Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010

[drron]

Thanks.From bitter experience I know you cant always trust the media to tell you what things are really like.Loving it so far.

 

[nlagalle]

OK I've finally had time to grab my breath and sit down in the Office. It is day 3 of the Games, so let me try and bring you all up to speed on what has been happening.

We arrived back to our office on the Saturday morning to try and get our freight out of Customs and also chase up our rate card order. The rate card is basically a catalogue of things we can order such as furniture, lines, technology etc. Nothing had been delivered so we went on the hunt for things like sim cards and data cards. By the end of the day we had managed to have our ADSL and leased internet line installed, as well as get our sim cards (so we could get of global roaming). Our freight was another story! Still held up as no one had signed the paper, so there were calls going everywhere and being escalated at all levels. Finally at about 6pm the signature we had been chasing for a week (Our freight company had been trying since before I arrived).

Our next problem was that customs had closed for the day, meaning we wouldn't get our freight til sometime Monday - another 2 days wasted. However we had a stroke of luck and that the Indian swung into action as we were part of a big group of media people who had the gear caught it was about to become bigger headlines and more headaches for them. Somehow Customs staff came in on a sunday and released our gear and at 10.30pm it arrived at the MPC.

Our furniture was also delivered on Sunday morning.. This was after numerous calls and me yelling down the phone. However what was delivered was not what was ordered, or up to the quality your'd expect. At these events you pay top dollar for things and they are delivered new. what we got wasn't new, or anything like what was on the rate card. more phone calls and more yelling resulted in them taking me to the warehouse to handpick what I wanted delivered. By late afternoon i was still waiting for it to be delivered and in a sign of frustration/anger I literally hurled all the furnuiture out of our office and into the hallway, my aim being to block the way. That certainly got people into action! I suddenly had helpers taking everything out and I began to set the room up from scratch! Finally our office furniture arrived and i was able to get everything in place.

My aim was to have the office running by Tuesday.

 

[thewinchester]

I don't envy you one bit nlagalle, and words fail me at the mountain of fail that's occurring there.

Think about it, truckloads of media from other countries, the ones you want to report back as the event being a success, getting mucked up and messed around to the point of baldness.

Not exactly conducive to helping get the desired message across, and shows that a large number of people involved in the games aren't on the same page - message wise.

 

[nlagalle]

OK it is day 5 and I have finally been able to settle down enough you give you all an update, and hopefully bring this TR up to date!

I'll condense last week down as it was mainly involved in setting up the office but as usual it wasn't without grief or me yelling!!

It took nearly 2 days in the end to get our office fully running. By the time we tested everything, and sorted the issues we were finally open to have it running on the Wednesday. during that time the team that had arrived were wroking from the comforts of the hotel.

Technology was the killer here, nothing was working properly. Our leased line was flakey, not getting good speed and trace routes showed our traffic was going via New York - so the long way around!! Our SIM cards gave us grief to the point where we walked out and got a different brand!

My other frustration was not being able to get to the venues to check out our seating and links. All the venues were closed off to the media so once again it would be a last minute setup. Rather annoying when you consider in Beijing we did it all a week out form the games even starting!

So by the end of the week we did have a functioning office, but it was not achieved without lots of yelling and screaming! what was annoying was there was no urgency in their operation. They seemed to think the games start on Sunday and nothing needs to be done until then. altohugh there was some fluury during the week as more media arrived to the MPC.

In the end I couldn't get to any venues until they events started. I did manage to get to the swimming on Saturday to check it out, and this is where more disasters were unfolding! our dedicated link back to the MPC (actually a VLAN connection) was set up totally wrong. Was not what we had ordered or requested, or even what they confirmed with us earlier. So again came the shouting. in the end i told them to give me a dedicated internet link with DHCP (they were wanted everything to be static IPs!!!). I was going to have to go back on Monday and double check it was done right.

So for the main stadium, I didn't get access until the sunday morning, the day of the Opening Ceremony. I'll post separately on that below!

Fortunately thorugh all of this our hotel was really good. Food fantastic and rooms were pretty good.

During the week, more of our staff filtered in so we were quite busy setting up laptops and phones. Our joy on the weekend though was Channel 10 broadcastnig the AFL grand final replay throughout the MPC so we could sit back and watch it - pity about the result!

 

[Bundy Bear]

Thanks for the trip report updates; have been seeing a few photos filter through on facebook so thanks for those as well.

Seems like India is still got a long way to go before they can run world events.

 

[nlagalle]

Seems like India is still got a long way to go before they can run world events.

You are not wrong Bundy, an extremely long way to go.. What's worse is the public aren't interested, so the venues are so empty!

 

[nlagalle]

Opening Ceremony..

