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Feature
Crisis in the Indian Sub-Continent
touchline
But Delhi will remain 2010 Commonwealth Games host city.
killed 21 people last September followed
two months later in Mumbai, where co-
ordinated attacks by Islamic militants left
more than 170 people dead.
Only last week a parliamentary committee
warned the Indian Government that the
security arrangements for Delhi 2010 were
inadequate. The Standing Committee
on Home Affairs said “urgent measures”
were required to make sure the event,
which runs from 3rd-14th October, passes
off safely.
The government’s revised plans for the
Games include hiring an additional 5,000
police in Delhi and handing responsibility
for security on the city’s metro system to
the Central Industrial Security Force, a
paramilitary unit.
Is international cricket in Pakistan a thing of the past?
Hooper said Delhi
would do whatever is
required to ensure safety.
‘There is no plan B, the
Games will be here, that’s
the reality. The Games are
20 months away and no
other city, no matter how
good its infrastructure,
could manage to stage
an event of this magnitude
in the time now available.
‘There has never been
any discussion whatsoever about
shifting the Games. The Games will be in
Delhi in 2010.’
The Indian city has already been the
subject of question marks over security
after a series of bombings in Delhi
Despite concerns being expressed
by the management behind the
Welsh Commonwealth Games
team, the chief executive of the
Commonwealth Games Federation
has dismissed any fears that the
2010 Games will be moved from
host city Delhi.
The recent terrorist attacks in
Pakistan have prompted a number
of fears over sporting events to be
held in the sub-continent with security
now a major issue in that part of the
world. ‘We have to be more than 100%
sure that they are going to be safe,’ said
Welsh Games Council President, Anne
Ellis.
However CGF chief executive Michael
Ongoing security concerns threaten the
life of international cricket being played in
Pakistan, following a terrorist attack in the
country which saw the Sri Lankan cricket
team’s tour bus targeted by gunman as
it approached the Gaddaffi Stadium in
Lahore early in March this year. Seven
players and an assistant coach were
wounded. The attack was reportedly a
co-ordinated terrorist ploy, and resulted
in the deaths of six policemen and two
civilians.
Following the shooting, the Test match
between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was
cancelled and the Sri Lankan team was
immediately evacuated and returned
home. This attack comes in the wake of
continuous violence occurring in Pakistan,
a country that is battling an uprising of
extreme militants with alleged links to al-
Qaeda.
The ongoing violence had already caused
unrest within the International Cricket
Council over security at the upcoming
2011 World Cup, which was expected to
take place in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
and Bangladesh. Following this most
recent terrorist incident, it is unlikely any
tournament will be held in Pakistan.
In February, the International Cricket
Council (ICC) stripped Pakistan of hosting
the 2009 Champions Trophy due to several
teams citing security concerns about
playing in the country. The tournament
had already been postponed from 2008
to September/October of 2009 after five
of the eight teams said they would not
send teams due to the security worries.
The ICC has advised 2011 World
Cup organisers to plan alternate
venues if security continues
to be a concern in Pakistan. Strained
political ties with India following the
militant attacks in Mumbai in November
2008 have also raised concerns about the
2011 World cup.
Following several suicide bombings last
year, Pakistan cricket has suffered due to
the refusal of teams to travel there. As
a result of this, Pakistan did not play a
single test in 2008.
Contingency Risks in the Indian Sub-Continent too hot to handle?
Sri Lankan cricket tour was presented for consideration to London
underwriters, who consulted with their advisers on terrorism. On
the recommendation of these advisers, underwriters declined to
offer terms and it is understood that the cover was placed locally
with insurers in the sub-continent”
Given the experience of the past
few months and little prospect
that there will be an early cessation
to the violence, it appears that even
London does not want too large an
exposure on these risks. That will
have serious consequences for major
sporting events in the region.
According to an article appearing in Insurance Day on 4 March,
contingency underwriters in London should expect renewed
interest for event cancellation coverage for events in the Indian
sub-continent.
Whilst much of the business over the past few years has been
written by local insurers, the impact of the recent terrorist attacks
is likely to reduce their appetite for the risks considerably. With
the start of the Indian Premier league (IPL) looming large,
local insurers could be getting very nervous. The values at risk
from players, advertising, sponsorship and television rights are
significant.
Albert Goldfinch, Contingency expert with Lloyd’s broker Kinetic,
said “London is the traditional home of these risks and indeed the