Let the games begin - Yes, well, some of them began a couple of weeks ago:

Traffic It is hard getting around Delhi and so the city came up with the scheme that arteries to the athletes' village and to the various stadia would have one lane designated ONLY for CMG officials or competitors.  Thus, weeks ago the chronic jams started as the lanes were tested and the decision was made to close schools for the two weeks of the games to diminish congestion.  Mr. Singh (our famous rickshaw driver) refers to these backed up roads as those 'on the handicapped list,' and he chuckles as he takes some obscure back route to avoid the jams. To add to the disincentives of using the CMG lanes police are levying hefty fines on the spot and impounding vehicles - it's working: the lanes remain empty most of the day.

Rickshaws and taxis Not that we can blame them for trying, but it is irritating to find that all the drivers (Mr. Singh excepted) have doubled their rates in anticipation of a new group of gullible tourists in town.  Today Felix and I took rides to and from a nearby market to stock up (Felix comes as my coolie to lift the litres of milk and juice).  We've made the journey several times before.  The first chap had clearly no intention of driving directly and the meter clicked away until we finally got to the market on the wrong side of the road.  Felix and I got out and handed the driver exactly what the meter said - already more than we had anticipated paying and the driver pulled out an official piece of paper with prices on it to try and persuade us we needed to pay more.  I am now so seasoned that I just strode off with Felix leading the way.  The driver followed us a short distance hoping to persuade us yet, but gave up swiftly.  The return trip the driver actually refused to zero his meter and so we said, OK we'll agree on a price.  We agreed on 40  rupees and then when I paid him the 40 exactly (already over the usual payment) he too pulled out his well worn piece of official paper.  He looked disgusted that we were unmoved by his supplications.

Volunteers Thousands of 'volunteers' have arrived to help out with the CWG.  They have each been issued with beautiful bright red and white track suits and we can spot them all over town.  I've wondered several times what a volunteer is doing people watching in the shade at some cafe far from any CWG venue.  Apparently quite a few volunteers collected their spiffy new outfits and disappeared.   Its been quite a challenge briefing volunteers for their various jobs and there have been a number of reports of the blind leading the blind.

Street sweeping  The main arteries are being swept from dawn into the dark and all the street sweepers (there are about 4 times as many as usual) have been issued jolly smart new bibs and baseball caps.

Traffic police We generally have lots of traffic police standing about, but at present the junctions around the stadia look like the visual for some Irish/Polish joke:  how many traffic police does it take to manage an Indian junction?  Absolutely no exaggeration that one junction today had the regular 4 traffic police and 8 extra chaps in it.  Maybe they act like one of those Nascar crews who take off wheels in a split second: if the traffic cop has trouble with someone, perhaps the extras rush in and immobilize the vehicle? :)

Extra security  All around the city there is increased police presence.  They have built small forts with sandbags at every point where people assemble (markets, stadia entrances, railways, national monuments) behind which about 4 armed security personnel can take some shelter and fire at would be assailants.

British outfits for opening ceremony  Very elegant  red Nehru  sleeveless jackets over white!  They got my vote for the most tasteful and appropriate. All the athletes have been ordered not to wear any national costume outside the village for fear of making themselves targets.

No events today as the opening party went quite late with lots of great noise and fireworks.  The Indians are rightfully proud of how well the opening ceremony went.