Delhi is ready for grand Commonwealth Games

Notwithstanding the negative predications from prophet of dooms, capital is all set for grand commonwealth game. All the stadiums are fully ready to host the events. It is expected to be the grandest ever sporting extravaganza. The whole capital is under the spell of games with everybody is talking about games. National capital has been blanketed by massive security with 17,000 paramilitary troopers reinforcing 80,000 police.

All Games facilities are surrounded by high walls and barbed wire fences, with manned watchtowers erected over strategic locations and closed-circuit television cameras monitoring public areas.

Meanwhile, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived here in capital on Saturday to attend the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. Prince Charles and India`s President Pratibha Patil will declare open the Games at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium. Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman of the Organising Committee, received the royal couple here. The Prince will spend time with athletes from a broad cross-section ofCommonwealth countries.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram visited games village in order to take stock of the security arrangements national and international athletes. In his brand new avtaar, Chidambaram was wearing t-shirt,trousers and sporting a cap. He also visited different recreationalfacilities such as cafeterias, massage parlour, bar and discotheques. Meanwhile,Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that we are sure the Games will be a huge success.

Indian tennis great and gold medal hope Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupati along with their team mates have already entered the huge games village. Sania Mirza after staying at capital`s Meridian hotel for couple of days is also now staying in village. The medal hopes likes Abhinav Bindra,Vijendra Singh and Sushil Kumar are working hard in their practice sessions.

Experienced England badminton player Nathan Robertson said the athletes` accommodation in the Indian capital was up there with the best he has seen in fourCommonwealth Games."There were promises of five star facilities, its reasonably three star... and athletes are fine with that," said another foreign player.

Many Indian players said that they now wanted to put the controversies behind them and focus on doing their best at the Games. "We are looking forward to test ourselves against the best in the world. Who knows, we might cause an upset or two," said Indian hockey player Rajpal Singh.

Meanwhile, the athletes finally look satisfied and comfortable at the Village. It may be recalled that Indian tricolour was hoisted on Friday."When we came initially the conditions were not very good, but a lot of improvement has taken place, and if anything else happens I will definitely tell you about it," said Akhil Kumar, member of the Indian boxing team. Players from various countries are enjoying their stay here. They are interacting with players from other countries.

Posted in Cwg2010 , Delhi