Journey to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to be scaled up

Queen's Baton may get a good run in Delhi

Journey to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to be scaled up

The government now has plans to scale up the baton's journey in Delhi. Reason: when the baton can travel all across the country, it would create a bad impression if the journey to Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on October 3 from the Organising Committee headquarters, where it would arrive on September 30, goes without a bit of pageantry.

Sources in the OC said, though the final decision has not been reached, the matter was taken up in the recently held Group of Ministers meeting. However, the discussions ended inconclusively.

Recently, the GoM had scrapped the idea of holding grand shows during the baton's travel through the city, especially after Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, had reportedly aired her apprehensions about the public response.
"In the past one year wherever the baton has gone, within India and outside the country as well, there have been grand celebrations. It would not be appropriate if it were carried silently without any fanfare in the last leg. The issue would be discussed again in the next GoM meeting," said an OC official familiar with the development.

Early last month, the government had scrapped the idea of the baton travelling all across the city and a visit to a few historical places was mooted. But a few were of the opinion that possibilities be explored to scale up the QBR journey from the OC headquarters to JLN Stadium.

However, sources said, the Chief Minister was concerned about the amount of negative publicity the Games have received and the baton's relay might have to face opposition from the general public, which would harm the city's image.

Officials say the cultural and educative drive launched by Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the city government, in which big names like Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, are actively participating could create a positive environment.
The government is also banking on Dilli Meri Jaan, a campaign to create conducive atmosphere in the city about the Games.

Though OC General Secretary, Lalit Bhanot was not available for comments, officials said cultural groups could be part of this journey and also the baton would be carried in such a vehicle where it is visible from a distance.
"However, whether photographs along the
QBR will be allowed. Can't be said right now," said a representative.

'SOFTEN THE BLOW'
Opening a Pandora's box again, Indian Olympic Association vice-president Vijay Kumar Malhotra today said the idea to let the spectators use vuvuzela during the Commonwealth Games will "disturb" athletes and prove "counterproductive". Vuvuzela created a storm after it was introduced in the FIFA World Cup in June-July. The plastic horn went on to become World Cup soundtrack in South Africa and last week the Games Organising Committee introduced it as one of the merchandise of the October 3-14 mega-event.
"It will disturb our players and will be counterproductive," Malhotra said, "We have our own way of drum beating and other forms of entertainment in the stadia. We don't need any foreign devise for our sporting festivals," he added. The Organising Committee is yet to get a clearance on the plastic horn's entry into the stadium from the police as it is known to create high decibel noise. "It (vuvuzela) may be a part of South African culture but it will not fit in here," Malhotra said.

NUMBERS GAME

Around 1.7 million spectators are expected to watch the Commonwealth Games over 12 days.
u00a0A total of 195 paid staff, supported by a team of 2650 volunteers, will be deployed at the stadiums to guide the visitors, who will come with different categories of tickets, towards the venue, Maj Gen G G Dwivedi, Head of Spectator Services said.
"They can also purchase food, water and merchandise from the various stalls which would be located inside the plaza," said Dwivedi.
The ticket validation would be done firstly through soft ticket check by looking at the date, time, venue, sport, gate and session.
"Validation of the bar-coded tickets would be done by the turnstile machines. To ensure that spectators are not inconvenienced, dedicated gates have been marked and would be mentioned on the ticket," Dwivedi said.
For the opening and closing ceremonies, seats will be numbered while there will be open seating for the rest of the events. "43,500 seats have been reserved for common spectators at the JLN stadium. They will be allowed to enter through designated gates which are 6, 9 and 14," he said.

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