Organizers assure Rwanda’s safety at Delhi Games

THE Organizing Committee of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games has provided assurances of safety for Rwanda’s team ahead of their departure to participate in the two-week long event which has been marred by criticism on security and readiness just days before kick off.

The Games Relations & Regional Manager (Africa & Americas) Tejinder Singh told Times Sport yesterday that all efforts are being made to address all issues over the Games Village residential zone raised by several participating countries.

"After the Chief Minister of Delhi toured all the towers and reviewed the work being done there, work on a war-footing to ensure cleanliness and that athletes do not face any problem has been underway in the last couple of days.
"Cleanliness and maintenance of the Games Village has come under sharp criticism from foreign participants as well as Commonwealth Games Federation Chief Executive Mike Hooper who recently described the facility as "filthy and unimaginable”.

However, Tejinder noted that security has been beefed up and there is no need of worrying at all. The Games start on October 3.

According to him, the Indian Government has drawn up an elaborate security plan at the cost of hundreds of (US) dollars to thwart any terrorist threat during next month’s Commonwealth Games, by installing systems to detect chemical, biological weapons and ‘nuclear signature’.

"There is absolutely no need to worry about security. The only concern has been in cleanliness but it has also been sorted, and as a matter of fact several country teams have settled into the village,”

Tejinder confirmed that some of the countries that have already arrived in Delhi include; Australia, Cook Island, England, Isle of Man, Jersey, Kenya, Nigeria, Solomon Islands, Tanzania and Uganda among others.

According to Tejinder, other countries such as Trinidad & Tobago, Norfolk Island, St. Lucia, Cameron and Guernsey were expected to have arrived at the Village last evening.
Rwanda’s first batch comprising 23 athletes and officials leaves tomorrow aboard Ethiopian airways while the second batch comprising the cycling team will arrive in Delhi on October 5.

Ends