C'Wealth Games: Video screens on marathon route to display race to crowd

With tight security shooing away spectators from yesterday's men's and women's road cycling races, Commonwealth Games organises are planning to install video screens at select points to draw more crowd on to the Delhi streets for the marathon to be held on Thursday.

OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi said people preferred to watch yesterday's exciting cycling events on TV and so there were now plans to get more spectators involved in the men's and women's marathon on October 14.

Kalmadi's comments came after Games Federation chief Mike Fennel noted at the customary morning press conference that the downside of yesterday's "excellent" cycling race was the presence of "very few spectators".

"People preferred to see the cycling events on TV. We will ensure that everybody is there. We are installing video screens at public places," Kalmadi said. 

He attributed tight security and reports about Connaught Place, an important point in the road cycling race circuit yesterday, being blocked made people to sit at home. 

"We had a discussion in our morning meeting. We are installing video screens. We are talking to police regarding security," he said. 

Bikers yesterday raced across scenic empty streets enveloped in a high-security blanket that kept spectators away from route.

The heart of capital remained out of bounds for 'aam aadmi' as cyclists from across the globe ruled the deserted streets for the whole day.