New Delhi:
Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi feels the world-class city infrastructure and the facilities, which have come up for the multi-discipline event, have put the National Capital ahead by 10 years.
"The city is 10 years ahead now. Earlier people would fly from Delhi to Dubai, Singapore and many other destinations. Now they will land here, see the beautiful city," Kalmadi said addressing the gathering at the Queen's Baton arrival at the OC's headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday.
"Delhi is all set for the Games. We have a first class airport, a great metro connectivity that stretches right from the airport to the Games Village and to all the venues. Roads are just great, the entire city is spurced up. You have got everything," he added.
The senior Congress leader also said the October 3-14 mega-event does not belong to any political party.
"Let me tell you, it's not a Congress Games. It's an all-party Games. The Games have come to us during the times of (then Prime Minister) Atal Behari Vajpayee-ji. We have done our best to see the results.
"28 years after we hosted the Asian Games, the city is hosting a big event. This is for the first time we are hosting Commonwealth Games. All the 71 nations have come or are on the way," he said.
Reiterating that all the athletes were happy with the facilities at the Games Village near the Akshardham Temple, Kalmadi said, "I had given the athletes a choice, they are free to stay in hotel.
"But impressed with the Games Village, nobody opted for any five-star hotel. They do not want to stay in the hotel but in the Games Village."
On the occasion, Kalmadi also urged the citizens to actively participate in the Games.
"This is your city, your Games. You got to put your best foot forward," he said.