Invited Kalmadi skips inauguration

The Sports Ministry invited Suresh Kalmadi to the unveiling of the Karni Singh shooting range today but the OC chairman skipped the event.

The Ministry was criticised for ignoring the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee in the January 24 inauguration of the National Stadium.

Kalmadi was conspicuous by his absence in the event, citing prior commitments in Pune, and even though OC vice chairman Randhir Singh attended the ceremony, he made it clear that he was here as a former marksman.

"I'm not here to represent OC. I got an invitation as a former shooter," Singh told reporters.

Kalmadi, on his part, issued a statemwent from Pune in which he expressed happiness at the completion of the under-construction range and said his preoccupation kept him away.

"As a dedicated Member of Parliament, I have to be committed to my work beyond all else," Kalmadi said.

"I am happy and proud that world class sports infrastructure is being opened well in time for the Commonwealth Games. I was at the opening of the Ludlow Castle training centre for wrestling the other day and must say that my heart swelled with pride at the facilities on offer to the athletes," Kalmadi said.

The Sports Ministry earlier drew flak for not inviting OC members when the National Stadium -- venue of Commonwealth Games hockey events -- was declared to the nation on January 24.

2,000 vehicles to be hired by Delhi police for Games

Delhi police will hire over 2,000 vehicles, including 1,200 cars and 630 buses, during the Commonwealth Games, for various jobs like escorting sportsmen and deploying Quick Reaction Teams.

Plans are also there to hire drivers for running these vehicles — around 1,200 cars and multi-utility vehicles, 630 buses and 215 light commercial vehicles like Tata 407 — during the Games to be held in October this year.

The vehicles which are being hired will be used in deploying QRTs, escorting sportsmen to their venues and back to the Games village and for deployment of personnel for law and order duties, a senior police official said.

Around 750 to 1,000 ambassador cars and multi-utility vehicles along with drivers are being hired for escorting sportspersons and for deployment of QRTs for a period of 20 to 25 days.

"No vehicle supplied should be more than two years old, and their mileage should be less than 60,000 km. The colour of the car should be white only," the official said.

Another 250 cars with drivers will be rented by police for other uses during the Games. For this, vehicles should be model 2001 onwards.

Police are also planning to hire 630 buses and 215 Light Commercial Vehicles with drivers for deploying security personnel, and for law and order arrangements.

"The vehicles will be hired for a period of one month from September 15," the official said.

37 more CCTVs for Delhi airport

Keeping in mind the security needs of Commonwealth Games, the Delhi Police is planning to install 37 more CCTVs at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here to ensure better monitoring of the facility as well as its periphery.

With this, the total number of CCTVs in the IGI will rise to 559.

The domestic terminal of the IGI presently has 325 CCTVs while the international terminal has 197 -- both on the city side and and air side.

"At the initiative of airport police and DIAL, the operator of Delhi airport, a network of CCTVs are installed in the airport. Thirty-seven more CCTVs are to be installed soon," a senior police official said.

These CCTVs are likely to monitor the periphery of the airport, the official said.

"The monitoring of criminals and anti-social elements through these CCTVs on the city side helps in enhancing security of the area and provide footage when required for investigation of a criminal case or enquiry into safety and law and order issues," the official said.

Asked about reports that some CCTVs in the airport were non-functional, the official said all the machines are fully functioning. "With the Commonwealth Games round the corner, we along with DIAL and other security agencies have spruced up the security system," he said.

With CWG nearing, activities picks up in hospitality sector

As countdown begins for the Commonwealth Games, activity picks up in the tourism and hospitality sector to cater to needs of the huge tourist inflow expected during the sporting event.

As the date for the Commonwealth Games nears, the Tourism sector has been witnessing a lot of activity in a bid to prepare Delhi for housing the nearly 1,00,000 tourists expected in Delhi from across the World during the sporting event.

With an estimated requirement of 40,000 additional rooms in the NCR region to host the huge number of tourist arrivals, the Tourism Ministry has been offering several incentives to the hospitality sector in a bid to speed up the development of hotel rooms before the Commonwealth Games, scheduled in October.

