'Full speed ahead' for Games: NZ head

New Zealand is still "full speed ahead" with planning for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi despite reports that England is poised to pull out.

London's Daily Telegraph newspaper has reported that British police and security advisers are concerned the English team could be targeted by Pakistani terrorists at the October 3-14 Games and feel that athletes' safety cannot be guaranteed at present.

It quotes senior Whitehall sources saying there is "virtually no chance" of the England team travelling to India in October, casting serious doubt over whether the Games can go ahead.

However, England general team manager Ann Hogbin has immediately refuted the claim, issuing a statement to The Associated Press saying "we have not received any indication that we should not participate in the Games."

The president of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, Mike Stanley, told Stuff.co.nz that there had been no new information that would affect New Zealand's participation in 2010.

"We aren't aware of any increased level of threat, we are full speed ahead in planning to be in Delhi," said Stanley.

"Obviously we're monitoring the situation and we'll consider any new information as it comes to hand."

While he was comfortable with the current preparations around security in Delhi he said any team could withdraw at any time should it feel its athletes were at risk.

"There's no doubt about it that part of the world is currently difficult in a security sense."

"We're in close liaison with our own Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also close liaison with the Commonwealth Games Federation about security issues.

"We are quite clear that we won't be irresponsible with the security of our athletes."

- AAP/AP