Games delegates start arriving in Delhi, soft launch of Village Thursday

NEW DELHI - The first batch of delegates from the 71 participating teams for the 2010 Commonwealth Games have started arriving in the national capital and will move into the Games Village Thursday.

The soft opening of the Games Village has been scheduled Thursday when the delegates will get a feel of the state-of-the-art facilities.

Around 700 delegates, including chefs-de-mission, will be coming for the Delegation Registration Meeting beginning Thursday.

Some of the delegates, who arrived Wednesday, have checked into hotels and will be moving into the Village Thursday.

“We are ready to welcome the delegates. The work at the Games Village is complete. The kitchen has started functioning from Monday. The facilities at the village are excellent and they will find their stay comfortable,” Organising Committee vice chairman Randhir Singh told IANS.

The kitchen, spread over 3,000 square km, is expected to serve 30,000 meals from Oct 3.

“There is a buzz around the city about the Commonwealth Games. The hoardings and banners are being put on all main thoroughfares of the city. The city wears a colourful look with rains making the greenery lush and beautiful,” he added.

With the delegates arriving in the city, tight security measures were visible near the Village.

The taste of the tight security was felt by the residents in the Village neighbourhood.

“No vehicle was allowed to go under the Akshardham flyover to reach the I.P.Extension. They all had to take a detour to Vikas Marg to reach there,” said an exasperated resident.

Only vehicles with a Games label were allowed to use that stretch of the road in front the Village.

The Organisers will take the media on a guided tour of the Village Thursday.

The athletes will start arriving from Sep 23.