So after all my issues over the last week setting everything up, I headed off early to the JN stadium to get set up for the Opening Ceremony. This involved leaving in the morning to get set up. Considering this was a hot and sticky day it was even worse inside the stadium. We had been given horror stories about how bad the security would be. Fortunately for me arriving early was a good move as i wasn't questioned about all the gear I had in my bag. I made my way to the tribune area and started setting up.

At this venue we were also supposed to have a direct link back to the MPC, and again this hadn't been done right. To top it off the technology people at the MPC were all promise and no delivery. no cable installed at the office end anyway.

After much arguing they installed a direct link for me to plug into. I could patch in our other cable at different points to connect to.

During this time i had some more gear dropped down and I had to go outside to collect it. As i walked back in, i was questioned by thr police guarding the gate and saying i couldn't come in as my accreditation didn't have sticker on it! I said i don't need a sticker as i have a ticket! mind you they saw me walk out 2 minutes earlier.

I argued with them about the ticket - them telling me i had to go to another gate to get in (my ticket clearly stated Gate 2 on it too, which is where i was!). Anyway he finally let me through and I was back in.

So by late afternoon i had everything set up as best I could. I had a journalist bring down some last minute things that were forgotten, one of which was gaffa tape. By this time the police were in fine form and confiscating whatever they wanted. He had his aftershave, hand wash and my gaffa tape taken. Why they thought the gaffa tape was a security threat is beyond me! I was told later that they were confiscating anything they wanted to keep for themselves. They were even confiscating coins!

So we had about an hour til the opening ceremony, and by this time i was over the place! I remember in Beijing the anticipation was building by this time. Delhi was flat. No excitement and the stadium wasn't even full. To me it pretty much summed up the night. I didn't think much of the ceremony - the AeroStat was pretty good though. Perhaps it was the week of getting nowhere setting up that put my in a bad mood for it. Which was dissappointing as I was hoping I would spike back up. Alas it was not to be!

A few of us were wondering if the AeroStat would spring a leak and sink to the ground!

So tomorrow the competition would begin and i was heading to the swimming to make sure that was a happening thing.

 

[samh004]

The corruption makes it sound like such an awesome place…

 

[nlagalle]

OK here goes my attempt for getting you all up to date!

Day 1

Swimming was on the agenda today, so I made my way out to the venue early so get past what was probably going to be an over zelaous security check. And I was correct! However i was lucky that nothing was confiscated - well I stood my ground on some things. In the end the relented and i was through into the Swimming. I don't know if anyone watched it and saw the building but i can't fathom why you would build an oval building around a rectangle "field of play" in something like the swimming. It is the biggest waste of space you have seen. Unlike the Water Cube in Beijing that was masses of seats, this had so much wasted space!

Anyway I had some luck today, our internet connection was set up as it should have been and was working. I stuck around for the day here to make sure our connection were good. What was disappointing was the crowds. There was hardly any. It's a shame in this respects for the athletes with no one cheering them on.

Day 2

Today it was out to the Cycling. This was the scene of my biggest dummy spit ever. The night before I had been contacted by the Venue Technology Manager, The Overal tech Manager and the Press ops guy, all assuring me that our lines in the photo positions were installed and our 10mb Dedicated internet link was installed and all ready to go.

After going through the usual rigorous security check (very hands on too) I got in to find it was not what i was told or promised. Firstly our tribune seats were split into two areas. Not a deal breaker but a pain in the butt. Then i asked them to show me the cabling for the photo positions and were it was terminated. After spending about 10 minutes trying to get them to understand they ran off and cam back with rolls of cabling!! so it hadn't been laid like promised!

I got them to lay it while i went and checked out our link. Next cough up. My request was for DHCP - which means your computer can automatically pick up and IP address. Like every other venue it was only running static! I said no one operates like this in the real world, and told them to run off and fix the problem. Meanwhile the racing had started and we were under the pump to have things filed back for the papers. Our datacards were hit and miss, making things harder. In the end to help our photographer file i hooked his laptop up and plugged in the IP details. Only then to find it didn't work! They ran off and came back and said to me i needed to add in proxy server details!!!

Well this is when I blew my stack at them. I called them incompetant morans among other names and and said they had no clue about how to organise technology for a major event. And to be honest, for a country that is supposed to be IT savvy, they really did haver no clue on how to have it set up.

I then rang the Technology manager (who is an Australian) and let it rip. i was so angry and i felt sorry for him as he was caught in the middle. anyway I said just get me 2 ADSL lines and we'll go with that. That still took all afternoon, and wasn't til an official from the OC came down that it got going - and that was after i gave him a 30 minute deadline and said it is wasn't done in the time I'd go and steal someone elses!

