Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) Australian chef de mission Steve Moneghetti is extremely happy with the facilities at the Commonwealth Games Village, but said athletes will not be allowed to move around freely till the sporting extravaganza is over.
Moneghetti, a marathon gold medallist at the 1994 Victoria Games, said the athletes have been advised not to wear their team jerseys outside the Commonwealth Games venues to avoid being possible terror targets.

Athletes from England, Canada and New Zealand have also been banned from wearing their team colours outside the venues.

“Haven’t got any official confirmation from Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) on what we are going to do. But security is perfect and they are not taking any chances with the Australian athletes,” Moneghetti told reporters at the Games Village.

“It is too dangerous to leave the Games Village. They have some strict security procedure in place,” he added.

“We cannot move around freely. The athletes have to come back to the Village after finishing the events and can only go to cheer their fellow countrymen. They will be allowed to move freely only after the Games are over,” he said.

Moneghetti, who was the mayor of the Village at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006, said the much-criticised Games Village is in nice shape and the athletes don’t have any complains.

“We are happy with everything here at the Games Village. We arrived here Sunday morning and the transition from the airport to the Games Village was smooth. We are absolutely happy with the traffic,” he said.

“I haven’t received a single complaint from the athletes about the Games Village. Accommodation is perfect and the dining area is excellent,” he added.

Some 7,000 participants and officials from 71 countries and territores are expected to attend the Commonwealth Games — India’s biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games, though negative publicity in the run-up may considerably deplete the number of visitors from abroad.