Asian Games Village a big hit among athletes
Food is a major concern in South Korea for an outsider -- especially for vegetarians, who have a very tough time.
The Games Village is the heart and soul of any major multi-discipline sporting extravaganza.In 2010, when New Delhi hosted the Commonwealth Games, the media had to focus on the negatives.
From seepage in rooms to broken toilets and stinking upholstery, there was heavy criticism for the organising committee headed by Suresh Kalmadi.
Here in Incheon, which is all set to host the high profile Asian Games, the Village is situated half an hour away from the main city. The area is known as Guwol-Dong and, as you near the complex, the security arrangements impress you. Unlike China, which hosted the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the Asian Games in 2010 Guangzhou, cops here are careful not to make the guests feel unwanted.
For that matter, if you want to soak in the Village atmosphere as a visitor with a valid accreditation card, you need an official to check you in. The consensus among athletes, coaches and officials was that Incheon has taken great pain in providing top-class comfort.
Food is a major concern in South Korea for an outsider -- especially for vegetarians, who have a very tough time. The language barrier is also very hard to overcome and sign language may not always be the best option!
Yet, inside the Village, there are translators attached to every team and volunteers have been provided to take into account the multitude of languages spoken in the competing nations.
One smart young man from India now studying management in Japan decided to sign up as a volunteer for the Games. Hari Shambu hails from Allepey in Kerala and speaks good Japanese. Yet, when he decided to volunteer in Incheon, he did not know he would be attached to the Indian contingent. He has also learnt Korean for the Games.As a schoolboy, Shambu played badminton.
So when he met Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu and Parupalli Kashyap for the first time this week, it was dream come true. When the Indian flag formally goes up in the Games Village on Thursday, Shambu will be carrying the placard with the 'India' name. "I heard they were looking for a young girl to do this job. I told them to consider my case as I am helping out the Indian teams," said Shambu.If Shambu's dream has come true in a way, for many others who get to live in the Village, it's a fascinating experience. Special attention has been paid to cleanliness.
For a city where the number of smokers is quite high, the high rise Village buildings have been declared a no-smoking zone. If at all anyone wants to smoke inside, there are designated areas. FOR those finicky about food, a wide range of options including western, halal, Asian and Korean delicacies are available, as is Indian "khaana". This is a 24-hour service and teams shuttling between the Village and training arenas can order packed lunch boxes in advance.
In an age when stress is so high for athletes, there are prayer halls which provide for most religions. These minute details go a long way in boosting the image of the host city, something Incheon is striving for. There is a laundry service handling thousands of soiled clothes daily to keep the athletes who put their heart and soul into training tension-free.
In the event of any niggle or injury, the medical facilities are top class. From common cold to dental trauma and urgent care for any eye infection, specialists are there to help. Those working in the Games Village rarely get credit but, till now, stories emanating from Incheon have been positive. Hopefully, we won't hear 'unsuitable food' used as an excuse for non-performance from Indian athletes!
s.kannan@mailtoday.in