‘Excitement’ in the air as England, Oz give thumbs-up to CWG

Agencies

New Delhi, 24 September 2010: Excitement and reassurance about the preparations of the Commonwealth Games 2010 was the overriding sentiment of the teams as the first batch of 22 English athletes landed in the capital. The English team manager told reporters, “We are excited to be here in Delhi.”

 

English men`s hockey team and the lawn bowling squad are among the 22-strong group of athletes, who flew from Heathrow last night. However, the teams would be staying in the hotel as a makeshift arrangement and would shift to the Games Village on Monday.

 

England chef de mission Craig Hunter said it would be some days before they move in to the Games Village, which has been dubbed "filthy and uninhabitable" by visiting international delegates.

 

 

Support also came in from the Australian quarters as Perry Crosswhite, head of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association, gave thumbs-up to the Games Village after an inspection, bringing a sigh of relief by the organizing committee.
Earlier, while leaving for India, Jason Lee, head coach of the hockey squad, said the travelling athletes are calm despite the furore over whether Delhi would be ready in time for the October 3 to 14 event given the troubled build-up.

 

"The feeling in the group varies from mostly very calm and collected to a couple who have some outstanding concerns but nothing that is going to stop them from getting on the plane," he said.