Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit today took exception to the Commonwealth Games CEO's comments on Delhi's population. However, the Federation Chief Mike Fennell maintained that he and his colleague Mike Hooper neither blamed the Indian government for under-preparedness nor made any disparaging comments about Indians. While Sheila Dixit described the comments as very unkind and undiplomatic, Mike Fennell, dismissed the media reports in this regard. He called for focussing on delivering good games. In a statement issued in New Delhi, he asserted that Mike Hooper worked tirelessly for delivering good games. The Commonwealth Secretary General Kamlesh Sharma says that Games will be a celebration of diversity and opportunity – the basis of Commonwealth. AIR correspondent reports all arrangements for the Games are falling in place with games village to be fully ready by Wednesday. Focussing on the facilities for the delegates, atheletes and tourists, Delhi government on the world tourism day today launched special tourist bus service. The bus service is known as hop-on-hop – off buses. It will provide tourists a smooth ride as they go to visit historical monuments. So far as finishing touches to the games village is concerned Delhi chief minister Shiela Dixit is personally supervising the cleanliness drive in the village. The first ever dedicated sports injury centre equipped with state of Art operation theatre, video conferencing and other modern diagnostic facilities have also been launched for the benefit of players. The exclusive lanes for the Games are also now operational from 8 am to 8 PM on certain stretches. The athletes of participating countries have started arriving in the national capital. Another batch of 560 delegates and athletes is arriving on Monday night. Parts of the delegations and Athletes from nine countries have already reached. More than 1100 delegates have checked in the Games Village and some of the athletes and delegates are staying in hotels. A release issued by the Organising Committee said that the largest contingent of 112 members so far is from Kenya. About 300 Indian athletes and delegates have already checked in the Games Village. Nearly 1600 blueline buses have been taken off the road near the games venues and the village. This has however caused inconvenience to commuters, though these buses are being replaced by low floor DTC buses. Over 750 low floor air conditioned buses have been deployed to pick up and drop athletes and delegates at the competition venues.
News On AIR | September 27, 2010 1:30 PM
Sheila Dixit lashes out at Hooper’s comments on Delhi's population