Spectators offended by security during Delhi Commonwealth Games
New Delhi: The security arrangements made at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for the opening ceremony of the event kept many spectators from entering into the stadium for apparently no solid reasons.
According to reports, there were many foreign and domestic viewers, who despite having bought their tickets months ago were denied entrance into the stadium, for reasons as small as they had larger bags for their cameras or they were carrying video cameras
with them.
Stella and Roger, a couple from London, bought the tickets online for participating in the inaugurating ceremony. They told the media that they had received the tickets via post a couple of months ago. However, there were no instructions or information printed
on them regarding the items, which were not allowed by the authorities, to be brought into the stadium.
The couple lamented that their daughter was competing in a sporting event and for that they decided to attend the inaugurating ceremony. When they reached the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium a few hours prior to the beginning of the event, the security officials
told them that owing to the security instructions, they could not be allowed to enter as they were carrying a video camera along with a camera bag which was quite large in size. “No one showed willingness to help us for entering into the event, all what we
offered with was an advice to cell our tickets to someone else. Finding no other option we eventually had to opt for that as there was no place where we could leave our cameras for a few hours”, said Mr. Roger.
He further said that the incident had made them develop bitter feelings about their trip to India. Moreover, both husband and wife looked harassed as the people surrounded them when they were looking for a cab to their hotel.
Another spectator named Alvin, who had come all the way from Houston to observe the opening of the Commonwealth games, was refused the entrance as instead of original he was carrying the printed copies of the tickets with him. Sharing his grievance, Alvin
told the media that the original tickets were there with his wife, who had eventually missed her flight, and she was only expected to arrive in Delhi once the opening ceremony would be over.
Alvin further said that he had printed copies of his tickets along with his ID card and credit card to prove that he had purchased those tickets. However, despite of all his evidence, the officials did not allow him to enter.
Pamela Timmins, who happened to be the fiancé of James McCallury, the famous Scottish cycling champion was another victim of arrogant security officials at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Pamela had eventually lost the tickets when she was heading towards the
stadium for her entrance. The poor girl, along with a friend, had to return to her hotel without attending the ceremony. She said that she would try to be more careful about the tickets she had bought for the cycling event which was far more important for
her.
Poonam Singhal, a local from Ghaziabad was wailing as someone had stolen her tickets while she was on way to the stadium through Metro train. The girl was requesting a spare ticket at the entrance as her husband had already gone in and she was left with
no other option but to wait for him outside.
A group of social workers from Germany, who could not buy the tickets for the event, held placards outside the stadium requesting for spare tickets. The group spent the entire evening asking people for spare passes but couldn’t manage till the last minute.
Anna, a 20 years old girl from the group told the media correspondents that they were so excited about attending the opening ceremony of the Games, but none one of them could manage to buy tickets.
Smith, a 27 years old Nigerian student, said that he was quite excited about the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, but when he arrived there, there were no more tickets available. Smith lamented that the tickets sales process was poor and there
were many foreigners, who were suffering due to this.
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