Image via WikipediaKiwis in Delhi happy with what they've seen - Commonwealth Games start in six days...More than a dozen Kiwi Commonwealth Games competitors are among the 1200 athletes who have arrived in Delhi so far.
After a week of doubts and criticism, optimism is growing that the venues and accommodation will be ready in time.
With just five days to go until the start of the Games, the rest of the New Zealand team is due to arrive in India over the next 24 hours.
And the athletes themselves told ONE News they were reasonably impressed with what they had seen so far, including security levels.
Archer Stephen Clifton said, "It looks pretty impressive, there are lots of guys with guns, hopefully to keep us safe."
Chef de Mission Dave Currie said today the venue was very different from the "bomb site" it was two weeks ago.
The accommodation was not five star, "but it's clean and tidy," he said.
"One of the challenges we feared would happen was that, as they (the organisers) have more pressure on the village, they would struggle to keep ahead of it," he told NZPA.
"They're keeping ahead of it. They've got a lot of cleaners and workers here, but I understand there are still a few countries experiencing problems."
New Zealand's lawn bowls team, coached by Dave Edwards, arrived in Delhi this morning.
"The facilities are not up to the standards the team is used to but they are habitable and functional," Edwards said.
"Obviously, there's been a bit of work go in over the past few days, but as far as we're concerned, it's fine."
There were still a few disappointing aspects which were not up to New Zealand standards, he said.
"But the plumbing is working at the moment and the air conditioning is working. It will be fine, I'm sure it won't be a problem for us," Edwards said.
And Edwards said the rooms were a good size.
"There's horror stories from previous Commonwealth Games where you roll over in the middle of the night and give your neighbour in the bed next door a black eye," he said.
"But these are roomy and spacious in that regard and the rest of the village is all fine. The dining hall is excellent."
Tight security slows movement
Currie said transport was "a bit of a problem" in getting fine-tuned because of the tight security measures in place, but he said organisers were "certainly doing what they said they would".
"There's some delays... with the security at the village here... and getting into the training venues. Because of the heightened security, getting these movements streamlined has been a challenge."
It was starting to look more like a games venue and less like the ghost town it had been, Currie told Radio New Zealand.
Currie also confirmed it had been decided that the only reason the athletes could leave the village is to train and compete.
He said while it's a sad decision to make, it was also a necessary one.
The team had been briefed on the importance of wearing insect repellent to avoid contracting dengue fever, a mosquito-borne virus, and using hand sanitiser to keep hygiene levels up.
Last week the unhygienic state of the accommodation areas, and the amount of work that still needed to be done, cast doubt on the Games, which are due to open on Sunday and run until October 14.
The situation led the New Zealand Olympic Committee to delay the arrival of the first New Zealand athletes into the village from last Saturday to today.
Today Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that they were racing against time, but that "we will perform".
"Please don't take a negative story, I wish you could all be more positive, because these will be very good games."
Smiling Kiwi athlete:
Acknowledgements: NZPA, One http://tvnz.co.nz/ 
