Govt releases progress report for CWG preparations

The sports ministry on Monday released the progress report on the preparation of athletes for the Commonwealth Games. In a statement, the ministry provided details of the 1126 elite athletes from 18 disciplines undergoing intensive training in a fully-funded programme that includes participating in competitions outside the country.

As many as 192 coaches, including both Indian and foreigners, with a support staff of 79 are also part of the programme called “Preparation of Indian Teams for Commonwealth Games 2010”.

The ministry also clarified that the beneficiaries were being assessed at regular intervals through pre-decided parameters besides providing the break-up of the participants. The list includes 105 in aquatics, 64 in archery, 171 athletes, 40 in badminton, 42 boxers, 53 cyclists, 59 in gymnasts, 72 in hockey, 30 each in lawnball and netball, 28 in rugby 7s, 146 shooters, 27 squash players, table tennis 36, tennis 40, weightlifting 54, wrestling 85 and 44 from para sports.

Barapullah Nullah elevated road work to continue

The work on elevated road over Barapullah Nullah, which will connect Commonwealth Games Village with Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, will continue despite the High Court declaring the expert committee, formed by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), illegal on October 30 and further asking ASI to issue notices to all 177 sites passed by the committee.

Barapullah Nullah project was also given a go-ahead by the committee.

Claiming that work can not be stopped even for 12 hours on the stretch, the Delhi government has issued internal orders to continue work here. The government will go to Supreme Court to “rehear the process”.

“The order does not say that we have to stop work on the stretch. We are going in for an appeal,” said Public Works Department (PWD) minister Raj Kumar Chauhan, who has been inspecting Commonwealth sites after Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit expressed doubts over on-time completion of several projects.

The High Court in its order held that the ASI had no right to form a committee without legal basis and permit construction within prohibited limits. The court also directed that all projects approved by the committee must be reviewed.

The matter went to court when Supreme Court lawyer Gaurang Kanth challenged the ASI committee’s permission to a private builder to construct within 88 metres of Humayun’s Tomb.

The six-member panel, formed by the ASI in 2006 comprising historians and town planners, got 150 requests for relaxation of norms from Delhi alone and approved 116 of them. It got over 400 applications from across the country.

Nearly 64 per cent of work on the Barapullah nullah has been completed and the PWD expects to complete the work by June.

The project, which started on October 24, 2008, is divided in two phases. First phase will connect Sarai Kale Khan to Mathura Road with road length of 2,654 meters. And the second connects Mathura Road to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with road length of 2,080 meters. Apart from this, two loops near Sarai Kale Khan and slip roads near Lala Lajpat Rai Marg are also being constructed to facilitate traffic.

These will be the best Commonwealth Games: Gill

The challenge is acknowledged but is to be met with fire. The task, as Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill would like you to believe, is gigantic but India will be ready to host the Commonwealth Games next year.

As he takes stock of time spent in sports, he emphasises that things have changed for the better. And promises things will shape up to the benefit of India’s sports fraternity.

The agenda, Mr. Gill insists, is “continuing”. The focus, to conduct the Commonwealth Games, is in place. “I was fortunate to get a chance by accident.” He is the fifth sports minister since 2003 when India was allotted the Commonwealth Games.

“I’m deeply interested in the job. I have taken the job so I am responsible. I won’t walk away from the challenge. Decisions have been taken and I am to be ready in time. I am not to question the past. We all want to bring India a good name. I want to do everything humanly possible.”

Having promised and taken some decisions to lift the morale and stature of Indian sportsmen, Mr. Gill confesses much remains to be done. “Indian sportsmen deserve a better deal. A lot more expenditure is needed to give them the best. Sport builds better leadership, better citizens and ensures general improvement of the people,” he said.
Best way

So what is the best way to improve the lot of Indian sportsmen. Mr. Gill was candid. “The Indian education system is hostile towards sports. It is a little strong but perhaps not wrong to say. The system is marks-based and the mind is frightened of the future. I don’t believe the marking is accurate.”

