Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Golf may not be a discipline at the Olympics or, for that matter, at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) but a golf simulator facility in the Games Village here is certainly attracting players in hordes.

Located in the Village’s international zone, it is buzzing with activity mostly in the evenings when players come to test their tee-off skills.

There are impeccable shots and huge misses followed by playful teasing among team members. Whatever the contingent and the uniform, every team, however, sports a similar ‘disturb-not’ look if chivvied during their ’simulated’ golfing.

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No drycleaning dirty linen?

Of all the facilities in the international zone at the Games Village, the drycleaning utility is raising a stink with the Indian contingent, thanks to the high rates.

“It has been four to five days that we opened here and we’ve had six to seven visitors from Australia, Cameroon and New Zealand. Most of them are players and managers. However, the Indian players have only come and asked the price,” Vibhor Kapoor, store manager, told IANS.

The minimum charge at the outlet, run by Diamond Fabcare Pvt Ltd, for dry cleaning is Rs.60-70 with the maximum on the list being Rs.1,000 for a suede leather jacket. While delivery is within 48 hours, delivery in 24 hours costs 50 percent extra.

“Visitors don’t have any issue with the prices…We guess it depends on the mood of the athletes and probably the organising committee has also provided them with washing machines in their flats. So we are not keeping any targets as of now,” said Ashish Chamoli, another store manager.

“Moreover,” the players mostly wear track suits which are easily washable. However, there is no (steam) press facility available in the residential area, which we do,” he added”.

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Food for scribes: so near yet so far!

The delectable dishes and the ambience at the dining hall of the Games Village may be getting rave reviews, but the media has access only to biscuits and beverages.

Journalists camping at the Village the whole day have only small packets of glucose biscuits to chew on, besides tea, coffee and water. To make it worse, lunch boxes are not allowed inside in view of security measures to keep all “foreign elements” at bay.

An irate bunch of journalists Wednesday e-mailed their woes to director, Media and Communications, Youth Affairs and Sports, Rajesh Malhotra. He assured them he would take up the matter with the mayor of the Games Village.

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Life in Games lane - or out of it

Delhi residents seem to be putting their best foot forward, courtesy the Commonwealth Games. For a change, they have become law-abiding citizens, especially on the road, leaving their brash, devil-may-care attitude.

Imagine, commuters directing a truck driver, who was leisurely driving in a dedicated lane for the Commonwealth Games, to move away as players were coming out of the airport.

Even before traffic police could jump into action, commuters on motorcycles and cars waved frantically at the truck driver. Many shouted asking him to leave the lane. Before he could be jailed or fined, he veered away!

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At Games Village, smile please!

The Games Village is a fortress. The common man has no access to it. But many are still making a beeline for it, family and friends in tow, to take pictures with the Village as the backdrop.

Almost daily one sees rickshaw pullers, labourers, school students and other local residents flashing their cellphone cameras to freeze a moment in time at the Village - though from a distance.