NEW DELHI: As the Games Village slowly started moving out of the all the negativity surrounding the preparedness of the capital city for the XIX Commonwealth Games, four new teams were given a ceremonial welcome at the International Zone on Tuesday.
CWG minnows Cook Islands were the last nation to check in after Tanzania, Brunei and the Bahamas. The 55-member team from the South Pacific was evidently thrilled to be in Delhi, with most of what they had heard about the problems in the lead up to the games becoming a distant memory.
The contingent was treated to a sumptuous performance of Rajasthani dance by school students even as the evening set in giving the International Zone a dazzling atmosphere. “It is fantastic,” said Cook Islands netball team coach Ingi Kotoi after the welcome. “We are delighted to be here. I am sure it will be a great experience for all of us.”
Reacting to the issues highlighted in the days preceding their arrival, Kotoi said the situation at the CWG was vastly different to news reaching back home. “It’s very different from what we had heard.
On the island nation’s chances the games, she said the team was looking at a top six placing in netball while the lawn bowls team also gives them hope of medals.
