Delhi set for Games, beats negativism

Agencies

New Delhi, 26 September 2010: The countdown for the much-awaited Commonwealth Games has now begun. And with just eight days to go, Delhi seems to be beating negativism, and gets ready to put its best foot forward for the Games.

 

While the government still needs to do a lot of fire fighting over the games, positive sentiments have started pouring into the capital city just ahead of the mega sporting event. Despite a substantial amount of last minute work to be done, Delhi is finally gearing up for the Games. Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit is going to inspect the Games Village on Sunday. With certain glitches still to be fixed like plumbing the Organising Committee still can’t call it day in terms of preparations.

 

The sun is finally beginning to shine on Delhi and the Commonwealth Games. After a week of last minute fire fighting, it’s a government on emergency mode ensuring that Delhi and India can hold its head high. The security apparatus at the Games Village and at other sporting venues are finally falling into place. And with athletes finally moving into the spruced up Commonwealth Games village it finally looks like the Games are on.

 

When quizzed about Kalmadi’s comment in which he said the venues were not handed over in time, Shiela Dikshit said, “This is not the time for blaming each other. This is the time to cooperate and work with each other in order to have a successful CWG."

 

 

With the entire world watching it’s a city that wants to deliver and deliver well. The foot overbridge located opposite to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium that had collapsed on Tuesday is now being resurrected by the Army. And on the streets of Delhi last-minute clean up is on in full swing.

 

“Lot of negative things have been talked about but now we would like to see some really good Games. Lots of nations are participating and we want good games, good reputation should be maintained. Good luck,” said a fellow Delhiite.

 

Delhi shopping mecca Connaught Place is also back in the game. The rubble that had been lying around for months has made way for a spanking, clean new look. And what’s more, Delhiites are behaving too. With traffic restrictions in place most vehicles stayed away from the special zones that have been allotted to CWG vehicles. There’s an unmistakable feeling of pride on the streets and the mantra is simple and unanimous – let’s make the Games a success, let’s make Delhi look good.

 

“We would like to welcome them. They should enjoy our capital, enjoy the colours of Delhi. All the best to our players and as well as to international players,” said a fellow Delhiite.

 

“This is not about sports event alone. This is about the image of Indians across the world. We must together try to bring it up and not let it go down,” said a resident of the capital.

 

After being postponed from March to August and then to September, the venues and stadiums are finally looking ready to welcome the players coming from all across the world. Delhi is all decked up to host the much-awaited event and Delhites too are looking forward to a grand success of the Commonwealth games.