Sponsors leave Australia hanging

Construction delays and other problems which have marred the build-up to the Commonwealth Games have also led to sponsors giving a cold shoulder to participating teams with Australia on Friday claiming they will be 40 per cent short of the targetted sponsorship budget for the event.

Construction delays and other problems which have marred the build-up to the Commonwealth Games have also led to sponsors giving a cold shoulder to participating teams with Australia on Friday claiming they will be 40 per cent short of the targetted sponsorship budget for the event.

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Australia are still $6.8 million (around R 32 crore) behind the sponsorship target for the Games, the Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) chief executive Perry Crosswhite said.

He said the ACGA will have to pay from its own pocket to touch the target of 13.5 million Australian dollars (around R 58 crore) for competing as sponsors are reluctant to come on board due to the negative press about the Games.

"We'll be 30 to 40 per cent short," Crosswhite said.

"I think we have to get through this one, spend the extra money out of our reserves and then we've got to get this back up for Glasgow and then hopefully Gold Coast."

Australia is expected to send a 378-strong team and Crosswhite hoped that the team would get enough backers.

"This is a young team, it's a new group. This is an investment in the future of Australian sport. This is all about the future and that's what the Commonwealth Games is and we take that responsibility," Crosswhite said.

Euro champ Farah pulls out of games

London: Double European distance champion Mohammed Farah has pulled out of the Commonwealth Games, citing fatigue after a draining season.

"My body is telling me it is time to take a break," said the 27-year-old, who won gold for Britain in the 5000 and 10,000m at the European Championships in Barcelona this summer.

"I had a great 2010 season and my body is telling me that it is time to take a break from training and racing," she said.

"I have been competing since the start of the year at cross-country, road and track and feel that I need a few weeks off now to let my body recover so that I can start winter training fit and healthy.

"Over the past few weeks I have been getting a few niggles, nothing serious but enough to tell me to ease back.

"I was looking forward to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi but after the success I had this year I am happy to call it a season. I look forward to the 2011 World Championships in Daegu and the 2012 Olympic Games in my home city of London."