Well to his credit he got it happening and the 2 lines were installed in 32 mins. I was timing him and everytime he walked past me I tapped my watch at him!

I have a reputation with some of the people here as an "angry man" as I had blown up at so many people.

Let's see what Day 3 held for me!

 

[Flashback]

I would be blowing my stack too! :evil:

This is unacceptable for what is supposed to be a "world class" event and really shows just how far behind India is.

They can't even get the simple things right!

 

[nlagalle]

I would be blowing my stack too! :evil:

This is unacceptable for what is supposed to be a "world class" event and really shows just how far behind India is.

They can't even get the simple things right!

I can't agree with you more here. In reality there is not one glowing thing you could say about the organisation here!

 

[nlagalle]

Day 3 - Wednesday

After yesterday's effort i was hoping that there was nothing more in store for me. Fortunately I had a reprieve. Another trip to the Cycling to make sure it was ok was all i planned. For once what we had installed worked so I didn't get worked up! I actually got to see some of the action and helped out sending pics back.

I should also mention the security is still over the top.. getting sick of being patted down all the time too

Day 4 - Thursday

Another morning in the office today, followed by an evening trip to the Aths. This was a memorable night for many reasons. Of course on the top of the list was the Sally Pearson saga, false start/restart/win/lose/win/lose saga. I do feel sorry for her as she (like the rest of us sitting around waiting for the medal ceremony) was left in the dark on the appeals. Yet another example of botched officialdom!!!

The bright light on the night was the para event - Men's T46 100m. It was won by Simon Patmore. The T46 is for people with arm problems. It is wins like this that you are glad to see and be part of. Out of all the Gold medal I saw to date here, he was by far the most jubliant. Couldn't wipe the smile off his face.

Day 5 - Friday

The first totally "relaxed" day I had since arriving. I parked into the MPC office and spent the day there tidying up a few things. One of the things was testing our backup link as it stopped working thanks to the carrier deciding to block ports. It meant an earlier start but since arriving here i hadn't slept much past 6.45am each day.

Boredom got to me in the end and I headed down to the Aths again, this time taking down the shuttle bus. For those on facebook, you'll remember my comment about that I thought I was going to die! This was the ride! I had seen crazy bus drivers on the street, but this was my first time in one. Geez!! he drove like a maniac! was bascially move out of my way! I'd heard a story from one of the journos 2 days before where the bus had hit a Tuk-tuk and it went flying, only for the bus to keep on going! Luckily for us we didn't hit anything or anyone!

It was a pretty quiet night at the Aths and I just kept an eye on things before getting a car back to the hotel. Luckily we have a car and driver with an "infinity" pass on it so he can get to the edge of the venues to pick us up.

Our driver is a very quiet guy. His name is Mohommad, but of course we had quickly nicknamed him "Mo" or Mosley. As we got to know him he'd open up a bit. We asked him the night before how he was as we were driving back, and he replied "not good". we asked why and he said he had not eaten or had water all day. We couldn't believe it. We since found out the police were confiscating food and water as they were "security risks". We told him that was unacceptable to us and we would look after him. The next morning we loaded up a back pack with stuff from the breakfast bar and water and put it in his boot. As it was a games bag the police left it alone. We also told him we'd get him lunch if he wanted it. and of course they weren't paying top dollar so he'd spent his "allowance" in a few days on food. We also read in the local paper that drivers had been leaving in drives due to the work conditions.

Most nights we'd end up in the bar of the hotel having a few drinks. And for food we generally ate at the hotel or at the Shangri-La. This was mainly due to security, and at the end of the day you really didn't want to go to far to eat. Fortunately our hotel has an excellent menu and I love curry! And Kingfisher isn't too bad at the same time!

(almost up to date!!)

 

[Flashback]

If they put as much effort into the technology side of things as they have with security.. maybe, just maybe it would have been working a little better

 

[nlagalle]

Day 6 - Saturday

Officially I called it my lazy day. I wasn't the first one into the office and i decided to go out to the Hockey as soon as I did get in! Watched the two Australian games, and managed to catch up with a friend who is staying in the village. Was good being able to kick back and actually enjoy' a sport! We organised to catch up later that night at the "Blue Roo" Club, which is a "nightclub/bar" for the athletes which is in one of the Hotels.

Fortunately for me it was only a short walk from the hotel.

It was pretty good kicking back there for a few hours. You trade your real cash for "Blue Roo dollars" and use that to buy food and drinks. The only downside it was pretty well wrapped up by 12am, but hopefully it will be a bit later towards the end. There wasn't too many athletes there, but more will arrive as the various competitions finish. My friend was telling me most are suffering from Cabin fever as they can't leave the Athletes village except to go there or the competition venues. I'd be going stir crazy if we couldn't do that at our hotel!

