Despite the high profile of the Batons arrival in New Delhi after touring the Commonwealth and India in the past few months, anyone who reads the news will know that today, an even bigger national date had finally arrived after years of animosity between the Muslim and Hindu communities. The verdict of the Ayodhya Investigation, one of the longest running disputes in Indian history, in which over 2000 people have been killed. The basic story of it is that Hindus tore down a 16th century Mosque there in 1992 claiming the land it was built on (Babri Masjid) was the birthplace of their God "Rama" and fighting between them since then has been some of the worst in Indias history.
We were told to be wary when going into town, the press office had informed us that, despite secular tensions being better than they were 10 years ago, there is still a significant chance that violence could ensue and possibly even rioting when the verdict gets passed by the Supreme Court. As well as this, due to the intensity of the Ayodhya Investigation, a large number of CWG police and military had been relocated to Ayodhya by the government, leaving the City here with a smaller number of security personnel, nowhere near enough to control a full scale riot should one break out.
Taking into account the sheer scale of the trial going on today, something ill admit had no idea about until yesterday morning, there has been absolutely no sign of potential upset in town. Everybody is just getting on with things, almost as if it isn't happening, either the communities are dealing with it fantastically or the media is up to its old scaremongering tricks again (we were told to be indoors at 3:30 when the verdict was past)
In other news, I've finally had a phone call from my supervisor who I'll be closely working with in the Velodrome, a typically laid back Australian called Chris Gettaa. It's been quite frustrating for us at the moment, as training seems to be non-existent since the head of volunteers got sacked upon the governments intervention and with the back room staff still clueless as to whats ready and what isn't. A few of the lads I'm with had to go back and get re-issued new passes and uniforms as an Indian Medium shirt is more like a childs XS and someone was assigned to the shooting venue, an event we were excluded from as it's practically in Sri Lanka. All in all it isn't ideal, were going on our own merits as opposed to the skills were supposed to be learning but it isn't phasing us, we wouldn't be here in the first place if we weren't deemed good enough to so the job.
So I begin my Commonwealth volunteering on the 3rd with my first shift, It will be basically meeting the team and exploring the venue before the Cycling kicks off on the 5th. Looking forward to learning the ropes and getting stuck in! Theres only so many card games you can play before the boredom of free time drives you round the bend. (I've also been told that the volunteer application process for the London 2012 Olympics has begun, something I'm extremely keen to look into if all goes well here, fingers crossed)
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