Athletes’ village gets thumbs-up from Pakistan contingent
A delegation had earlier expressed its concerns over standards at the village.
KARACHI:
The Pakistan contingent has given the athletes’ village at the Commonwealth Games a much-needed thumbs-up after spending a day at the venue.
The first-batch of the Pakistan contingent, consisting of 54 members, arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday amid uncertainty over arrangements after a three-man delegation had earlier expressed its concerns over standards at the village.
“We don’t have any complaints about accommodation and the athletes have adjusted well at the village,” Pakistan contingent’s administrative officer Ahmed Ali Rajput told The Express Tribune from New Delhi.
Rajput, who was also part of the three-man delegation that questioned cleanliness at the village, said their concerns have been taken care of by the organisers.
“We had concerns about the cleanliness at the village but the organisers have taken care of all our concerns as things have been improved here.”
Athletes from England, Australia and Canada, besides other countries, had expressed concerns on the state of the village and demanded alternate accommodation.
“As far as we’re concerned, we don’t need alternate accommodation now as our athletes have adjusted at the village. The rooms are well furnished and only two athletes are staying in one room which is a standard in such events.”
He added that the athletes have also been given good training facilities.
Security arrangements lauded
Rajput said Pakistan contingent also has no security concerns in the Indian capital citing strict arrangements to avoid any untoward incident.
“A good number of security personnel have been deployed in and around our tower. The security is not permitting any irrelevant person inside our village. Even we are not allowed to move without an identity card.”
Hockey team draws against Proteas
Rajput said the hockey team has also started practicing and has no complaints about the arrangements either. “They have started their preparations and today they played a practice match against South Africa that ended in a 2-2 draw.”
The Games, under fire due to security and hygienic conditions, start from Sunday.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2010.
The Pakistan contingent has given the athletes’ village at the Commonwealth Games a much-needed thumbs-up after spending a day at the venue.
The first-batch of the Pakistan contingent, consisting of 54 members, arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday amid uncertainty over arrangements after a three-man delegation had earlier expressed its concerns over standards at the village.
“We don’t have any complaints about accommodation and the athletes have adjusted well at the village,” Pakistan contingent’s administrative officer Ahmed Ali Rajput told The Express Tribune from New Delhi.
Rajput, who was also part of the three-man delegation that questioned cleanliness at the village, said their concerns have been taken care of by the organisers.
“We had concerns about the cleanliness at the village but the organisers have taken care of all our concerns as things have been improved here.”
Athletes from England, Australia and Canada, besides other countries, had expressed concerns on the state of the village and demanded alternate accommodation.
“As far as we’re concerned, we don’t need alternate accommodation now as our athletes have adjusted at the village. The rooms are well furnished and only two athletes are staying in one room which is a standard in such events.”
He added that the athletes have also been given good training facilities.
Security arrangements lauded
Rajput said Pakistan contingent also has no security concerns in the Indian capital citing strict arrangements to avoid any untoward incident.
“A good number of security personnel have been deployed in and around our tower. The security is not permitting any irrelevant person inside our village. Even we are not allowed to move without an identity card.”
Hockey team draws against Proteas
Rajput said the hockey team has also started practicing and has no complaints about the arrangements either. “They have started their preparations and today they played a practice match against South Africa that ended in a 2-2 draw.”
The Games, under fire due to security and hygienic conditions, start from Sunday.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2010.