Welcome to Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010

SoniaVerma · Aug 30, 2010

Welcome to Delhi!

We are celebrating one of the biggest sporting events - The XIX Commonwealth Games from the 3rd-14th October, 2010.

The XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi has Shera as its Mascot and its logo is inspired by the Chakra - the national symbol of freedom, unity and power. It has been shown spiraling upwards, depicting the growth of India into a proud, vibrant nation.

It is a perfect representation of India`s journey from tradition to modernity, her economic transformation into a super power… reaching out to the world and leading the way, even as she enthusiastically embraces all the 71 CGA nations and territories of the Commonwealth to become one and host the best ever Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Lets discuss and post all information on the Delhi CWG, tourist information, places to visit, hotels to stay and of course your expectations from the Games and our players.

Come visit Delhi and witness the vibrant colors of Incredible India... Bow

uttarkideepika · Sep 8, 2010

Lovely thread Sonia... But sadly no posts on it yet. Come on friends look at the sunny side of CWG in Delhi.

One of the sectors that's all pepped up for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in New Delhi is Tourism - they are all smiles and perhaps have reasons to cheer for the Incredible India campaign...

According to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), tourist hot-spots of North India are booked for the first half of October.

According to an ASSOCHAM source, luxury and star-rated hotels in places like Shimla, Kullu-Manali, Kasauli, Nainital, Kashipur, Jim Corbett National Park, Mussoorie, Dehra Dun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Auli, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Pushkar, Jaisalmer are “already booked” and there was “hardly any space” left for those planning to go out during the Commonwealth Games.

The source of this information for ASSOCHAM, is leading tour-operators in around and Delhi who have offered lucrative tour-packages and taken good advantage of the situation. Information was also received from Indian Association of Tour Operators and Hotel Association of India who shared details of hotel bookings during the period.

Isn't it encouraging?See enclosed is a pic of the CWG mascot at Victoria memorial Kolkata. You too can suggest places to visit enroute to CWG in Delhi.

Nielahariharan · Sep 13, 2010

Sorry Deepika, we Delhiites can't find any sunny side to CWG. Nature too is not on our side.With consistent rain, flooding of Yamuna banks and spreading of Dengue and conjunctivitis, where is the sunny side? !!!!

sethihardeep · Sep 13, 2010

Niela, what is true because its always the locals who have to undergo the troubles when such a big event is happening. I do not want to be judgemental; however, I sometimes think perhaps all cities who organize such global events as the Asian games, Olympics and CWG must be having their share of woes and pitfalls - maybe we are having more....or less.

How are our Indian players prepared? Sushil Kumar's gold medal at the recent World Wrestling Championship brings new hope...

There have been concerns regarding the security arrangement during the mega event. Does someone have any update on it.

SoniaVerma · Sep 18, 2010

@ niela: Its true that Delhites are having too much of a tough time on the road to really put up a sunny face, but I hopefully hope that things will be better once the game begins.

@ hardeep: Delhi Police has taken over all Commonwealth Games venues and have started plugging security loopholes, if any, to ensure an incident-free event which high on terror radar.

Though there is no specific threat to Games but a general one, security establishment is leaving no stones unturned for the mega event which would showcase country's ability to hold such events.

Delhi Police, which is the nodal agency for Games security, will conduct various drills, including anti-sabotage checks once they take over possession of the venues. Apart from around 80,000 Delhi Police personnel, over 17,500 paramilitary personnel, 3,000 commandos and 100 anti- sabotage check teams will be deployed across the city. The Army has been asked to be alert.

Once security personnel take over the venues, the entire venue will be completely sanitised by security personnel and are sealed after a thorough check.
Concerns were earlier raised about the delay in handing over venues to security agencies as some quarters felt that it would hamper the security preparations.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram is to review the arrangements once the security overlays are put in place.

Heli-borne snipers, four-layered security cordon around Commonwealth Games venues and exclusive lanes for Games vehicles were among the components of the mammoth security plan for the event.