On the vexed issue of doping, Mr. Gill assured firm steps. “We are doing our best to keep a check. We will continue frequent, surprise tests to catch the culprits and punish them. As an Indian I too want my nation to win 50 medals in the Olympics but then even if I have to win one medal I want to win it with honour. To do that, we must have credible people. We are working towards that goal.”

Did he honestly believe staging the Commonwealth Games will mean a better future for Indian sports? “It is not the occasion for me as a minister to speak on what you are really asking. We have taken some steps.

“There is an increase in allowances to players. We have been training well for the Games. So, it is not just about conduct. We are focussing on preparing to win medals too. Coaching used to get so little. Not anymore. We are also spending a lot on foreign coaches. I have been pushing for the equipment.”

On the role of sports federations and the growing allegations of corruption and nepotism, Mr. Gill maintained, “The federations are manifestations of democracy. My objective is to correct them. They are not unanswerable.”

Mr. Gill also had a warm message to the workers engaged in creating the infrastructure for the Commonwealth Games. “They are the real people, the builders of India. I want to tell them that I have total confidence in them. I wish them a very happy new year. And they better wish me an early completion of all the stadiums.”

Mr. Gill concluded with a promise. “The 10,000 athletes, 400 officials will get a deserving welcome. These will be the best of all the Commonwealth Games”.

PM Manmohan Singh urged to clear air on Games preparation

Former Union Minister of State for Sports Vijay Goel on Monday appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to come clean on the issue of Commonwealth Games preparations as with just 285 days to go for the event, the Games Organising Committee, Commonwealth Games Federation chief, Union Sports Minister and Delhi Chief Minister were all making different noises about it.

Mr. Goel criticised the Chief Minister for playing political games in the name of the Games.

“Since 1998 Ms. Dikshit has been in power while the Games came to Delhi in 2004. All through her 11-year regime she has been claiming to have brought tremendous development to Delhi but now `that the Games are fast approaching she insists that she is nervous whether all preparations would be completed on time or not,” he said at a press conference.

Cautioning that all this could be a ploy to further increase the cost of preparing for the Commonwealth Games 2010, Mr. Goel said it has already crossed Rs.10,500 crore.

He also feared that the Delhi Government and the Organising Committee may start giving arbitrary orders in the name of avoiding delays that might escalate the cost. Mr. Goel said: “This is unprecedented. The event is meant to showcase a country for its sporting prowess and planning. But what do we have here? Leaders showing us as a confused people and a nation while not doing anything for the players.”

Games contractors missing deadlines to be blacklisted

Having already expressed her nervousness at the pace of preparations for the Commonwealth Games, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday declared that the “Delhi Government will not listen to any excuses for delay in projects completion and contractors responsible for delays would be blacklisted apart from other contractual actions against them”.

Delivering the annual address at an officer’s meet at Delhi Secretariat, the Chief Minister cautioned against complacency: “We cannot afford to let down our nation and we are committed to make Commonwealth Games 2010 a grand success.”

Flanked on both sides by her Cabinet colleagues and Chief Secretary, Ms. Dikshit directed all the departments involved with the preparations to take appropriate steps for completing the Games-related projects on time and to work in tandem to avoid any confusion and duplication of work that may lead to a delay.
Civility campaign

She informed that the Delhi Government has also launched a civility campaign to bring awareness on courtesy, etiquettes and good manners in order to make the event a “memorable” one.

As the host city, she said, Delhi has also got an excellent opportunity to take up enormous projects because of the Games. The developed infrastructure will become an integral part of the city for all time to come, she noted.

With the cleaning of the Yamuna remaining another area of concern as after spending of crores of rupees it still flows dirty, Ms. Dikshit said: “It is now time to bring improvement in water supply and take up cleaning of river Yamuna at the earliest.”

