Thursday evening.

This was another warm day at the range, probably around 36C in the afternoon. The long range forecast is for more of the same for at least the next week. At least there is little or no rain forecast, although a shower might help to clean and coll the air a bit and to settle some of the dust.

Practice continued today, with more shooters in evidence. Our two Canadians, Des Vamplew and Jim Paton, along with manager/coach Sandy Peden, were hard at it, getting accustomed to the heat and the different mode of shooting.

Some issues continue to haunt us with the use of the electronic targets, some of which are still not working consistently. With this system, there is no fall-back, they, or at least enough of them, simply must work, otherwise there is no shoot! The local Suis people are doing their best, but it will be a relief when the full crew gets in from Switzerland.

Otherwise, we, the ITOs, remain in good heart. The proper range jackets have not yet arrived, so temporary ones have been issued. Keith Born is the "Butt Officer", although there are no butts! His duties have been extended to include the kicking of errant butts and the supervision of safe disposal of the legacy of the few smokers amongst the shooters. Cliff Mallet and I have been sorting an weighing ammo in the names of Appeals Jurors, and so on......

The hotel is filling up. It is said to be booked solid for the period of the Games, so it will be less peaceful than during these first few days. Our trips to and from the range are getting faster, with the police escort clearing the way. They stand no argument. Further into New Delhi, there are dedicated lanes for Games' traffic. Those who try to use them illegally are immediately arrested and put in jail. That could be a solution for the use of the dedicated bus lanes at home! Generally the traffic and people give way to the police, but the large numbers of cattle along the roads have more trouble getting the point!

More practice tomorrow. We ITOs do not yet have our Games' uniforms, which may have to be collected for New Delhi in the next day or so. Once again the police escort may be prove invaluable! We shall need the regalia to be admitted to the Opening Ceremony on 3 October.