NEW DELHI: (AMN) The stiff criticism over the preparations and security arrangements for the Commonwealth Game seem to be over as players and guest have started landing here to participate in the games. They player from the countries that criticised the games preparation have also landed in Delhi. Australian athletes have already checked into the Village despite prior concerns over hygiene. The first batch of Scottish athletes arrives Saturday. The contingent comprises archery, lawn bowls, shooting, tennis and weightlifting teams. Top important sporting countries Australia, New Zealand and Canada have also confirmed their participation.
Much to the encouragement of games organisers, the Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennel who visited the Games village on Friday to review the preparations said that said considerable improvements had been made there in few days.
As the organisers of Games are racing against time to finish pending work, the Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennel on Friday visited the Games village to review the preparations. He said considerable improvements had been made there. Fennel also met Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekar to take stock of the preparations.
Meanwhile Home Minister P. Chidambaram has said the Commonwealth Games village would be taken over by security agencies on Saturday, while 10 other venues have already been brought under the security blanket. In an interview to CNN, he said the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee had completed its task of construction and cleaning hence security arrangements were put in place subsequently. He said team managers had expressed their satisfaction over security arrangements. The Gurgaon Police has taken over the security of the Kadarpur shooting range.
The Prime Minister has also directed all concerned officials to ensure the success of the games. Minister of State in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan said Dr Manmohan Singh was taking personal initiative to see the mega event a grand success.