New Delhi:
After all the panic in the last few weeks, Thursday saw a turnaround of sorts for the organisers of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
It seems the handing of the Games Village over to the Delhi government galvanised the workforce and inspired such confidence that at least three contingents now say the condition in the Village is much more acceptable now.
England, Wales, Australia, Scotland and Canada have finally stopped dithering and will be at the Games after all. The British and Canadian teams arrive today.
(No problem at Games Village: Indian team) England decided to participate in the Commonwealth Games following reports from New Delhi that the improved level of arrangements will be in place shortly.
"Our Delhi team is seeing the improved levels of resourcing required to resolve the operational issues. We'll monitor the situation to ensure the village and stadia are safe," Commonwealth Games England said in a statement.
The England team decided to travel to Delhi after "unanimously" agreeing the decision with its 17 member sports.
England's men hockey team will stay at a holding camp after reaching Delhi early today, before moving into the Games Village.
The England statement came a few hours after their Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland counterparts revealed their teams would be travelling to Delhi as scheduled.
Wales chief Anne Ellis said they were convinced by the assurances given by the CWG organisers to CGF that all glitches will be fixed in time.
(Watch - Wales: There's been improvement at the Village)Ellis added, "We're satisfied that everything is ready. A week ago it was like a building site, although most of it was cosmetic work, there were serious problems with plumbing and electricity.
"But that wasn't in the village. The food zone has been ready for some time, the international zone has been up and running and our tower block, which we went into last week with our advance party, has been turned round and is now comfortable for our athletes."
Scotland, which has already delayed the departure of its athletes, also came out with positive signals, saying that it was "heartened" by the progress made by the organisers.
The Scottish official also issued a statement in which they expressed happiness that the state government of the host city was putting up efforts to clear the mess.
"We are heartened that Sheila Dikshit has personally taken control of the situation and ensuring that the necessary additional resources are brought in," Jon Doig, who is Team Scotland's representative in Delhi, said in a statement.
Australian CWG Association chief Perry Crosswhite also said the condition of the Games Village is "acceptable" as of now and also confirmed arrival of their contingent for the Games.
"Conditions at the Commonwealth Games Village are acceptable. Things are getting better every time. The residential towers at the Village are improving. However, water at the basement inside the Village is a bit of a concern to us," Crosswhite said at a media conference.
"But Delhi CM has directed the concerned authorities to clean it up by tonight and we think the assurance given to us will be fulfilled," he said.
He also assured that Australian contingent would reach the capital on September 27.
In New Delhi on Thursday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held a meeting with union ministers and others involved in the sporting event.
The meeting came two days after international delegates lambasted the Games Village as "filthy and uninhabitable." (With PTI inputs)