All set for CWG, unprecedented security in Delhi

Thousands of armed security personnel were on their toes today securing the capital for the Commonwealth Games as helicopters patrolled the skies and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles scanned the ground.

A virtual security fortress ahead of the opening of the sporting event, Delhi was full of snipers, commandos on 'Light Armoured Troops Carrier' (LATC) and specially trained men from paramilitary personnel along with Delhi Police personnel.

Round the clock, personnel at the sophisticated C4i control room at the Police Headquarters here rummaged through live feeds from over 3,000 CCTVs installed across the city ensuring that nothing escaped their eyes.

A "multi-layered, multi-dimensional" security blanket, as City Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal put it, was thrown around the city with police vans surveying the nook and corner of the capital.

The security plan prepared for the mega event, which will see participation of 8,500 athletes from 71 countries competing in 17 events, also envisages expert groups to tackle chemical, biological, radio-active or nuclear attacks.

Armed personnel have also been deployed across 41 Games related infrastructure, including 12 competition venues, while heliborne-snipers of the Air Force provided air cover to thwart any terror attack like the 9/11 strikes in the US.

"This is a security arrangement which has been laid down after considerable thought, re-thought, examination and re-examination looking for loopholes. It is a multi-layered, multi-dimensional arrangement," Dadwal said.

"We have a higher security matrix for the Games compared to other events held in the city," he said noting that there were no specific inputs about any terrorist attack on the Games but the police were keeping a strict vigil.

Delhi Police's 28,387 personnel have been deployed at Games venues along with 195 companies (around 20,000 men) of paramilitary personnel while another 15,000 guarded the nearby localities of the venues.

Police has already announced that security restrictions is applied to each and every visitor and no one can expect any relaxation or exception citing the example of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram undergoing security checks.

A four-layered security cordon has been drawn for various venues spread across the city. Only those with accreditation cards and tickets will be allowed inside stadias.

Meanwhile, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker Bowles when the royal couple visited the sprawling complex today.        "We told him that the facilities here are really fantastic and that we are enjoying our stay to the fullest," said wrestler Zoe Smith of Britain.

Britain was among few countries which was severely critical of the condition at the Games Village, dubbed earlier
as "filthy" and "unlivable". Wheel-chair bound Taniel Davis of Welsh, who will participate in the seated shotput competition, during his brief interaction with the royal couple also shared his "warm" experience.

"He asked about many things including about the facilities. We told him that the facilities here are really good. I am enjoying every moment of my stay here," he said. Davis's team-mate Anthony Huges echoed similar view and said the media had portrayed a very different picture of the Village. "We told Charles that the village is really fabulous."

Trinidad and Tobego's Ayana Alexandra, who will participate in the women triple jump event, said the facilities at the village are best among the international events she has participated so far.

"All the facilities are really fabulous. We told the Prince that we are liking the Village," she said.

The Village also received a rave review from team official of Trinidad and Tobago Edwin Skinner, who has experience of participating in many other previous Games. He said he told Prince that the "facilities are absolutely fantastic."

The Village is spread in an area of 63.5 hectares and has all basic facilities like postal services, bank, ATMs, discotheque, bar, cafeterias, handicraft shops, gym and shops selling wooden sculptures among others.

Currently over 6,000 athletes from 71 countries are staying in the Village.

For the first time in the history of the Commonwealth Games, a training area for the athletes has been set up within the Village premises. Athletes are able to train in four sports -- athletics, aquatics, weightlifting, para sport and wrestling.