By Andrew Gourdie
New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie will be attending a meeting with officials from other Olympic countries in London tomorrow and on the agenda: the London riots.
Concerns have been raised about security and policing at next years event after violence erupted just a stones throw from the games village.
It is the last thing games organisers want to see less than a year out from the London Olympics, especially as the riots get closer and closer to the Olympic Stadium
The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) are monitoring the situation, but are not getting carried away.
“We have ongoing advice from government advisors around security for London games and other games teams going away and at the moment it's really just a watching brief for us,” says Kereyn Smith, NZOC secretary general.
Mr Currie is currently in London and will attend a conference for all team heads tonight.
Athlete safety is sure to be top priority, but an expert 3 News spoke to was less confident about London’s ability to attract spectators in wake of the riots.
“That's got to be of great concern particularly the British economy is relying on the Olympics as a bit of a stimulus - this could have a big impact,” says Alan France, of the Auckland University Sociology Department.
The riots are having a big impact on sporting fixtures as well.
All Whites defender Winston Reid was due to play a Carling Cup match for West Ham in east London tomorrow - but that has been cancelled.
“I can just imagine how big London is and all police, all the manpower to ensure the place is safe and secure enough for people to walk out on the street let alone play football matches,” says Reid.
Thursday's international friendly between England and the Netherlands at Wembley is also under threat – as well as three of the weekend's premier league fixtures, including one at Tottenham's White Hart Lane.
As the riots spread north to Birmingham, there is concern too for England’s cricketers.
They have been told to stay indoors - with the third test against India at Edgbaston due to get underway tomorrow night.
3 News