CM: Half of total flats of CWG Games Village ready

Nksagar-Sagar Media -New Delhi:
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, putting her all efforts on Sunday be visiting the games village several times overseeing the clean-up operation, on Sunday has brought some relief. She said everything will be ready at the complex by Wednesday.Shiela Dikshit, who has been spending six to seven hours daily at the complex since handing over of its maintenance to Delhi Government on Wednesday last, said "every effort" is being made to make stay of the athletes very happy."All the towers will be ready by Wednesday," Dikshit said, adding that nearly half the flats out of 1,168 flats are completely ready.

The city government, since taking control of cleaning, house-keeping and overall maintenance of the complex on Wednesday, had deployed a workforce of 1,500 people including professionals from five-star hotels. Games Village with a South African envoy claiming that a snake was found in one of the rooms in the Games Village.Amid strong criticism by the international delegates who dubbed the Village as "filthy and uninhabitable", PMO on Wednesday night had directed Delhi Government to take control of the complex from the Delhi Development Authority. On asked why the authorities have to make the last minute scramble to complete the works in Games Village, Dikshit blamed it on lack of coordination among various agencies involved in it."The problems in the Village ranged from broken windows to malfunctioning of the lift. We are putting all our efforts to put things in order," she said.

Foreign contingents continued to drop in with nearly 1100 athletes, officials and technical staff from different nations arriving on Sunday for the October 3rd -14th Commonwealth Games.The largest contingent to arrive was a 112-member delegation from Kenya, followed by Nigeria (69), and 60 members from Scotland, a release from the Organising Committee (OC) said.

Canada, Tanzania, Lesotho, Norfolk Island, Rwanda, Wales, England, Isle of Man, Jersey, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and British Virgin Islands were among other arrivals.Some 100 more athletes from Norfolk Islands and Canada are expected to arrive later on Sunday night."Work has progressed far enough now and we're ready to start moving in to the Village," said Scott Stevenson, Director of Sport, Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC).

"All the necessary maintenance and cleaning of rooms have been done to accommodate our team and additional support staff," Stevenson said.Stevenson also confirmed that emergency equipment and safety procedures have been verified and tested. "Crews have been successful in reducing the amount of stagnant water around the residential towers. Things are starting to look good," he said.

"The residential towers have been a huge challenge for us, but I'm happy to say that they are finally falling in place."A group of 35 Canadian support staff was due to move in to the village on Sunday while about 40 athletes and coaches from women's gymnastics, shooting, table tennis and men's hockey are scheduled to arrive on Monday.

Stevenson said that Canadian sport science experts, after visiting the competition venues, have given positive reports. "With the accommodation now coming together, we can focus of our energies on the real business at hand, which is to help our athletes achieve best-ever performances."
Canada is sending a team of 400 athletes, coaches and support staff to the Games.

All the 71 participating countries have confirmed their participation. Over 200 Indian athletes and delegates including hockey, weightlifting, boxing and shooting teams have also checked in the village. More players and athletes will be joining them in the next few days.Meanwhile, the cleanliness drive is at its last leg as many athletes and teams had reservations over hygiene. The process of cleanliness is still on and it is expected to be over by tonight.

Chief Minister Sheila Dixit who visited the Games village thrice today, took stock of the situation. She assessed maintenance, security and other facilities for athletes and international delegates. She also met the Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekhar during one of the inspections.According to officials, the village can presently accommodate over 7,000 athletes and delegates. Arrangements have also been made for athletes and delegates in some five star hotels.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation says express metro rail from international air port to New Delhi Railway Station is expected to be operational before the start of the games. The spokesman of the corporation Anuj Dayal said that the DMRC will earmark one bogey for ladies in each train from 2nd of next month to encourage women spectators to witness the games.