New Delhi, September 25
The toilets were dirty and the Games Village ‘filthy and unhygienic’ but the food at the Commonwealth Games Village is ‘excellent’ and we have the CWG Federation chief Mike Fennell’s words as confirmation.
After having a meal at the food court at the Village on Saturday, along with other foreign delegates, athletes and officials, Fennel grudgingly admitted, “ The food for the athletes is excellent”. He went further and told the media , “ It’s a fine village. All the infrastructure is good; the international zone is brilliant...the dining room and the kitchen are excellent...” as a stony-faced Organising Committee head Suresh Kalmadi sat by his side and listened.
Fennell did not mince his words though. A lot of work, he added, remained to be done and so much work should not have been left for the last lap. But it’s no time for a blame-game, he said in response to a question, and expressed confidence that the Games would be a success.
Kalmadi took the media around the international zone and declared the athletes would have a great ‘shopping experience’ within the Village with the shopping arcades selling handicrafts to music to merchandise. There are hair saloons and a gaming zone where athletes can unwind by playing billiards or even football. The musical fountain and the open amphitheatre, where cultural events will be held every evening, are expected to be a big draw. The training area boasts of facilitating athletics, weightlifting, acquatics and wrestling. A ‘leisure pool’ besides a competitive pool in the training zone and a well equipped gym will also be at the disposal of
athletes.
