Aditya Madhusudan

Originally posted by SSC Addict on Skyscrapercity forum. Skyscrapercity forum Games press centre inaugurated Games Press Centre New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni Monday inaugurated the state-of-the-art main press centre (MPC) of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) here. The press centre, which is one of the largest in the history of Commonwealth Games, was inaugurated in the presence of CWG Organizing Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi. The centre will be run by the Press Information Bureau. A dedicated workforce of around 1,000 people will run the press operation at the MPC and across the venues during the Games. The MPC is located at Pragati Maidan and is built over an area of 6,700 square metres. It will cater to 2,000 journalists including around 800 from overseas. It can accommodate 600 journalists at one go. The MPC will have workstations for 400 journalists and 200 photographers. As many as 600 national and international photographers will be covering the Games. There are around 1,300 photo-positions across the Games venues. For the first time in the history of the Commonwealth Games, the MPC will have high-definition cable television sets in eight viewing rooms. SOURCE:Daylife

GAMES VILLAGE SET BENCHMARK FOR LONDON 2012 Games Village has set benchmark for London 2012′ Games Village set benchmark for London 2012 Thursday, September 16, 2010 7:47:15 PM by IANS New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) England’s Chef de mission Craig Hunter’s comments on the Games Village will be music to the ears of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi and his team. Organisers have been claiming that some of the facilities for the New Delhi Games will be as good as what the world watched in awe at Beijing. Hunter seems to endorse the Organising Committee’s view and went a step further in saying the Games Village is far better than the accommodation provided at the Beijing Olympics and it will be a challenge for London, the hosts of 2012 Olympics, to match it. “It is spectacular,” Hunter told a few journalists on the day of the soft opening of the Village. “You should be proud of what you have got. Every Games Village has progressed and this sets a new standard. This Village is better than the Beijing Olympics. You have given us a challenge for the London 2012,” said Hunter, who arrived here four days ago to see the facilities and do the spadework before the athletes arrive Sep 23. “The apartments are spacious and well furnished. They are of high quality. The surroundings are lush green and beautiful. I have seen other Games villages where there were one bathroom for four athletes. Here two athletes share one bathroom. Also, to have such a training facility at the Village itself is amazing. It will be a comfortable stay at the Village.” “I have been coming here in last 18 months and I have seen the Village grow. There are bits and pieces to be done, but that happens before the start of every Games. We are here in advance to check out everything before the athletes arrive.” Hunter also said some of the venues for the Games are world class. Hunter downplayed the security fears and said the Organising Committee is making all efforts to look into their concerns. England, Wales, New Zealand and Scotland have gone in for a joint assessment of security in Delhi, but Hunter said it was nothing unusual. “Security is an integral part of every Games and it is no different here. This has been there since the 1972 Munich Olympic disaster. It is part of the preparation.” “We have had meetings with the Organising Committee on every aspect of the Games Village, on security, health care, accommodation. They gave us a patient hearing and we have got the right assurances.” “There are still some issues. There have been numbers of cases of dengue fever, and we have asked for fogging at the Village every evening. There are also some operational challenges, but I am sure that these things will be looked into. Everything is in good shape.” England will be the second largest contingent after Australia with around 525 athletes and team officials participating. “We are bringing 371 athletes and it is one of the largest contingents England have sent overseas.” Asked about the pullout by some athletes, he said: “There has been no pullout due to security and any other reason. The athletes who are not coming here is because of the packed international calendar and injuries. It has been a long season.” “But we do have some Olympic and World Champions coming to Delhi. Also, there are some talented youngsters in the squad. We are using this as a preparation for London 2012.” Double Olympic champion swimmer Rebecca Adlington and Beijing Olympics silver medallist triple jumper Phillips Idowu are some of the star England athletes who will be seen in action in Delhi. The Village has 4,000 bedrooms spread across 34 towers, with four million square feet of constructed area. The apartments ranging from two to five bedroom units (1,400 sq ft to 3,500 sq ft) will house more than 7,000 athletes and officials.

There is no highrise near JLN stadium. About 1,70,000 security personnels will be guarding the games. They surely aren't deployed for some 'Muslim Harvey Lee Oswalds' to come and shoot the aerostst down.

From Hindustan Times epaper

That massive blimp is very expensive and is surely not for shooting it down. @Ikarus360:Link for youMy link Opening ceremony rehearsals at the JLN stadium Originally posted by Mo Rush on skyscrapercity forum. Here's the link: My link

Prince Charles will attend the ceremonies. INFO: Australian firm Howard & Sons has been roped in for fireworks. At the starting the fireworks will start from the stadium roof culmninating in a 30 second display. There will be 8 round fireworks during the ceremony. At the end, fireworks will start from stadium roof and surroundings and will last for 5 minutes. Similar is being planned out for the closing ceremony.

The ceremony will be attented by Prince Charles as Queen would not be able to do so. More information: Australian firm Howard & Sons has been roped in to for fireworks at the ceremonies. The company had earlier been involved in Melbourne CWG. The fireworks will start from the stadium's roof as the countdown comes to an end which will culminate in a thirty-second display. There will be eight-round fireworks during the cermony and the ceremony will end with a five minutes firework display from in and around the stadium.

Artists will emerge from the tunnel. I think they will build a stage right in the centre of the arena which will be constructed by StageOne. India's 5000 years old culture and tradition will be on the showcase. Some mannequins and other props will be airlifted by aerostat which may arise from the tunnel.