Delhi 2010: And They're Off

The Age newspaper included Ashleigh Brennan in their discussions of event security. Ash, like the rest of the team, is travelling to the Games with an open mind. There is also a nice mention of Australia's previous women's team win.

''Four years ago, the Commonwealth Games was the best time of my life,'' she said. ''I got to stand up on the podium with my best friends, and I shared the experience with them all. We have the chance to do that again, it's an amazing thing to be a part of."

There is also a brief competition preview here.

Our men's team was among the first of the athlete cohorts to arrive in Delhi today.

Edit 10:40pm: Channel 10 News just name-dropped Wheeler and Little (as "the youngest athletes at the Games")... I kinda thought they were going to throw straight to an interview but they didn't. It was just another "athletes are arriving despite venues not being completely finished or clean yet" piece.

Edit 7:40am Tuesday: Huh. This article might explain it.

With officials aiming to tighten security as Sunday's opening ceremony approaches, Australia's gymnastics team was strangely denied a chance to speak to the press after touching down at Delhi's Indira Gandhi airport late on Monday.

Despite having waited almost three hours for a delayed flight to speak to gold medal hope Lauren Mitchell, Australian media people were told by police shortly before the arrival they would not be able to ask any questions.

It came despite reporters having arranged the interview and having earlier spoken to members of Australia's bowls team at the same location on Monday morning.

"You will not speak to them, you will never speak to them," one inspector told bemused reporters.

Despite the protests of Australian officials, the gymnasts were ordered straight to their waiting bus and were allowed only to wave and smile at the cameras.

If you keep your eyes on Sky News, you will glimpse Lauren, Ash, Georgia W and Tom in a very quick CommGames update, wheeling their suitcases past media and, indeed, just smiling and waving as they do so. All are in dark green Adidas shirts with gold stripes on the sleeve.

You should also see the issue get mentioned on Sunrise (with longer rolling footage letting us see Josh and Georgia B heading for the bus as well).

Oooh! Fox Sports News has tantalising footage of a PR woman arguing with the security team, gesticulating furiously with biro in hand. Gotta love someone who goes into bat for gymnasts.