1100 international athletes arrive for Games

Foreign contingents continued to drop in with nearly 1100 athletes, officials and technical staff from different nations arriving today for the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games.

Foreign contingents continued to drop in with nearly 1100 athletes, officials and technical staff from different nations arriving today for the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games.

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The largest contingent to arrive was a 112-member delegation from Kenya, followed by Nigeria (69), and 60 members from Scotland, a release from the Organising Committee (OC) said. Canada, Tanzania, Lesotho, Norfolk Island, Rwanda, Wales, England, Isle of Man, Jersey, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and British Virgin Islands were among other arrivals. Some 100 more athletes from Norfolk Islands and Canada are expected to arrive later tonight.

"Work has progressed far enough now and we're ready to start moving in to the Village," said Scott Stevenson, Director of Sport, Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC). "All the necessary maintenance and cleaning of rooms have been done to accommodate our team and additional support staff," Stevenson said.

Stevenson also confirmed that emergency equipment and safety procedures have been verified and tested. "Crews have been successful in reducing the amount of stagnant water around the residential towers. Things are starting to look good," he said.

"The residential towers have been a huge challenge for us, but I'm happy to say that they’re finally falling in place." A group of 35 Canadian support staff was due to move in to the village on Sunday while about 40 athletes and coaches from women's gymnastics, shooting, table tennis and men's hockey are scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

Stevenson said that Canadian sport science experts, after visiting the competition venues, have given positive reports. "With the accommodation now coming together, we can focus of our energies on the real business at hand, which is to help our athletes achieve best-ever performances." Canada is sending a team of 400 athletes, coaches and support staff to the Games.