Fennell salutes Delhi for hosting successful Commonwealth Games - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President Mike Fennell has said that Delhi has 'performed' to successfully host the XIXth Commonwealth Games. Fennell praised the 11-day event, which started under threats of boycott and even fears of cancellation, but which enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in its fortunes. "When I arrived in Delhi on September 23, people asked me when was I going to announce the cancellation of the Games. People were asking athletes 'why are you going to India?', 'why are you going to Delhi?'," the Age quoted Fennel, as saying. "Last year I gave a press conference here and I was asked if there was a Plan B. I said Plan B was Delhi and Delhi has performed," he added. Fennell further praised the New Delhi authorities for the way the mega event has been organized. "Competitors are happy and comfortable. There were one or two minor incidents, but they have reported their satisfaction," Fennell said. "We have the highest praise for the security. Some of it was extremely tight and there were complaints that it was too restrictive, but we prefer to err on the side of tight security," he added. The curtain will fall on the Delhi Commonwealth Games on Thursday with a spectacular closing ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. During the ceremony, representatives from Glasgow, Scotland, will take part in the Flag Handover Ceremony, which will mark the official lowering and passing on of the CGF Flag.