The security plan prepared for the mega event, which will see participation of around 8,500 athletes from 71 countries competing in 17 events, also envisages snipers on rooftops, commando hit teams and expert groups to tackle any chemical, biological, radio-active or nuclear attacks.

Air Force will provide surveillance from the skies.

Heli-borne assault teams will also be deployed to thwart any terror strikes. The delhi Police will work in tandem with central intelligence agencies. The Air Force will be surveying the airspace.

According to the plan, the venues, Games Village, practise and parking lots and Indira Gandhi International Airport where athletes arrive will have a four-layered security cordon. .

At the outer cordon, the traffic will be stopped and access controlled. At the middle cordon, security-men will channelise the spectators to their designated seats while in the inner cordon, the barcode reading of tickets will take place and the spectators' photos captured.

At the centre would be an exclusion zone which is in the 30 metre radius of the stadium, where spectators and others will have to go through Door-Frame Metal Detectors and X-Ray scanning besides manual searching.Mobile Quick Reaction teams will be deployed on the outer perimeter of the venues besides a close watch through CCTV surveillance.

The Games village will also have a similar elaborate security arrangement. The boundary of the village will have a three metre high perimeter wall, a 1.5 metre high iron grill on top of it, mobile QRTs and CCTV surveillance system.

Elaborate arrangements are also made for the entry for athletes and vehicles into the village. After entering the village following a thorough check, the athletes can freely move around the residential and dining halls.

For vehicles, the drivers will have to pass through radio frequency identity checking where the number plates are checked to see whether are authorised to enter the place. There is a boom barrier and it will be opened only after the vehicle clears the radio frequency checking. But if somebody tries to forcefully enter, there will be a tyre- killer and even if the vehicle clears it, the road blocker will block the passage of the vehicle.

At the hotels, there will be "robust" security arrangements with watch towers, CCTV surveillance and access control. All food prepared and served for Games guests in hotels will be sorted by security personnel and tasted by food experts.

With large number of athletes, officials and tourists reaching the city for the Games, security at and around the Indira Gandhi International Airport is also being augmented.
Anti-sabotage teams, commando hit teams and snipers at rooftop are some of the other components of security plan for the safe journey of the athletes and other officials. On the movement of athletes and other officials to venues, the official said commandos will be deployed on buses they travel.

Police has also procured three armoured cars ahead of the Games and these vehicles move around the city and sometimes will stationed at venues during the Games.
Each carrying 30 commandos, armoured vehicles would be deployed to tackle eventualities like terror strikes.

For the Games, Delhi Police personnel are also being specially trained in frisking, search operations and screening baggage through X-Ray machines. Special training on enhancing communication skills and behavioural patterns were also being imparted.
Click to expand...

What do you think about these elaborate security arrangements?

ishanisharma · Sep 21, 2010

Good to read about the elaborate security arrangements by the Delhi Police ahead of the CWG. But do we consider the recent firing near the Jama Masjid which targeted 2 Taiwanese tourist as just another stray incident.

All said and understood that the incident might not be a terror attack; but how come when the National Capital is said to be converted into a virtual fortress, gun-trotting men ride pillion and fire at people on busy streets & that too hardly 50m from the police station.

What do fellow Delhiites have to say about this?

ankitakunwar · Sep 27, 2010

Seems fellow Delhites do not have much to say to the recent developments that is attracting a lot of media bytes. Its an agony that the Delhi Commonwealth Games is in headlines for all the wrong reasons...but don't you think our Indian media is sometimes carried away in the greed of getting a scoop and maligning the image of India.

Emphasis on 'Breaking News' is given to the filth, snakes, broken bride, bed and stray dogs in the CWG village...but what about our players. Do you know who are the players representing India for the various sports?

Give a thought and please share yours views....

nisha81 · Oct 6, 2010

Great Opening ceremony followed by 10 gold medals for India...You guys are lucky to be there...we cud only watch it in on tv.

It seems that the stadiums are empty and only few are attending the games..is that true Sonia?
Did you people attend any game? cud you share with us