NEW DELHI: The Commonwealth Games got off to a scintillating opening three days ago but a tight security apparatus, far-away venues and several ticketing issues are still keeping spectators away from the mega sporting event.
While empty stadiums are giving sleepless nights to Games organizers, spectators complain that procuring a ticket itself is a big problem and once they get one, reaching the venues offers more challenges.
The Organizing Committee has set up ticket booths outside venues after the intervention of the Games Federation which was clearly unhappy with the poor attendance at the stadiums.
Spectators complain that reaching the venues were a big problem due to traffic restrictions.
“One has to walk a long distance in sun, may be three kilometers or more, to reach the venues. You have to park your vehicle some five-seven kilometers away. It is hell reaching a stadium,” said Sushil Das, who went to Yamuna Sports Complex.
Another concern of the spectators was the “unnecessary” security restrictions.
“It was very hard for me to convince the policemen at the access point that I will not harm anyone with my car keys.
They kept saying they cannot allow me inside with car keys.
This is ridiculous,” said Ranjan Saxena, who visited the Indira Gandhi stadium.
A senior Organizing Committee official said security apparatus apparently was turning away spectators from the stadiums.
People also complained about long queues at ticket counters and the time taken for giving tickets.
“It is not rocket science. One should get a ticket in minutes after the payment is done. Here one has to wait for more than 15 minutes sometimes,” Anjana Shukla, who went to Indira Gandhi stadium, said.
Another problem was the “high-priced” food at the venues.
“We are not allowed to take food. The prices are very high at the venues. Who can afford this?” asked Dipak Gupta, a spectator.
However, spectators were more livid at the security arrangements for the event. “Police comes up with new instructions everyday. I have to part with coins when it is not in the list of prohibited items,” said a spectator.
In one case, wife of noted writer William Dalrymple claimed that she lost all “barred items” which was kept by police personnel at the R K Khanna Stadium where she had gone to watch tennis match. Delhi Police however said they have not received any such complaints.
-PTI
