Commonwealth Games: the athlete’s story

Day 1
The journey from the Isle of Man was over 24 hours so have arrived very tired.

The first thing to hit you on was the security – we were taken to the athletes’ village, surrounded by armoured escorts and bikes. Troops lined the road at every 100m or so for a 40-minute fast-paced drive, and they were also inside with us.

It was a bit of a culture shock. Tonnes of building work and traffic, and a lot of poverty alongside it.

The accommodation is luxury. We have a room with a view. It is really hard to get out of the habit of brushing your teeth without using the water, and we have put up posters as reminders.

The feed in the dining hall is amazing though. Anything you could think of is there, expertly made and with cards telling you the exact calories and nutritional content.

I feel like Delhi has been exactly as I expected it – but has somehow still shocked me. There must be over 500 people involved in each training session, and I have heard there are 80,000 troops here.

I feel like I better have a damn good session to justify the help I’m being given. The Indians are so friendly and polite, very humble, and I’m really grateful for everything everyone is doing.

There must be over 500 people involved in each training session, and I have heard there are 80,000 troops here. Alex Hedges

Day 2
We’re doing a lot more physical work. The chalk is strange but the equipment is good – apart from the landing mats being quite hard.

A lot of people have suffered from this, not least the physios who have to keep us in one piece and are working late into the night to do so. A big thank you from me goes to Isla and Ruth, the Isle of Man team physios.

Being with a team at the Commonwealth Games is new for me. The biggest difference is that it is hard not to get caught up in their emotions. Their excitement or worries rub off on me a little too easily, and for this reason I try to let my excitement out and keep my worries in as much as possible.

While I feel they maybe make me slightly less focussed, they make me feel more at home and more relaxed.

The sunset views on the bus home from training through Delhi are stunning and it is great seeing my brother Adam and the rest of the team wide-eyed and excited at all the new experiences.

I use the bus ride home to text my girlfriend and parents as there are a lot of meetings and physio sessions etc to be done once back at the village.

Alex Hedges will be writing for the Channel 4 News website throughout the Commonwealth Games

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