Commonwealth Games organisers said on Wednesday that tickets sales were picking up, but admitted big problems remained with transport.
The troubled Games, which kicked off on Monday, have been played out in front of hardly any fans, but Games supremo Suresh Kalmadi insisted it was getting better.
“As far as ticketing is concerned, the boxing and wrestling venues were packed yesterday,” he claimed, although journalists at the stadiums said this was an exaggeration.
“The ticket sales picked up yesterday with over 50 000 tickets sold and now with India winning gold medals, the interest level is going up.
“There have been very good sales in hockey, tennis, swimming and athletics.”
Despite Kalmadi’s comments, India’s top tennis star Sania Mirza took to the court on Wednesday in front of a mostly empty arena while their first gold of the Games in shooting on Tuesday was witnessed by only a handful of fans.
Pushed on when stadiums would start to fill up, he replied: “Interest will keep coming every day. When we reach the final and semi-final stage people will start coming. It will improve every day.”
Transport a mess
The empty stadiums are not the only problem with reports that some athletes and officials are fed up with the transportation system.
Indian media called it “a mess” with 500 drivers of Games’ cars leaving.
Many had been hired from outside Delhi and had no idea where to go.
Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell said it was a concern and was being fixed.
“Some of the transport system problems have not been resolved and we have been promised more drivers — drivers who understand Delhi, drivers from Delhi who will be put into the system,” he said.
“We expect further improvements will be made on this as this has been a big complaint — the transportation system and the fact that the drivers being used were not familiar with Delhi.
“People were spending a lot of time in cars and the athletes were complaining about getting to their competition venues.
“It has been difficult and organisers are working to improve that.”
The Games have been dogged by problems and were on the brink of collapse last week when some nations threatened to pull out amid worries about security, a bridge falling down, and the standard of accommodation and venues.- AFP