Thousands of tickets for C'wealth Games remain unsold

---

NEW DELHI, Sept 30 (AFP): Thousands of tickets remained unsold for the Delhi Commonwealth Games Wednesday, just four days before they begin, with the troubled event also hit by another pullout from a star athlete.
Tickets in all categories were available for most sports during the October 3-14 sporting showpiece, with places still on sale even for the opening and closing ceremonies and the 100-metre finals.
About two million tickets were put on sale for the multi-sport Games, but rumours have long circulated in the capital that the response has been lacklustre amid delays in finalising the sales network.
Tickets ranging from 200 rupees (4.4 dollars) to 1,000 rupees were on sale for the 100-metre men's final on October 7, normally the highlight of the athletics, while all prices were also on offer for the swimming finals.
"Sales have picked up a bit in the last 10 days," a saleswoman in the official telesales service told AFP after confirming availability for all major events. Organisers have declined to release sales figures.
About 15 people waited in line at a bank in central Delhi selling tickets.
"We have got seats for India against Scotland in the hockey," said Avneet Singh, a 24-year-old business analyst. "People have been put off by concern about safety, but I think it is going to be good fun."
Another buyer, Shreya Prakash, 22, said that Indians might flock at the last-minute to events in which the host nations expects to pick up medals like wrestling and weightlifting.
"All the schools are on special holidays, and tickets are often quite cheap with free metro rides included. But there's no interest in something like swimming," he said.
Problems plaguing the Games include an outbreak of mosquito-borne dengue fever, and doubts about transport, fire and evacuation procedures and medical services.
An army of manual workers has been drafted in to tackle filthy apartments and builders' rubbish at the village, which is now vastly improved to the apparent satisfaction of participating countries.
A total of 1,800 athletes and officials were expected to have moved into village by the end of Wednesday, according to the Games press office.
Organisers have promised that all the accommodation will be finished by Wednesday and that full security is now in place to protect venues and participants.