New Delhi, Sep 28 (PTI): The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee officials have today expressed satisfaction that athletes and delegates from 46 participating nations, who have already entered the Games Village, are pretty happy with the arrangements and facilities.
"Athletes and delegates from about 46 countries have entered the Village so far and they are happy with the preparations and facilities," an OC official said.
Nearly 1,100 athletes and almost the same number of delegates have arrived in the Games Village.
Earlier, the build-up to the Games was marred by controversies with the Village being termed by some foreign officials as "filthy and unlivable".
The Games Village, spread over 63.5 hectares, however, welcomed 500 athletes and officials yesterday. The largest contingent was from South Africa, with 113 athletes and officials. It was followed by Scotland (77) and England (61). Also 59 players and their officials from Australia and 30 from Canada arrived in the Capital.
Officials and athletes from New Zealand, Wales, Namibia, Jamaica, Botswana, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Kiribati had arrived yesterday, in addition to Chefs de Mission of Niue Island, Malawi and St Vincent & The Grenadines.
According to the officials, about 548 athletes and their support staffs including the Chef de Missions of about 17 countries, including Falkland (186-member team), Jamaica (80-member team) and Malaysia (71-member team) are likely to go to the Village today.
After facing a lot of criticism, the government and security agencies are doing their best to ensure successful conduct of the event. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit will be going to the Village to meet players and delegates almost everyday.
Delhi Police and central security agencies are also striving hard to ensure that adequate security can be put in placed. Over one lakh security personnel would be seen in action during the Games, including about 175 companies (17,500 personnel) of paramilitary forces, 3,000 commandos, 100 anti-sabotage teams, 200 dogs and 15 bomb disposal squads.
Besides, about 150 personnel of the Delhi police's special weapons and tactics team have been trained by the IAF and the NSG to shoot down suspicious manned and unmanned "flying objects".
Government has also roped in Helicopters with armed commandos to ensure a ground-to-air security cover at and around the Commonwealth Games Village and the competition venues in Delhi.