A British Virgin Islands delegate, part of the 200-strong international delegation which visited seven Games venues across Delhi on Thursday, created a flutter of sorts.
Identifying himself as Patrick, he stepped out of the cordon thrown around the delegation and declared to the media, which was being kept at a distance, that, “Delhi has a lot of work to do. We expect to see a lot more.”
He was quickly ushered away by the officials.
Later in the day, Secretary-General of the Organising Commission of the Commonwealth Games-2010, Delhi, Lalit Bhanot told journalists: “All the delegates have expressed satisfaction with the transportation, routing, logistics, accommodation and travel arrangements. They also appear very impressed with the infrastructure.”
Stating that some of the delegates had found the arrangements at the Games Village to be better than five-star, he said the delegation had also visited the OC headquarters in the evening and also appeared pleased with the arrangements there.
Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by the Organising Commission, CGF Secretary General Louise Martin and her colleagues in the delegation were highly impressed with the Games Village and hoped the athletes would enjoy the facility spread over 27 acres. It will house 8,000 sportspersons in its 4,000 bedrooms.
During the next three days, Mr. Bhanot said the delegates would be shown all the functional areas and following the Commonwealth General Body meeting on October 12, Mr. Fennel would have something to say on the visit.
Incidentally, Mr. Fennel, who had last month shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his intervention in ensuring timely completion of all the Games-related works, had met Sports Minister M.S. Gill on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet is learnt to have approved additional funds for the timely completion of infrastructure projects.
Finding certain areas in which the organisers were lagging behind, the Cabinet on Thursday sanctioned extra funds. But a formal announcement was not made, apparently because the model code of conduct is in place.
The funds, sources said, are basically for upgrading the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where the opening and closing ceremonies besides athletics, lawn bowls and weightlifting competitions are scheduled to be held. Some money has also been earmarked for Jamia Milia Islamia that would be the venue for some sporting events.
