The Commonwealth countries have expressed confidence that the Commonwealth Games in India will be a success. Wishing India and the Games Federation all possible success and support, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, said they will honour the athletes who have invested so much energy into their participation. Mr Sharma was speaking at a reception hosted by Kamla Persad- Bissessar, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and Commonwealth Chair, which was held in New York on Sunday. He said for thousands of athletes, the Commonwealth Games are an inspiration. He said the games will be a celebration of the diversity and opportunity on which the Commonwealth is founded. Meanwhile, the first batch of Australian athletes for the Commonwealth Games arrived in New Delhi early Monday morning. Two more Australian teams of netball and gymnastics will arrive later in the day for the games. Earlier, nine more teams including Athletes and delegates have reached in New Delhi to participate in the Commonwealth games. A release from the Organising Committee said the largest contingent to arrive was a 112-member delegation from Kenya, followed by Nigeria with 69, and 60 members from Scotland. Canada, Tanzania, Lesotho, Norfolk Island, Rwanda, Wales, England, Isle of Man, Jersey, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and British Virgin Islands were among other arrivals. 1100 athletes and delegates have already checked in games village. Over 200 Indian athletes and delegates including hockey, weightlifting, boxing and shooting teams have also checked in the village. More players and athletes will be joining them in the next few days. According to officials, the village can presently accommodate over 7,000 athletes and delegates. 280 athletes from the country will be arriving in batches. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar and top brasses of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee have made a detailed review of the progress of the 'clean up operation' at the Village and said everything will be ready at the complex by Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will earmark one bogey for ladies in each train from 2nd of next month to encourage women spectators to witness the games. Nearly 1,600 Blueline buses have been taken off the roads in the national capital near the Commonwealth Games venues and the Games Village to improve the image of the city. These buses will be replaced with equal number of Delhi Transport Corporation buses. Over 750 low floor air conditioned DTC buses are being deployed to pick and drop athletes and officials at 17 competition venues. A world class facility for treatment of sports injuries has also become operational at Safadarjung hospital in New Delhi. A four tier security apparatus is in place to ensure incident free Games. The CBSE is organising a special campaign to spread awareness and generate interest about the Commonwealth Games among its students. All India Radio and Doordarshan are the official broadcasters. Delhi government has appealed to people to make Delhi smoke free before the Games. Delhi government has already issued orders for the closure of schools and colleges from 2nd to 17th of next month.
News On AIR | September 27, 2010 11:04 AM
Commonwealth countries wish India luck for CWG