India should not have Coms

"I don't think it is a cultural thing. When you agree to host (a Games) you are required to provide the basics in terms of health and hygiene for the athletes," Australia Olympic Committee president John Coates said.

"The Games shouldn't have been awarded to Delhi in hindsight."

As athletes begin arriving in Delhi, authorities are still working on completing Games venues, forcing some teams to take up temporary accommodation at hotels.

Cyclist Greg Henderson earlier on Friday became the first New Zealand athlete to withdraw over concerns about health and security.

Olympic cycling champion Geraint Thomas and three other Welsh riders also opted out of the Games, due to start on October 3.

India had hoped to use the Games to display its growing global economic and political influence, rivalling China.

Instead, they have become a major embarrassment for the government, which is trying to fend off criticism of poor construction, inadequate security and dirty accommodation.

The Games, held every four years for mostly former British colonies, are estimated to have cost $6 billion.

The Delhi Games may turn out to be the most compromised since a 1986 boycott of the Games in Britain, when 32 nations stayed away because of then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's government's position over apartheid South Africa.

Several nations have voiced concern over the state of the Games. India, Asia's third largest economy, was awarded the Games in 2003 but did not begin proper preparations until two years ago.

Australian and New Zealand prime ministers said they understood if their athletes decided not to take part.

But England said it would send 551 athletes to the Games because there were signs of improvement on the ground in New Delhi, and said the first group of 22 were leaving on Thursday.

Kenya said it would send a 240-strong team after receiving security assurances from India, officials said, though several of its top athletes have withdrawn because of illness or fatigue.

Wales also gave its team the all-clear to go.