OC fears wet Games, to order raincoats for all

Get ready to enjoy a wet Commonwealth Games. That is at least what the Organising Committee (OC) expects as it begins ordering raincoats for performers, workers and even spectators in anticipation of a downpour.
With the city awash with 32.6 mm rain exactly 30 days before the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, the OC has started looking for cover. “It has been my experience in the past that every big event has been blessed by rain. So there is no point in taking chances. If we hand a plastic poncho to people entering the stadium, things are taken care of,” said Organising Committee General Secretary Lalit Bhanot.

Two bidders, including National Cooperative Consumer Federation, had come forward a fortnight ago. The OC had sent out tenders for the plastic ponchos. The order has, however, not been placed till now as the OC is unsure about the number.

The initial estimate was 1.5 lakh ponchos. “The audience for the opening and closing ceremonies put together will itself be 1.2 lakh. Other than that, we will need ponchos for our workforce and performers, so at least 3 to 5 lakh will be required,” said a senior OC official.

The Organising Committee is, meanwhile, also flooding the India Meteorological Department with requests for weather forecasts during the Games fortnight. From September 15, specialised weather predictions will be made for them. “We already send them daily updates, but from September 15 we will be sending them updates for the next three or four days,” S C Bhan, director IMD, said.

Data available from the last year shows October received deficient rainfall between October 3 and 14. It only rained on two days — October 5 and 6 — the total of which came to 5.4 mm, about half an hour of mild drizzle. This year, however, the rains have been more. October is expected to have normal rainfall, which comes to 25.9 mm for the entire month. The Met department expects heavy downpour on Saturday as well. Sunday and Monday may see drizzles.

Games may have ‘hitches’: authorities
With exactly a month left for the Games, authorities on Friday admitted there may be some “hitches” but were optimistic that it will be a “great” event overall. “Preparations are going well. I am optimistic. It will be a great Games,” Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said on the sidelines of a publicity function here.