Sources in the Ministry said the Finance ministry has been urged to extend the benefits of the five-year tax holiday for hotels under construction in the national capital region (NCR) up to July 31, instead of the earlier deadline of March 31.

The five-year tax holiday for budget hotels was introduced to attract hospitality chains to build more hotels in the NCR region.

No wonder then, the recent months have witnessed renowned hospitality chains speed up the process of development and start operations in the NCR.

Sarovar Hotels and Resorts, a leading hotel management company in India, last fortnight launched a premium business hotel in the NCR.

Optus Sarovar Premiere, the new premium business hotel launched by the company at Gurgaon on January 12, would help to meet the huge demand for premium accommodation in the NCR.

The new 80 room hotel is the group's third in Gurgaon, with Park Plaza at Sushant Lok and Park inn at Civil Lines, already operational.

Talking to UNI, the Managing director of the Sarovar Hotels and Resorts, Anil Madhok said the opening of the new hotel was a step by the company in the direction of meeting the huge need for premium accommodation during the Games.

''The opening of the hotel seeks to fill the ever increasing demand for business and leasure hotels in the Capital and the NCR. With the launch of Optus Sarovar Premiere, Sarovar hotels now offers accommodation to guests at various price points in Gurgaon,''Madhok said.

With the opening of the Optus Sarovar Premiere, Sarovar hotels has now operational five premium hotels in Delhi and the NCR with a total accommodation of 310 rooms.

Mr Madhok said in the coming days Sarovar Hotels planned to launch another six premium hotels at Hari Nagar, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Shahdara with a total accommodation of over 500 rooms.

''By October, when the Commonwealth games are scheduled to be held, we would have established a total of 11 hotels in Delhi and the NCR with a total accommodation of 900 to 1000 rooms,''Madhok said.

Book fair opens with 2,400 stalls

With the much talked about Commonwealth Games fast approaching, the opening day of the 19th New Delhi World Book Fair at Pragati Maidan here on Saturday saw the release of “An Annotated Rights Catalogue compiled from International Rights of Books on Sports: Reading our Commonwealth” by Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal.

The idea behind the catalogue is to have a consensus among publishers about the need to disseminate wider information about sports. Containing copyright and bibliographic details of over 500 titles of books, the catalogue seeks to facilitate an exchange of copyrights about books on sports among publishers.

The Organising Committee of Commonwealth Games has given permission to the National Book Trust (India) to use its special logo for its catalogue and exhibition.

At the book fair’s theme pavilion this year, the country’s legendary athlete Milkha Singh, former Indian hockey captain Zafar Iqbal and badminton player P. Gopichand would also be delivering talks on the sports they represent. The idea behind organising the talks is to generate interest in sports among bibliophiles.

Some institutions and non-government organisations including Nehru Museum and Library and Katha have been roped in by the National Book Trust to organise morning activities for children.

To promote public interest in books, school children will be allowed free entry if they visit the fair in their school uniform and are accompanied by a teacher. “But they can come only on weekdays and would have to leave by 1 p.m. This has been decided by the India Trade Promotion Organisation,” said an NBT official.

Spread over 42,000 square metres with nearly 2,400 stalls and stands representing 1,200 Indian and foreign publishers and exhibitors, the eight-day book fair has English language publishers in Hall Nos. 1 and 2, publishers of books on science and technology in Hall No. 6 and surrounding open area, foreign participants in Hall Nos. 7-A and B, publishers of educational books in Hall No. 7-C and Hanger, publishers of books on social sciences and humanities in Hall Nos. 7F, G and Foyer B, Indian regional publishers in Hall No. 12, Hindi language publishers and distributors in 12A and children’s books in Hall No. 14.

Cong concerned over 'slow' pace of MCD's Commonwealth projects

The opposition Congress in Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) today voiced concern over the "slow" pace of some Commonwealth Games projects undertaken by the civic body, especially those related to construction of under-bridges and parking lots.

Participating in the debate on the civic agency's 2010-11 budget at a meeting of the MCD House, Leader of Opposition JK Sharma said the infrastructure projects are lagging far behind.

