Click to play videoNew Delhi: Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell and delegates of the Commonwealth Games Association from over 70 countries are in New Delhi visiting various venues of the 2010 Games to inspect the facilities.
With the 2010 Games fast approaching Delhi put its best foot forward to showcase itself for delegates from 70 Commonwealth nations.
The delegates were shown the brand new air conditioned low floor buses, roads which were deceptively free of traffic, stadiums being given a quick clean up even the Games Village spruced up, even though a model was used to show what it would eventually look like.
It is also Delhi's last chance to collect some brownie points after a string of bad news, including a public rebuke from the Commonwealth Games Federation President for delays and inadequate preparations. But there were some who gave Delhi the thumbs up.
"The layout of Commonwealth Games village is much better than Melbourne and Beijing," said the delegate from Mauritius, Vivian Gangaram.
A series of presentations was made at the newly made Thyagaraj Stadium, one of the few venues that are nearing completion.
But not everyone was convinced with several delegates dozing off during the presentation
"There is a lot of work to do," said the British Virgin Islands delegate.
The concerns seem valid. An internal report of the organising committee has claimed that some venues would overshoot their deadline by as much as three months although officials sound confident that they would be ready in time.
"There are still 360 days to go and everything will be completed on time," said Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Secretary General Lalit Bhanot.
The exercise was clearly designed keep the delegates and media away from the stadiums that are yet to be completed.
The Media Accreditation for the General Assembly was done last month and this CNN-IBN correspondent despite having the pass was not allowed to enter the venues
This was the plight of all the reporters who could do nothing but wait for the camerapersons to complete the shoot and come back.
Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit will also host a dinner for the delegates as well and one can only hope Delhi too proves to be an equally good host in October 2010.
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