The Prince of Wales is to declare the Commonwealth Games in Delhi open at a glittering ceremony.
Charles and India's president Pratibha Patil will both preside at the event staged in front of an arena audience of around 60,000 and millions of television viewers.
The Games have seen near unprecedented levels of security for a major sporting event and the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium has been locked down following the final dress rehearsal on Friday.
Around 5,000 police personnel have been posted to the stadium and other measures have seen snipers and commandos deployed to the area and army units have been put on standby, according to reports.
The Delhi games have been plagued by a catalogue of problems - from concerns about living conditions in the athletes' village to a pedestrian bridge collapsing near the main stadium.
But organisers have worked round the clock to try and fix the issues and Army engineers were even drafted in to repair the broken walkway.
Many notable names in world athletics have chosen to either overlook the Games or have withdrawn through injury but amongst those taking part are double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington and reigning World 10-metre platform diving champion Tom Daley.
Before the opening ceremony the Prince, who has been joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, will visit the athletes.
The Earl of Wessex, who is vice-patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation, will join the royal couple as they chat to competitors in the athletes' village.
The group will tour various facilities including the weightlifting and wrestling areas and the sections used by the swimmers.
The Prince of Wales is to declare the Commonwealth Games in Delhi open at a glittering ceremony.
Charles and India's president Pratibha Patil will both preside at the event staged in front of an arena audience of around 60,000 and millions of television viewers.
The Games have seen near unprecedented levels of security for a major sporting event and the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium has been locked down following the final dress rehearsal on Friday.
Around 5,000 police personnel have been posted to the stadium and other measures have seen snipers and commandos deployed to the area and army units have been put on standby, according to reports.
The Delhi games have been plagued by a catalogue of problems - from concerns about living conditions in the athletes' village to a pedestrian bridge collapsing near the main stadium.
But organisers have worked round the clock to try and fix the issues and Army engineers were even drafted in to repair the broken walkway.
Many notable names in world athletics have chosen to either overlook the Games or have withdrawn through injury but amongst those taking part are double Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington and reigning World 10-metre platform diving champion Tom Daley.
Before the opening ceremony the Prince, who has been joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, will visit the athletes.
The Earl of Wessex, who is vice-patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation, will join the royal couple as they chat to competitors in the athletes' village.
The group will tour various facilities including the weightlifting and wrestling areas and the sections used by the swimmers.