New Delhi, Oct 3 (IANS) The Commonwealth Games have put many denizens of the Indian capital in a holiday mood. Some are planning to watch the events live at the stadiums or at the nearest bar or restaurant where they are being telecast, while quite a few have packed their bags for an outstation trip.
Some restaurants and bars plan to offer live screenings of the Games events.
Shangri-La hotel’s Island Bar is all pepped up and prepared to telecast the Games. With discounts for the spectators, many are planning to throng the place.
‘I’m pretty excited to watch the Games on the big screens. Till now, I have only watched cricket or football in such an ambience. With such variety of sporting events, it’s a treat for sport lovers,’ Ashish Khurana told IANS.
While some plan to relax at home and watch the Opening Ceremony on television Sunday evening, many want to watch the gala event at the stadium.
‘Watching anything live is so much better than watching it on television. The very feel of everything taking place right in front of your eyes is very exciting,’ advertising professional Anurag Channa said.
‘I’m going with my friends for the inauguration. Though I want to go and watch all the events, my office timings will clash. So, I’ll watch the events in the evening,’ he added.
But with schools, colleges and some private firms closed during the 12-day event, many are ready for a getaway.
Sohan Mittal, who works for a private firm in Connaught Place, said: ‘It’s very rare that one gets a holiday from the office, unasked for. I would have liked to stay back in the city, but there are traffic advisories, road blocks and endless traffic jams because of the Games, so it’s better to go out for a holiday.’
Mittal is leaving for a 10-day trip to Mysore and Ooty.
Ashish Sharma, a travel agent, said: ‘There have been heavy bookings for outstation trips between Oct 1 and 20. The main reason for this is that schools, colleges and a number of offices are closed during this period because of the Games.’
Added Sharman Jain, another travel agent: ‘With the monsoon over and winter yet to begin, October is a good time for travel. There are heavy bookings for travel packages within India and also outside the country places like Singapore and Thailand, as also to European countries.’
Sohini Mitra, a school teacher, is going to Singapore during the welcome break.
‘First, it was the endless downpour, then I was down with dengue. I am so tired of all this that I can’t wait for the trip. Once I am back, things should start functioning normally without the umpteen number of traffic jams,’ she said.
The Commonwealth Games is the biggest sporting extravaganza to be held in India after the 1982 Asian Games. Nearly 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories have converged in the Indian capital for the mega-sporting event.
