Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sept.30 (ANI): Nearly 1100 athletes, team officials, technical officials and media personnel from overseas arrived in the Capital on Sunday, with close to 100 more arrivals from Norfolk Islands and Canada expected to swell the numbers at night.The biggest delegations that arrived in Delhi were from Kenya (112), Nigeria (69) and Scotland (60). The other arrivals were from a number of countries including Canada, Tanzania, Lesotho, Norfolk Island, Rwanda, Wales, England, Isle of Man, Jersey, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and British Virgin Islands.

Team Canada got ready to welcome the lawn bowls players and boxers teams as the first of its athletes to check at the Games Village on Monday.

Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) Director of Sport Scott Stevenson said the support staff was slated moved in to the Games Village on Sunday.

“Work has progressed far enough now that we’re ready to start moving in to the Village,” he said. “All of the necessary maintenance and cleaning has been done in enough rooms to accommodate our advance team, some additional support staff arriving on Sunday, and the first wave of athletes and coaches the day after that.”

Stevenson confirmed that emergency equipment and safety procedures have all been verified and tested. He added that work crews have been successful in reducing the amount of stagnant water around the residence towers.

He said: “Things are starting to look really good,” Stevenson said. “Other parts of the village, like the Dining Hall and the training facilities, are truly exceptional. The residence towers have been a huge challenge for us, but I’m happy to say they’re finally coming online now too.”

A total of 35 Canadian support staff was due to move in to the village on Sunday. About 40 athletes and coaches from women’s gymnastics, shooting, table tennis, and men’s field hockey are scheduled to arrive Monday.

Stevenson said Canadian sport science experts have visited most of the competition venues and that their reports have been positive. “The facilities are definitely world class,” he said.

He added: “With the accommodation now coming together, we can finally start to focus more of our energies on the real business at hand, which is helping our athletes achieve best-ever performances here against some really good international competition.”

Canada is sending a team of 400 athletes, coaches and support staff to the Games which take place from October 3 to 14, 2010 in Delhi. Team Canada’s goal is a Top 3 finish in the overall medal count. (ANI)