COMMONWEALTH Games organisers insist the Queen's Baton Relay will go ahead next week, despite claims Delhi is unable to host its leg of the event.

The former hosts will be the first international stop as the relay takes an 118,000 mile tour of all 71 Commonwealth nations following its departure from London on Wednesday.

The baton is due to arrive next Friday before leaving on October 14, with Delhi also hosting celebrations for the Hindu festival of Dussehra.

In India, it is being claimed Vijay Kumar Malhotra, acting president of the Indian Olympic Association, has contacted Glasgow 2014 organisers to request the relay be postponed.

Mr Malhotra is reported to have said it is difficult to organise the leg due to the Hindu festivities.

His colleague Tarlochan Singh, vice-president of the IOA, told a website: "The organising committee wanted the Baton relay in India on Dussehra day. It was not possible for us to organise on that day as there are celebrations everywhere. That is their fault. They should have discussed it with us."

Officials in Glasgow say they are "proactively engaged" with organisations such as the IOA, the British High Commission and international charity partner Unicef when developing the relay's schedule for India.

A spokesman said: "This three-day programme has been developed over many months. We continue to actively collaborate with the IOA, the British High Commission and Unicef to ensure all plans are in place."

Meanwhile, Glasgow 2014 organisers are creating a special opportunity for sports fans who did not secure Games tickets in the application phase to buy them in an exclusive on sale window from October 21 to 26.

It said that before tickets go on public sale, they will be offered an "exclusive" opportunity to buy any remaining public tickets on a first-come-first served basis from the official website.

It follows concerns that many people had seen their applications turned down for the sporting event that begins on July 23 next year.