"Work has not started at 11 road under-bridges. Out of 21 multi-level parking sites, work has been initiated only at four sites. The construction of the proposed 1,000 waterless urinals has not started," he said.

The Congress leader also opposed the proposed hike in property tax rates and demanded its roll back.

"Instead of exploiting MCD's own resources, BJP chose to burden the common man...we are receiving property tax only from 30% of the properties in city and we need to exploit the remaining 70%," Sharma said.

He also alleged that the Property Tax department is the "most neglected".

Nearly one-third of the posts are lying vacant. The property returns are not being fed into the computer. There is no record available with the department," he said.

Sharma also said as per the Master Plan for Delhi, there is need for 140 night shelters but at present only 64 night shelters are operating.

Central Bank of India mulls mobile ATMs for Commonwealth Games

Central Bank of India plans to come up with mobile ATMs at various locations of the Commonwealth Games to be held in the Capital later this year. “As the official banker of the Games, we are planning a slew of initiatives including new branches and ATMs,” Mr B.N.S. Ratnakar, General Manager, in charge of Delhi zone told Business Line here. The State-owned lender will soon have a new branch at the office of the Commonwealth Games organising committee here. Mr Ratnakar said that steps would be taken to provide all banking related services to the visitors and Sportspersons at the games venue itself.

In the next few months, the bank plans to add another 100 automated teller machines (ATMs) in the Delhi zone, taking the total number of ATMs to 149,Mr Ratnakar said. Of the new 100 ATMs, about 60 will be located in New Delhi city, he added.

Meanwhile, Central Bank of India has rolled out a mobile van facility in the Capital for exchange of soiled and mutilated notes by general public.

Tourism Ministry all geared up to meet CWG demands: Selja

Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja has said her ministry was all geared up to meet the demands of the coming Commonwealth Games.

''All arrangements pertaining to the security are being looked into at a larger level, particularly of the tourists,'' she said.

Ms Selja, while interacting with the newspersons here today, said the proposals for the uplift of many tourist spots in Haryana had also been received and the Union government was in the process of developing some of them.

Lambasting the incident of rape of the Russian girl, she said these kind of incidents needed to be dealt with strictness and stopped with an iron hand.

On the defeat of the ruling Congress in the Ellanabad byelection, she remarked,''The seat was not with the Congress, so It has not lost anything.'' Suggestion from the state governments had been invited for the speedy implementation of the Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojna which was aimed at providing houses to the poor in the urban areas, she added.

10,000 school guides for Commonwealth Games

The Delhi Government will provide 10,000 school guides for the inaugural ceremony of the Commonwealth Games come October, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit announced on Friday at the inauguration of the wrestling training venue for the Games at Ludlow Castle Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya near Kashmere Gate here.

She also announced that the demand for another 50,000 volunteers made by the Indian Olympic Association would be met in a phased manner.

The Chief Minister said all projects related to the sporting event would be completed well in time and funds would not be a problem as an additional Rs.1,300 crore has already been made available under the Plan outlay for the current year.

Ms. Dikshit said construction of both Thyagraj and Chhatrasal stadiums was also going on in full swing and they are expected to be completed in March.

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi appreciated the pace of construction of the Games-related project and expressed confidence that they would all be completed within the stipulated time.

He said by organising the Commonwealth Games successfully, India would get an opportunity to lay its claim on hosting the Olympics.
Training venue

Public Works Department Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan informed the gathering that construction of the Ludlow Castle training venue has been completed in a record time at a cost of Rs.13 crore.

Make city garbage-free before CWG: Mayor to Municipal Commissioner

Delhi Mayor Kanwar Sain today directed the Delhi Municipal Commissioner to make the national capital garbage-free before Commonwealth Games.

Asking to prepare a Master Plan for achieving the goals, Mr Sain said, ''MCD should launch a double-prong strategy to deal with the situation.'' He advised that besides educating people through its sanitation awareness campaign, MCD should set deterrents and intensify actions to discourage those who spread unsanitary conditions in the capital.

