The security at the Indira Gandhi International Airport was overbearing but the arrival of the first batch of English athletes on Friday morning brought about a refreshing change to the atmosphere. Smiling faces and warm handshakes heralded the sportspersons' entry to the city that will stage the Commonwealth Games from October 3.
The scenes at the airport marked a positive headway to the mega event after incessant critical comments from various nations over the poor state of the Games Village and the overall state of preparations in Delhi.
Traditional uniformADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The England athletes, clad in their traditional red-and-white uniform, included members of the hockey and lawn bowls teams. Escorted by security vehicles and traffic cops on bikes, they were taken in a special Commonwealth Games bus to their hotels.
Since the cleaning and furnishing job at the Games Village remained incomplete, the members of the England contingent checked into various hotels in the capital city. According to Caroline, a member of the contingent, the athletes and officials would move to the Games Village on Monday.
“We are excited to be in India. But we are feeling sleepy (because of jet lag),” said Caroline said shortly after the England team's arrival.
ADVERTISEMENT
After host India (600) and Australia (550), England has the third largest contingent of 525 athletes and officials for the Games. Altogether, 47 members of the England contingent arrived on Friday as the first overseas side.
Security was foolproof at the airport. Delhi Police had marked an exit gate for the arrival of the athletes for the Games and provision had been made to take them out of the airport to their places of accommodation through a separate route.
Barricades had been put up to keep the general public and the media away.
For a change, the security personnel were well-behaved.