Bolt to participate in 2010 Commonwealth Games: Kalmadi

Triple Olympic gold medallist sprinter Usain Bolt will take part in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi said.



Addressing a Sports Breakfast on the sidelines of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Kalmadi said Bolt will be the start attraction in the October 3-14 muliti-sport event being hosted by India for the first time.

Kalmadi said the preparations for the Games are on track and the process to hand over stadia will start in January and everything will be in place by May, five months ahead of the multi-sport event.

He also reaffirmed the commitment to hold the best ever Commonwealth Games that will have focus on environment.

"These will be the first ever green Games ... become the benchmark for all multi-disciplinary games in future. These will be the best ever Games," said Kalmadi who outlined the preparations along with Sports Secretary Sindushree Khullar.

The first stadium to be handed over to the Organising Committee will be Dhyan Chand Stadium, which will host hockey competitions.

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games on October 3 and October 14 respectively, besides the track and field events will be handed over by May.

With regard to traffic problems, Khullar said elaborate and meticulous plans are being worked out by the Delhi Traffic Police and athletes will be ferried in a dedicated lane.

Also, the Delhi government will declare a holiday on October 14, for the closing ceremony, to reduce traffic on roads, said Khullar, who gave a detailed presentation outlining the progress made on various aspects of the Games.

October 3 is a Sunday and less traffic is expected any way, Khullar said.

Delhi Police will also be appealing to most of the offices to shut down on October 14, she said.