 

[samh004]

I should also mention the security is still over the top.. getting sick of being patted down all the time too

Would you say this is the cause of the low turnout to the various venues, or is there another reason?

 

[nlagalle]

Would you say this is the cause of the low turnout to the various venues, or is there another reason?

Part of the reason, and also nit overly interest in it. I think the bad press in the last few months didn't help either.

 

[serfty]

If they put as much effort into the technology side of things as they have with security.. maybe, just maybe it would have been working a little better

I get the impression there's a direct effort:benefit earning ratio for security staff when items are "Confiscated". :-|

 

[markis10]

I suspect the success of the games in KL in 98 were very much in the minds of the committee when they awarded the games to India in Nov 2003, and while we have a much different environment now as far as security goes, it sounds like they did a much better job in KL as a developing country back then, I was lucky to attend those games and it was a memorable time, very comparable to Sydney 2000 which I also attended. I suspect the class system is also having something to do with the games in India, in KL the whole country was behind them.

 

[nlagalle]

Day 7 - Sunday

today was my first day to "sleep in a bit" Which in reality was only about 8am before I woke up!

At our Hotel we have breakfast included and it really quite good. Good selection of fruit and cereals (although i swear like everything here has spices, so to the cornflakes!). The eggs cooked to order are outstanding, the and bakery is good too. As the venues can be a bit sparse on food you usually need to pack it in to last the day. But during the first week I'd be getting up early and having the 45 minute breakfast taking my time as most of us were.

I made my way down to the MPC. The only people in our office normally are the 3 editors and us, but i like to get out and see the events whiloe providing support where required. You get cabin fever sitting in the office all day. Today though they had the road races for the Cycling and that was interesting as there have been issues in the lead up to the race. The first being the Delhi police weren't going to allow a helicopter to overfly the race (as is done at any race like this in the world), because, as you would already have guessed, it was a "security threat". anyway commonsense prevailed and the chopper was allowed up.

And as the papers reported today, the gold medal for yesterday went to the police for the impressive security - so impressive that there was hardly a spectator in sight!!! Go figure! but I bet the police guarding the track got a good view!

I do have to say that Connaught place wasn't looking too bad considering the way it looked 2 months ago. The roads had been laid and most of the building painted, so on TV it looks good! But apparently inside the shops aren't very good!

I got bored during the afternoon and bailed out to the athletics and watched Sally win her heat for the hurdles. Fingers crossed for tonight. I will be heading down there in a few hours to watch that and also Hooker on the pole vault. might even try an update from there!

Dinner last night was at an Italian restaurant at one of the other hotels. Walking into this place was literally like stepping into some tuscan outdoor setting.. Truely an oasis here! We didn't get dinner til about 10pm (nothing unusual over here).

So now I am up to date on the days - there is only a few days of the comp left. I'll try and recall some of the encounters i've had to add in as I go!

 

[nlagalle]

Day 8 - Monday

Well we are in the closing straight of what has been a challenging Games to say the least! It is a shame it has been marred by controversy and poor preparation as I really do enjoy doing these events.

We have a pretty good routine in place at the moment for providing support and it is generally quiet on that front.

My headed back to the aths tonight to see the 100m hurdles and the Pole Vault. All eyes were on these events back home and we had tight deadlines to file photos back in time.

There was a lot of build up for the race, especially with the DQ a few days earlier in the 100m sprint. Sally was the hot favourite to win and we had 3 photographers covering the race. To assist them in filing quickly quicker hard lines were available on the track for two of them. The third would run back to our tribune to file.

She won the race in a breeze, smashed everyone in sight. and the throng of photographers around her was something you only see at the Olympics. Add to that as she was running around the stadium belted out Down Under.. To our photographers credit, they were filing images back to Australia within 5 minutes of the race finishing! only a few years ago this feat would have been a pipe dream. within 10 minutes the photos were online and not long after that, on the pages to be printed.

The Pole vault by contrast was a bit of a let down. Yes Hooker won gold, but we were all hoping for a record attempt. A knee aggrevation put an end to that though.

But in the end it was a good night at the Aths, and it was also good to see some decent crowds again, cheering quite loudly, even during the heats!

One downside I did see outrside the stadium was a 12 yo boy looking through bins then come up to myself and a photographer begging for some food. It pulls at your heartstrings seeing it and although i had said to myself i wouldn't encourage the beggers, we gave him a bottle of water and an energy bar that we had with us. The kid was so grateful, thanking us before vanishing into the night. What annoyed me more was that a city that has wasted so much money on the event due to corruption and lining people's pockets, does nothing about it's caste system.

Anyway 3 more dys of competition to go, lets see how many more gold we get!!