New Delhi: The National flags of the contingents from Scotland and Norfolk Island were formally hoisted during the team welcome ceremonies at the Commonwealth Games Village here Monday.
The contingents were welcomed by the Games Village Mayor, Dalbir Singh, Games mascot Shera and volunteers. The delegates were presented traditional Indian stole (angavastra) on the occasion. The contingents are headed by their Chefs de Mission, Jon Doig (Scotland) and Peter Arthur (Norfolk Island).
Around 250 athletes from Scotland, comprising of participants in disciplines like athletics, archery, aquatics, cycling, gymnastics, lawn bowls, shooting, squash, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling, were present. Norfolk Islands was represented by about 40 athletes and officials representing archery, shooting, squash and lawn bowls and other events.
The National flags of Scotland and Norfolk Island were raised by volunteers from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and the National Anthems were sung. As a souvenir of the beautiful journey of the Queens Baton 2010 Delhi, replicas of the QBR were presented to the two contingents.
Students from Ahlcon Public School, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Gole Market, and Maharaja Agarsen Public School, who were given an opportunity to visit the Games Village along with their teachers, performed live for the delegates. The children were very excited to visit the Village and meet the athletes and Shera.
OC, CGF officials hold high-level meeting
Organising Committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi chaired a high-level meeting at the Games Village Monday to extend their welcome to the athletes who have arrived there and also assess the progress of work at the Village and also to address the areas of concern.
The meeting was attended by Commonwealth Games Federation President Michael Fennell, OC CEO Jarnail Singh and senior Delhi Government officials. The delegates encouraged the workforce to extend their support and offer the best of their services.
Kalmadi said after the meeting that over 1000 athletes who have arrived at the Village seem happy with the arrangements. He said 80 percent of the flats are fine and he hoped to offer the best of facilities to the athletes and delegates at the Village.
Nearly 550 athletes and officials arrive
Around 550 athletes and officials arrived in Delhi Monday. The largest contingent is from South Africa with 113 athletes and officials followed by Scotland (77). Athletes from England (61), Australia (59) and Canada (30) also arrived.
Officials and athletes from New Zealand, Wales, Namibia, Jamaica, Botswana, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Kiribati and others also arrived. In addition, Chefs de Mission of Niue Island, Malawi and St. Vincent & The Grenadines, apart from a large international media contingent also arrived.
International volunteers meet OC Chairman
A batch of over 40 international volunteers from two British universities, Sheffield Hallam and Leeds Metropolitan, were welcomed at the Commonwealth Games OC headquarters by Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman, Organising Committee.
Around 30 volunteers from Sheffield Hallam and about 15 from Leeds Metropolitan have been sent for the Games. They will assist the Sports Workforce and have been specifically assigned the athletics discipline. They had their first Role Specific Training Monday and will have both Role and Venue Specific Training Tuesday at their assigned venue, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Shera celebrates 'World Tourism Day'
Commonwealth Games mascot Shera Monday paid a visit to the ITDC Office, Janpath, on the occasion of ‘World Tourism Day'.
Shera also visited Amity Schools in Saket, Pushp Vihar and Noida. The students were briefed about the XIX Commonwealth Games. Shera was the favourite amongst students and became the centre of attraction, winning the hearts of all the little children. The excited students wished good luck to Shera for the Games.
The feeling of belongingness to the Games has grown and filled all hearts with the sentiment of patriotism. The students delivered a powerful speech and tapped their feet to the theme song of CWG, Jiyo, Uttho, Badho, Jeeto,composed by A. R. Rahman.
Delhi United volunteers’ theme song to be launched
The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, in association with Manav Rachna Education Institute (MREI) will be launching the theme song of the Volunteer Programme ‘Delhi United’ at the Le Meridien Hotel here at 12 noon Tuesday.