Accreditation Day

Just 5 days to go and since the government has stepped in all of a sudden things seem to be coming together in New Delhi. The homeless and beggars have been moved on and there has been a large increase of Police and Military personnel, giving the City Center a much needed sense of security and control. On the one hand, It's refreshing to be able to walk down the street and through the markets without being stopped every two minutes by someone asking for money or trying to sell you games or trinkets, but then again, that in itself was what appealed to me in the first place about Delhi, so you could say the states intervention has left my cultural experience in a bitter-sweet position. As the games get closer more and more westerners are arriving, but mainly, and most surprisingly is the influx of Americans to the Indian capital. It's most likely coincidence, but I never expected to see as many as I have, although I like to think they're hear to cheer on Team England when the games begin.

Today was when things became official for us volunteers, our accreditation day. Passes, uniforms and a final idea of which sports we would be reporting on were all revealed in what I think was the longest time I've spent queuing since Bank Holiday Monday at Alton Towers. During the time it took to collect everything, I got chatting to a fellow volunteer reporter whilst waiting for my uniform, an Indian lad called Rajiv, who was quite upbeat about the games, despite the negative press here and abroad. He told me he was optimistic that come October 14th on the closing ceremony, India and Delhi will have proven all of it's critics wrong and that Glasgow 2014 will have a job on its hands to top it. It's nice to see a bit of optimistic patriotism in a time when so many are pointing fingers and playing the blame game.

The uniforms themselves are...interesting. Almost like a cross between 1990's American rap artist and Hugh Hefner lounge lizard attire. But It definitely gives you a boosted sense of importance when walking around the Connaught place and the locals love it. You know your life isn't half bad when the KFC staff are giving you and your mates a round of applause just for entering the room in your work clothes.