions at the athletes village at the Delhi Games venue, Mr Key said New Zealand Olympic Committee officials were working to get them addressed.

"I wouldn't say that means the Commonwealth Games would be off. I think they are trying very hard to resolve those issues but that's the call the Olympic Committee needs to make," he said.

Asked whether New Zealand would need to follow the lead of the likes of Aussie and Britain, he said those countries faced similar concerns relating to both health and security.

"They are not unique to New Zealand or their accommodation at the Games village. It's all the countries that face the concerns that were expressed overnight. But at the end of the day I'm sure it will be some collective wisdom that is applied here."

"I would have thought it would be unlikely that New Zealand would make a call that other countries weren't prepared to make."

New Zealand athletes are ready to head to India before the event, which opens on October 3, but the committee has reserved the right to pull out if it considers the risks too high and a decision on that will be made by Friday.

Mr Key said New Zealand officials in Delhi had made it clear to local officials there that athletes needed to be assured of their health to be able to compete to the best of their ability.

"We are working with other countries. There was a meeting of quite a number of Commonwealth countries yesterday and hopefully some progress is being made."

Further discussions are taking place today between government and Olympic committee officials.

- NZPA