CWG village promises to offer world class facilities

Promising to provide facilities "unheard of in many of the Games Villages around the world", the Commonwealth Games Village will open mid-September for the 8,000 athletes and team officials who will be in New Delhi for the October 3 to 14 event.

Situated close to the Akshardham Temple, the organizers claim the Village will be a "home away from home" for athletes and officials.

"We have taken the term Village quite literally. Like any city, everything a person needs will be found within the premises, beginning from luxurious sleeping and staying quarters to the basics be it a toothbrush or shaving kit," said Lt General Ashok Kapur (Retd.), ADG-Games Village.

The logistics involved are mind-boggling.

A total of 34 residential towers, with 1,168 air-conditioned apartments comprising 4,008 bedrooms, will house the guests.

The main dining hall, with a seating capacity of 2,300, will cater to their food requirements, dishing out approximately 22,000 meals daily. The Village will also provide medical services at a Polyclinic.

"Each apartment will have facilities, which are unheard of in many of the Games Villages around the world," said Maneck Kotwal, Director, Games Village.

"Special thought has also gone into the food that will be provided to the athletes. The comprehensive menu on offer will contain dishes from all six zones of the Commonwealth, at the same time designed to meet the cultural, religious and nutritional needs of the athletes."

"We are about 97 percent ready from the estate point of view," says Kotwal. "Twelve of the 34 towers have already been furnished, with only minor fittings to be sorted out."

Several retail shops will also be located in the International Zone, including a bank, a post office, a general store and a hair salon, to meet the day-to-day requirements of athletes.

Also, for the first time in the history of the Commonwealth Games, a training area has been included within the confines of the Village itself where athletes will be able to train for athletics, aquatics, weightlifting and wrestling.

A team of 88 paid staff and 460 volunteers will look after the Games village planning and operations during the Games.