Maximum security for Commonwealth Games

Chinthana WASALA

The best of efforts are taken to keep New Delhi as one of the most secured capitals during the period that the Commonwealth Games takes place according to the Indian Government sources.

The Security Forces are deployed at all the venues including the luxury hotels and metro stations to ensure thousands of athletes, from all around the world would remain safe. Commandos, snipers and police personnel have been assigned the task to protect 8,000 athletes and officials staying at the Games village. Surface-to-air missile squadrons and anti-aircraft guns have also been deployed in and around the city.

There will also be snipers patrolling in helicopters.

Apart from around 7,000 athletes from 71 teams representing 54 Commonwealth member-States, New Delhi is expecting a huge inflow of sports enthusiasts and tourists during the Games.

Queen's Baton in town

The Queen's Baton, which will be brought to the opening ceremony is also in New Delhi after a long journey, travelling to all Commonwealth countries, covering a distance of more than 170,000 kilometres in 240 days has reached New Delhi and will be taken to its final destination, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for the opening ceremony of the XIXth Commonwealth Games on Sunday, where the Queen's message will be read aloud to the athletes.

The Delhi 2010 Baton Relay was launched on October 29, 2009 at Buckingham Palace in London, with Queen Elizabeth II handing the Baton to the President of India, Pratibha Patil.

The torch was brought to Sri Lanka on June 18 this year.