She said the cleaning work would be started in “true spirit” within one year and declared that there will be no dearth of funds for this project. Calling for improvement in the collection mechanisms of all departments for generating required revenue, the Chief Minister said the Delhi Government was also looking at doing away with delays in delivery of basic services. For this, she said, service level agreements would be reached on services like issue of certificates and licences for making the delivery time-bound and officers failing to meet the time-frame would be liable for a fine.

Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit warns Commonwealth Games contractors

With just over 285 days left for the mega 2010 commonwealth Games to begin in the Capital, the Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit is getting jittery because of the continuous delay in the completion of the projects.

In the latest review done by the international experts of the Commonwealth Games Federation, though the officials were happy with the progress yet they raised concerns over the continuously extending deadlines of games projects.

The officials have said that the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JNS), which is the main venue for the event, is lagging behind and was supposed to be delivered by December 31 this year but the new deadline has been extended to June-end. Apart from JNS, the SP Mukherjee swimming venue is also delayed and the deadline has been extended again.

"We are committed to make the Commonwealth Games 2010 a grand success. The government will not listen to any excuses for delay in projects completion and contractors responsible for delays would be blacklisted apart from other contractual actions against," said Dikshit.

Dikshit further instructed the concerned officers and departments to take measures for completion of projects relating to CWG 2010 and work in tandem to avoid causing any delay.

Although the games are just 10 months away in October 2010, the organisers are particularly worried that if the projects are delayed repeatedly, the Indian organisers would find it difficult to carry out test runs in the stadiums and hostels which might lead last minute problems and chaos.

CWG 2010: After prayers, CM threatens contractors

After offering 'prayers' to ensure successful organisation of the Commonwealth Games 2010 in the state, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has resorted to threatening the contractors.

Raising concern over the delay in projects related to the CWG 2010, the CM on Monday, Dec 21 threatened blacklisting of contractors failing to complete the construction in time.

"We cannot afford to let down our nation and we are committed to make Commonwealth Games 2010 a grand success,” Dikshit said while speaking at a function in the capital.

"The government will not listen to any excuses for delay in projects completion and contractors responsible for delays would be blacklisted apart from other contractual actions (being taken) against them," she added.

With the mega event just eight months away, the CM has directed all the concerned departments to take steps for completion of projects and to work in tandem in order to avoid any confusion which may cause delay.

Further, speaking on the civility campaign launched by the government for awareness about courtesy, etiquettes and good manners, Dikshit said, "As the host city, we have to work together to make the prestigious Games a memorable event which has provided excellent opportunity to take up enormous projects simultaneously. The developed infrastructure will become an integral part of legacy."

Venue delays stressful for 2010 Games Federation

CONSTRUCTION delays at the two main stadiums for the Delhi Commonwealth Games next year are causing ''distressing'' concern for international sports officials.

The Commonwealth Games Federation president, Michael Fennell, said while there had been significant progress with operational planning there were big problems with the venues.

Fennell said the delays in construction were so extreme that test events and the time required to prepare the venues with Games-specific ''overlay'' would have an impact on the organising committee's tight timetables. This means that the venues will have little time to test key components such as broadcast and timing equipment before the Commonwealth Games opening on October 3 next year.

Yesterday, Fennell expressed great disappointment at the latest report on the delayed delivery of the venues, and, in particular, how the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the SP Mukherjee swimming complex were so far behind schedule after holding a series of meetings with Games organisers and Indian politicians.

''We have continuously received assurances on the delivery timelines for these projects and to now hear that there are further delays is distressing,'' Fennell said.

''These delays will have an impact upon the organising committee's operational planning, particularly in relation to the conduct of test events and overlay installation.

''There can be no further delays and I was pleased to receive directly from the Sports Minister, Dr Gill, his assurance today that the venues will not encounter any further delays.''

The Commonwealth Games Federation has been forced to provide the Indians with immediate direct support in the areas of venue operations and making the venues functional for the Games, as well as helping to source and train 30,000 volunteers and getting the Games ready.

