By IANS,
New Delhi : As the countdown began for the opening of the Commonwealth Games here Oct 3, the Games Federation chief Mike Fennell Friday asserted that he had no regrets over awarding the event to Delhi. “We have to take these journeys or you will confine these events to just a few countries,” he said in light of months of damning reports about the way preparations were on to host the Games here.
“You can’t have the largest Commonwealth country make an acceptable offer and then not accept it,” he told BBC Sport.
Schools in Delhi and the National Capital Region Friday began early Dussehra vacation, which help not only sport-loving students to watch the Games, being held in Asia for the first time, but also help smoothen traffic movement in the capital.
With around 1,250 athletes and officials expected to check in at the Village Friday, the sprawling residential complex in east Delhi will have about 6,500 sports persons and officials residing there for the Games that end Oct 14.
A theatre to screen movies for the residents of the Village will open later Friday, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said after touring the complex to assess the situation.
“Everything is in place for the Games,” she told reporters.
Last minutes glitches continued, however, with the Indian shooting contingent complaining that the team members were yet to get the ceremonial dress.