South African comes to India for Games Safari

“Whenever I visit a country,I link it to a big sporting event. I love to travel and am not too much into museums or other such things but am a big fan of sports,” says Krugar.

Landing in Delhi on October 4,the South African has purchased tickets worth Rs 13,200 to view a range of sports including athletics,swimming,netball and Rugby 7 among others during the duration of the Games before leaving for his country on October 16.

Dressed in a checked half-sleeve cotton shirt and shorts,Kruger fans himself with a handfan while watching the athletics events at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

“It is very hot and humid here but I do not mind it. The people are brilliant and very helpful here but the security is frustrating,” he says accepting the two bottles of cold mineral water that he requested one of the volunteers at the stadium to fetch.

Having had his bookings done through a travel agent in South Africa,Kruger says he had to face some trouble at the venues.

“After spending 22 hours in the plane I landed in Delhi picked up the tickets and went to attend the swim event in the afternoon,stood in a long queue and at the gate they tell me the ticket was for the 8:30 pm event. I was then given two complimentary tickets I could use for another day,” he says.

The traveller recalls how he was prevented entry to the stadiums unless he got rid of certain items like umbrella and torch he carried with him.

“This is my fourth event and the second one where I could actually get into the venue. Yesterday I had brought along a short umbrella which I had packed before travelling here because the weather forecast said it was raining in Delhi. They did not let me in,” says Kruger with a chuckle.

Previously,Kruger had his torch confiscated at the netball event. “I am staying at a hotel in South Delhi and by the time I return it is dark and I need to use a flashlight,” he shrugs.

“Also they are always looking to confiscate my pen. I had to smuggle my pen inside today because without it I can not write in my diary,” says Kruger.

The former official of the South African sports team,Kruger,has visited the 2004 and 2008 Olympics in Athens and Beijing as well as the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.

After retirement Kruger plans his trips around major events. “South Africa had hosted the Football World Cup and then I did not need to travel because I was at home and visited the matches there.”

Next on Krugar’s agenda is the Olympics Games set to be held in London in 2012.

“I’ll come to India again only if it will host another big event,” says the intrepid traveller.