Commonwealth Games-bound Magpie Zac Guildford says renewed security concerns won't keep him from competing at the Delhi Games - despite his mother asking him not to go.
"Mum asked me to stay home, but I told her I have to go," Mr Guildford told Hawke's Bay Today.
The star 2009 All Blacks
rookie departs with the NZ sevens squad for Dubai in 10 days' time, before heading to India for the Games beginning October 3.
Athletes' safety was again highlighted yesterday after a drive-by shooting outside a Delhi mosque that left two tourists injured.
Yet the Hawke's Bay flyer said he had every confidence in security if the team were given the green light.
"Our officials will make the decision and, really, you just need to have faith that they've put the right measures in place," he said.
The scare hadn't disrupted the squad's momentum. "We've [sevens' squad] had one meeting about security but, apart from that, we're all just focusing on what we have to do. We'll leave the security to the authorities and try to bring back that gold medal.
"If I had real concerns then I wouldn't go - but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I don't want to miss out." Hastings' Julie Shaw, who also heads to the Games at the end of this month as a netball technical official, said she wasn't deterred. As a non-competing team member she felt "unknown" and didn't consider herself a potential target. The only possible time of concern would be when she was at the stadium with the athletes.
"Yet my daughter put it in perspective when she said I could be hit by a bus tomorrow - that's really my attitude too."
The New Zealand Olympic Committee was seeking further information on the latest shooting.
Sir John Walker yesterday stepped into the fray and implored the New Zealand team to attend, despite the threat.
Sir John has rallied against letting potential terror threats disrupt India's chance to host an event of moderate international magnitude.
New Zealand team chef de mission Dave Currie is in Delhi doing final checks on security.
He was due to complete his reconnaissance mission this week.
Last Friday, he would not commit to New Zealand attending, claiming concerns uncovered would be raised with Games organisers, and how well they were fixed would be a factor.
"We're working on the premise the Games are going to go ahead, and we'll be part of it," he said.
Games athletes will live and compete inside an intense security cordon, which he said "appears to be working very well". Additional reporting Herald on Sunday
Commonwealth Games-bound Magpie Zac Guildford says renewed security concerns won't keep him from competing at the Delhi Games - despite his mother asking him not to go.
"Mum asked me to stay home, but I told her I have to go," Mr Guildford told Hawke's Bay Today.
The star 2009 All Blacks
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