Teams uncomfortable with Commonwealth security

New Zealand Commonwealth Games chef de mission Dave Currie says some teams are uncomfortable with the extent of security checks at Delhi venues.

Currie was questioned yesterday about how athletes and officials were finding the pat down, bag opening and waving of metal detector wands as they enter different areas of 'the bubble'.

He says concerns were raised by other countries at a chefs de mission meeting.

"[The checks] are thorough to the point where some of my colleagues are not comfortable," Currie said.

"One chef de mission said it was something he wasn't used to, having certain parts of his body patted. He was delicate about it, believing it to be a tad intrusive."

The checks can tend to have a token feel about them, as if they are being done out of duty rather than for security purposes - but Currie is adamant they need to continue.

"Everybody is concerned about security, so the Indians are making sure nothing occurs on their watch."

While Currie had praise for Indian efforts on the security front he was less effusive on allegations by Australia channel ABC's current affairs show Media Watch that Channel Seven reporter Mike Duffy had produced a 'shocking beat-up' in his recent story about taking bomb materials into the main stadium. Duffy is now suing the ABC show for defamation.

If proven true, Currie says it's not helpful.

"In fact it's unbelievably wicked. Especially at a time when athletes are nervous and concerned, saying 'should we come or not?' and we are saying our security observations are good. Then a journalist runs that and it undermines all the things we are seeing. He needs a kick in the bum."

Currie says it also might have impacted on athletes pulling out.

"We've only had Greg Henderson and Ellen Barry miss the Games at this stage but it's unfortunate if that was part of their decision-making process, it's potentially a fraud. But if he genuinely got it through then I guess it's fair cop.

"From what I'm hearing he didn't get into the main stadium. He got into a check point three miles down the road. That's a very soft target."

By the end of tonight all the expected New Zealand athletes should be in the village with the likes of the sevens team and Nick Willis coming a few days later.

Currie says few other problems are now bugging him: "We don't have wireless internet and have had little in the way of it since we've been here. For a country that has so many call centres I struggle with why that hasn't happened.

It's causing some operational grief. There are also a few issues around the timing and the electronic scoreboards at venues.

"People were also concerned about dengue fever. I've been here two weeks now and haven't seen a lot of mosquitos in our part of the village."

The New Zealand team's policy is to stay within the bubble between venue and village throughout the Games. Currie admits this will be hard to enforce if an athlete wants to sneak outside. No penalty has been talked about if they do.

"There will be some countries who still go out, no doubt. We are chatting to everybody about the policy as they come in. I know we've got some intrepid travellers in the party who want to get out and see stuff. My hope is they understand the collective responsibility we have. We are here to compete and perform, we aren't here as tourists. We will still be encouraging the athletes to support one another within the safety of venues."