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Gold Coast Commonwealth Games village welcomes athletes

The syringes were found by a cleaner at Gold Coast Commonwealth Games village.

The syringes were found by a cleaner at Gold Coast Commonwealth Games village. Photo: AAP

Athletes from all over the world are settling into the home away from home ahead of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Some 909 athletes from countries and territories as diverse as Botswana, Wales, the Isle of Man and Ghana began arriving at the Games village on Sunday.

Other teams to begin settling in at the village included athletes from powerhouse nations Australia, Scotland and England.

Scottish squash player Alison Thomson, preparing for her first Commonwealth Games, praised the village welcome.

“Very, very impressed,” Thomson told AAP.

“It’s definitely making it more and more exciting by the minute. Just walking around and the Commonwealth Games sign at the entrance definitely made it more exciting.”

2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games: Village - Arrival of First Athlete

Athletes from Ghana are welcomed by Minister Kate Jones at the village. Photo: Getty

A total of 6600 athletes and officials from 71 nations and territories will move in to the village before the start of the Games on April 4.

Queensland’s Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones said welcoming the athletes to the village was a big day for the state.

“People on the Gold Coast have seen the village come out of the ground. Now we’re going to see it come to life,” Ms Jones told AAP.

“Now we’re going to see it get its heart.”

Among the dignitaries at Sunday’s welcome was Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive David Grevemberg.

Mr Grevemberg was thrilled with the facility.

“The warmth, the proximity, the convenience, it’s truly one of the best villages I’ve ever seen,” Mr Grevemberg said.

-AAP

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