My view of the Delhi Commonwealth Games

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Friday, 22 October 2010 14:42

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The 19^th Commonwealth Games in Delhi – India, is one that will be remembered for years to come. It was amazing to witness first hand how the City of Delhi and its community joined forces to overcome the pre-Games challenges and deliver a spectacle, hosting over 7000 athletes from 71 nations competing for 826 medals.

I arrived in Delhi on the evening of the opening ceremony, donned my access card and was received by welcoming faces at the new and very impressive Delhi airport. Being a delegate to the Games, I was ushered through my own little entrance and taken to a refreshment area where I was told to sit down and relax as we waited for other athletes and team officials to arrive from different parts of the Commonwealth. We collected our luggage and set off to the athlete village.On our arrival, each was to receive a package with all the necessary details one needed to know about the athlete village and the event schedule for the sporting days that lay ahead.

With package in hand, I set off to find the Team South Africa building, my home for the duration of the event. I was overwhelmed by the amazing treatment and assistance I received from Commonwealth officials and all the volunteers in their red kit who were positioned on every corner and overly willing to help. There was an amazingly friendly and calm feel in the air as I ambled through the village passing each countries building. I had honestly prepared myself for the worst after the hype our SA media stirred in the lead-up to the event, and within the first few minutes of my arrival, I was more than pleasantly surprised.