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Jiyo....
Delhi all set to host the Commonwealth Games
Saturday, October 02, 2010 07:43:52 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi:
A cleaner and spruced up Indian capital is all set to host the
19th Commonwealth Games with a gala opening Sunday with a display
of music and dance involving thousands of young and experienced
artists.
With an army of police and paramilitary personnel fanning out in
the city, the 6,700 athletes and officials from 71 countries and
territories eagerly awaited the inaugural by Prince Charles and
Indian President Pratibha Patil at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in
the heart of the city.
Although some high-priced tickets for the opening ceremony remain
unsold, most Delhiites are delighted seeing a cleaner, greener and
more colourful city, notwithstanding the last minute scrambles and
earlier flak over sloppy and sluggish preparations.
Indian officials say there is nothing to worry on the security
front. And most visitors appear to agree.
With Home Minister P. Chidambaram at the helm of affairs, some
100,000 security personnel will be guarding the Jawaharlal Nehru
Stadium and other Games venues, backed by the military and
high-tech gadgetry.
Not wanting to leave anything to chance, Chidambaram visited the
Village Saturday for a final inspection.
Delhi itself is excited.
The capital witnessed a virtual shutdown Saturday owing to Mahatma
Gandhi’s birth anniversary - when markets and businesses normally
shut. But with the Games opening, it will be a virtual forced
holiday Sunday even for popular markets and street vendors.
The Queen’s Baton Relay is on its final stretch in the national
capital, led by white horses, vintage and classic cars, ‘nagada’
players and Nihang warriors. It will reach the Jawaharlal Nehru
Stadium Sunday.
India is fielding the largest contingent of 619 athletes - 379 men
and 240 women - and will be competing in all 17 disciplines at the
Games.
This is the first time the Games are being opened by two
dignitaries as part of a compromise pact between the hosts and the
Commonwealth Games Federation.
Around 7,000 men, women and children will take part in the
two-hour-long opening ceremony, which is divided into six
segments: Rhythms of India, Swagatam, Tree of Knowledge, Yoga,
Great Indian Journey and Oscar winner composer A.R. Rahman’s
rendition of the CWG anthem “Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto”.
Speaking about the security arrangements, Police Commissioner Y.S.
Dadwal said: “We also have the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)
team which is armed with sophisticated weapons and ready to handle
any situation.”
“Around 3,000 CCTV cameras have also been installed in and around
the Games venues,” he added.
Thanks to the Games, be it an expanded Metro, stadia, flyovers,
buses, bus shelters, or streetscaping on arterial roads, there is
much by way of infrastructure that has been added to the capital.
And, it has also finally dawned on Delhiites that all this and
more that has come about because of the Games will add to their
convenience long after the mega event is over.
K.D. Kaushal, a retired government official, has been doing the
rounds of the city for the last few days, taking stock of the
changes. “I have never seen Delhi as beautiful as this in my
life,” the 65-year-old told IANS.
“The sporting event has brought in a lot of new opportunities for
the city. The change on the ground is already quite perceptible,”
said Ankit Varshney, a software analyst.
Accolades for the facilities at the Games Village and the venues
continued to pour in from athletes and officials.
Welsh chef de mission Chris Jenkins said Saturday: “I am really
quite impressed with the transition. I had come here two weeks ago
and things were really quite chaotic. But the athletes who came
here three days ago are absolutely delighted with the residential
wings and also the training facilities. The food is also quite
good.”
“The venues are outstanding and we are really looking forward to
competing there,” he added.
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