However, Indian media are reporting that there are also delays at a third venue, the Indira Gandhi Stadium, which will host gymnastics, wrestling and cycling. The Indian Express reports delays on the designs of the landscape and drainage system have held up the start of a complete renovation of the stadium.

Delay in Games projects: Sheila Dikshit threatens blacklisting of contractors

Concerned over delay in projects related to the Commonwealth Games which is just eight months away, Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit today threatened blacklisting of contractors failing to complete the construction in time.

"We cannot afford to let down our nation, and we are committed to make Commonwealth Games 2010 a grand success.

"The government will not listen to any excuses for delay in projects completion, and contractors responsible for delays would be blacklisted, apart from other contractual actions (being taken) against them," Dikshit said at a function here.

The chief minister also instructed all the concerned departments to take measures for completion of projects relating to the mega event, and work in tandem to avoid any confusion and duplication of work, causing delay.

She said her government has launched a civility campaign for awareness about courtesy, etiquettes and good manners.

"As the host city, we have to work together to make the prestigious Games a memorable event which has provided excellent opportunity to take up enormous projects simultaneously. The developed infrastructure will become an integral part of legacy," she said.

Expressing "regret" over the delay in construction of venues for the event, Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell recently warned the organisers that further delays in the construction of stadia would seriously impact the conduct of test events.

'Commonwealth, Now Major Force On Global Matters'

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has said the Commonwealth of Nations has progressed from being just a handful of nations representing former British colonies to a major force on global matters. According to him, Nigeria remains a proud member of the Commonwealth and a strong promoter of its unique objectives.

A statement from the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, said Yar'Adua made the remarks Saturday through the Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, who received the Queen's baton for the Commonwealth Games on the president's behalf from members of the Queen's baton team in State House, Abuja.

It said the President described the Queen's baton as "a unique tool for spreading the Commonwealth spirit", pointing out that Nigerian athletes have always joined their counterparts from other member nations to radiate the spirit of friendship and unity through the quadrennial Commonwealth Games.

His words: "The Commonwealth has progressed from being just a handful of nations representing former British colonies to a major global force on matters of universal peace, democracy, human rights, economic and social development, as well as youth development and sports."

He then wished the Queen's baton team a successful journey and safe arrival at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Games in Delhi, India.

The VP formally received the prestigious Queen's baton on behalf of Mr. President from Sports Minister, Sani Ndanusa.

Regional Vice President (Africa) of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Abdoulie Touray, who led the Queen's baton team to Nigeria, thanked the Nigerian Government for the warm reception accorded his team, and for successfully hosting the concluded U-17 FIFA World Cup, saying Nigeria made Africa proud.

In his remarks, Habu Ahmed Gumel, President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, said it is a good omen that the Queen's baton is visiting Nigeria for the third consecutive time, attributing it to the Commonwealth's recognition of Nigeria's high profile among member nations in its fold.

Other government functionaries who witnessed the baton presentation were the Honourable Minister of FCT, Adamu Aliero, Director-General, National Sports Commission, Patrick Ekeji, and Presidential aides.

The Queen's baton relay is one of the greatest traditions of the Commonwealth Games, having been the curtain-raiser to every edition of the Games since Cardiff 1958. The baton will travel through all the Commonwealth countries until it lands in Delhi, the host city for the 2010 Games.

Commonwealth games:Desperate Delhi starts praying

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit said yesterday she can only pray for a successful Commonwealth Games next year after admitting to delays in the construction of venues.

"I only keep praying that we won't let the country down," Dikshit told the Press Trust of India as concerns mounted over the slow progress of work for the October 3-14 Games in the Indian capital.

Dikshit's remarks came after Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Mike Fennell said he was distressed by a report that two major venues won't be ready till June next year, barely three months before the opening ceremony.

The CGF's co-ordination commission said last week that work on the Nehru Stadium, where the opening and closing ceremonies and the athletics programme will be held, and the swimming complex, was way behind schedule.

