London, Sep 25: Star athletes continue to pull out of Commonwealth Games with British Diver Peter Waterfield becoming the latest one, citing health concerns.
The 29-year-old 10-metre platform specialist had won a gold in 2002 Manchester Games and a silver in the last edition in Melbourne.
Waterfield, who also won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics in synchronising diving, said his family comes first to him.
"I have attended two Commonwealth Games and three Olympic Games in the past so I always knew that the living conditions would be basic, but I do not want to put myself at risk in Delhi," Waterfield said.
The star diver said he expects people to respect his decision.
"I have a wife and two young children who were very concerned about me attending the event and this decision is one that we have made as a family. I hope that people will understand and respect this," Waterfield was quoted as saying by 'Daily Telegraph'.
British cyclist Russell Downing had announced his withdrawal from the Games yesterday.
On Thursday, four of Downing's Team Sky colleagues - Welshman Geraint Thomas, Manx rider Peter Kennaugh and Englishmen Ben Swift and Ian Stannard - had also pulled out over health fears.
The outbreak of Dengue fever in the national capital has spread fears among the participating nations and waterlogging in the Games Village due to heavy rains has just added to woes of the organisers.
However, the situation has started improving in the last two days with the intervention of both the central and state governments.
Meanwhile, the England chef de mission Craig Hunter confirmed the arrival of their next batch of athletes but said a lot of work is still to be done.
"Our next wave of athletes arrives Sunday and a lot still needs to happen before then. More and swift action is required," he said. PTI
