The idea is that the cops can run a search in their database to ensure that none with criminal background slips in

As Commonwealth member countries raise doubts about security for the 2010 Games, the Organising Committee is busy working on a foolproof ticketing system.

All tickets will carry a barcode, which will have information including stand and seat and the Delhi Police will have the photograph of each person watching the game and his exact seat in the stadium.

When the spectator enters the stadium, security cameras will record his photograph. The photo will be stored along with the information in the barcode.

“It is a foolproof system, by which we will know exactly where a person is sitting in the stadium and what time he left the venue,” said Sujit Panigrahi, Additional Director General, Technology, of the Organising Committee.

This information — both photograph and seat number — will be sent to the police database.

“The idea is that the Delhi Police could run an automatic search in their criminal database to ensure that no one with a criminal background manages to slip in,” added the official.

The ticketing system has been tried in Beijing during the Olympic Games, but the system had many glitches. For one, due to simultaneous analysis of photographs and data, it took people a longer time to enter the stadium, leading to serpentine queues.

To ensure that a similar goof-up does not happen in Delhi, the Organising Committee is planning more gates. The committee is also not using other biometric registration measures due to the fear of slowing down the queue.

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