Home nations stars swell village population

(AFP)

The build-up of Home Nations athletes at the controversial Games Village in Delhi continued today as the focus switched from concerns over accommodation to training and preparation for the Commonwealth Games.

The majority of Team Scotland athletes are already in their Games Village accommodation and England, Wales and Northern Ireland team numbers have been building up rapidly.

This morning there were 128 English athletes and officials in the Games Village from an overall team of 560.

By tonight that was due to rise over the 200 mark with the arrival of badminton, netball, squash and wrestling athletes and officials.

Tomorrow it will climb to over 300 as swimming, cycling, shooting, table tennis and tennis competitors and officials arrive in Delhi.

A further 42 members of Team Scotland from lawn bowls, boxing, wrestling and rugby sevens arrived at the Games Village today.

That took the number of athletes already in Games Village accommodation to 161 out of an overall team of 191.

The group of 42 had originally been due to arrive last Thursday but were delayed by the problems with the Games Village accommodation.

The accommodation initially allocated to Team Scotland athletes was deemed unfit for human habitation.

Team Scotland head of media Katriona Bush said accommodation for Scottish athletes was up to an "acceptable standard" and athletes were now able to concentrate on their preparations.

"People are settled and happy. Our athletes have started training and getting focused on their events," Bush reported.

"However we are still concerned that facilities are up to standard in all the accommodation blocks. We are joining forces with other nations in an effort to ensure that it (accommodation) is the same for everyone."

Team Wales today welcomed new athlete arrivals at the Games Village for wrestling, shooting and tennis, taking the current total to 112 athletes and officials out of a team of 170.

Team Wales press officer Jane Williams said the athletes were very happy with their accommodation.

"The conditions are brilliant in our accommodation, the food hall is fantastic and the athletes are already into their training," she said.

The Games opening ceremony is on Sunday and the action gets under way next Monday, ending on October 14.