"We have continuously received assurances on the delivery timelines for these projects, and to now hear that there are further delays is distressing," Fennell said in a statement.

"These delays will have an impact upon the organising committee's operational planning, particularly in relation to the conduct of test events and overlay installation. There can be no further delays," Fennell added.

Dikshit, whose local government is charged with building the infrastructure for the Games, admitted the construction was lagging, but was confident the work had picked up in recent months.

"There will be areas of concern, but everybody is trying, everybody is on board, the funds are there. So we just need to see that it is implemented," Dikshit told PTI.

"(But) we will be ready. We have got eight months to go.

"Actually, nine months to go but I said eight months.

"And you can see work going on all over Delhi."

Dikshit said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had formed a group of ministers (GOM), which met almost every week to review the preparations.

"We meet once a week or eight days," she said. "We pool our experiences together. It is a good system we have set up. I only keep praying that we won't let the country down."

The CGF general assembly in October warned India it faced "an enormous challenge" to be ready for the Games, which involve 6,000 international athletes competing in 17 sports. The federation highlighted problems ranging from ticketing, accommodation and transport to accreditation and logistics, besides the construction of venues.

The Commonwealth Games, the biggest multi-sport event to be staged in India since the Asian Games in 1982, will feature 71 nations and territories, mainly from the former British Empire. Meanwhile, the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) yesterday said it would recruit 700 students as "extra manpower" during the Commonwealth Games.

An ITDC spokesperson said the students will be selected from top 10 colleges of Delhi as well as hospitality institutes across India through on-campus interviews and group discussions. Designated as 'hospitality executives', they will be based in Ashok, Janpath and Samrat hotels � the 'official family Games hotels'.

"All 700 students will get a stipend from ITDC for the five-month period," an ITDC official said.

Swimming: Welsh ace may quit after Commonwealth Games

DAVID DAVIES admitted next year could be his last in the pool after bringing the curtain down on 2009 at Manchester’s Duel in the Pool.

The 24-year-old joined a host of swimmers from Britain, Italy and Germany for the biennial meet, but could do little to stop United States lifting the inaugural crown 185-78.

Davies kicked off by finishing sixth in the 400m freestyle in a time of 3:47.64min as American Peter Vanderkaay took victory, coming home over 12 seconds quicker.

However, the Barry-born flyer did manage to pick up a point for Europe in the 800m freestyle a day later, finishing third behind winner Federico Colbertaldo in a new British record of 7:36.47min.

But Davies – who claimed Olympic 10km open water silver in Beijing last summer – admitted his time in the pool may come to and end after next year’s Commonwealth Games.

“It was a fun two sessions of swimming in Manchester. It was something new, something different and I think the atmosphere was what we all want in Britain,” said Davies.

“But the big one for me is the Commonwealth Games because that will decide whether I stay in the pool for 2012.

“It is going to be pretty difficult next year with the suits changing to post really good times, but, in terms of how I perform, I have got a good marker in Canadian Ryan Cochrane, who was third in the 1500m freestyle at the Olympics in Beijing.

“If I am too far behind him and I can’t see myself getting a medal in London, it would make sense to drop it and give it my all in the open water because I have got a great opportunity there.”

Davies’ decision to opt out of the open water event in favour of the pool at the World Championships in Rome this summer raised eyebrows.

And, while the Cardiff flyer stands by his Italian decision, he admitted he will have to be smart if he is to upgrade his Olympic open water silver to gold at London 2012.

“I have got to look at things, think about them and be sensible,” he added.

“The four years between Beijing and London are all about one meet and that is a hard thing to prepare for.

“But I have got Olympic bronze and silver and I want to get gold and, without getting too wrapped up in it, I have got to do what is right to hit that target and 2010 will be a pivotal year in deciding what I do.”

British Gas and British Swimming. The nation’s leading energy supplier, British Gas, is the principal partner of British Swimming, supporting the sport at all levels: From paddling pool to podium.