Berry from Delhi - Part 1

Stu Berry has arrived in Delhi where he is to referee the Sevens at the Commonwealth Games. This is his first report on his experiences.

So I left Durban en route for the Commonwealth Games with high expectations of being part of one of the greatest sporting events in the world.

My flight schedule took me to Johannesburg first, then off to Mumbai and onto New Delhi. The 8hr 40min flight to Mumbai was easy enough. As the aircraft doors open, an aroma whiffed through the plane that was quite unique and certainly Asian, one that almost defines India itself. Mumbai was very hot. At midnight, when we arrived, it was 35 degrees and very humid.

I had a boring wait in the uncomfortable Mumbai airport for 6 hours before catching my connecting flight to New Delhi, host city of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

On arrival in Delhi, I must compliment the organisers and officials. All Commonwealth Games athletes are whisked off the plane and taken to a separate customs and verification desk. Extremely friendly and very well organised. A quiet process of 10 minutes and I had my accreditation and was ready to roll.

We then had a police escort thorough to our accommodation, very comfortable and certainly not what press reports had suggested.

So this afternoon I’ll be off to the swimming arena, and hopefully catch some of the track and field at the main stadium before meeting up with the rest of the referees.