Mr Sain also urged Municipal Magistrates to pay special attention in this regard.

Impressing upon Delhi Government to clear Delhi Cleanliness and Sanitation Byelaws, 2009, pending with it for the last six months, he said MCD had approved it in May 2009 and subsequently sent it for approval of and notification by the Delhi Government.

The proposed byelaws seek a fine of Rs 200 for littering, spitting, urinating, washing utensils in public places and for not keeping a house lane clean.

The SAG Opening Ceremony impresses Gill

Impressed with the way Bangladesh conducted the opening ceremony of the South Asian Games today, Sports Minister M S Gill today said India could learn a few things from it for the ensuing Commonwealth Games back home.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today declared open the Games, which Gill termed as South Asia's "Olympics".

Thousands of school students and Army men participated in the gala ceremony which glimpsed the culture and heritage of the national

"It's not easy task to bring more than 10,000 school children, youth to put up such a show. There is something we can learn from this ahead of the opening of the Commonwealth Games on October 3," Gill, who was part of the dignitaries, said after the ceremony.

Bangladesh proved its ability to organise such a big sporting event
in such a massive way. It also gave me an idea how the opening ceremony is held," he added.

Gill also called for expansion of sporting relations between India and Bangladesh.

"I am very happy to be here. It's South Asia's Olympics. The competition is held among eight neighbouring countries in a very friendly manner.

"In terms of bilateral relationship in sport, there is much we can do together. We have an extensive coaching system in place with SAI centres in Kolkata, Patiala and other places.

"We have sport college and academies and can expand sporting relations," he said.

38-room boutique hotel 'Shervani' opens in Nehru Place

Setting an example that small hotels too can be great and luxurious ahead of the Commonwealth Games, Shervani Hospitalities today launched a 38-room contemporary boutique hotel at Nehru Place in South Delhi.

Announcing the opening of Shervani, Nehru Place, which is the second boutique hotel in Delhi, Shervani Hospitalities Managing Director Saeed Shervani told mediapersons, ''Small and smart hotels can come up in the mid segement too. We do not have one or two acres. We have 17,000 square feet of area developed into this hotel. Through this endeavour, we have shown that small hotels can be great too so that the government and the lawmakers realise that these things can come up.'' Built at a cost of Rs 7.5 crore, this four star hotel is located in the heart of South Delhi and within walking distance from the commercial hub of Nehru Place. It is also just a short drive from prominent and up market shopping centres like GK-I, South Extension, and luxury malls like Select Citywalk, DLF Place and MGF.

A standard double room of the rack rate of Rs 8000 is available at an inaugural rate of Rs 6000, a club room of the rack rate of Rs 10,000 is available at Rs 7000 and a the Club premium room of the rack rate of Rs 11,000 is available at Rs 8000. The quality of the rooms deserves special mention as it is on par with any five star room available in the capital with its stunning decor and equipped with LCD TVs, electronic safe, a well stocked mini bar and wi-fi internet.

Not only this, Mr Shervani disclosed that from March 15 to 31 August, the hotel will provide rooms under the ''No Worry'' offer with a single room at Rs 5000 plus taxes and double at Rs 6000 plus taxes. The guests will get a free, breakfast, dinner and chauffer driven car under the scheme.

However, unlike many other hotels, the hotel does not have a restaurant for outsides but only for in-house guests. ''Restaurant being a commercial activity, I was not allowed to open one here for outsiders as this is a residential plot converted into a hotel. I was not allowed even though I think I should have been. We could certainly have done more by way of a restaurant,'' said Mr Shervani.

CM, Kalmadi throw open CWG wrestling venue

Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit and IOA president Suresh Kalmadi today unveiled the first wrestling venue for this year's Commonwealth Games at the Ludlow Castle school here, and assured that the other work for the October 3-14 mega event would ''come up well before the time''.

''We have completed the work for this stadium before time, the last venue decided for the games became the one to be fully prepared,'' Ms Dikshit said at the inauguration of the Ludlow Castle wrestling training venue. ''I congratulate Arora constructions for their superb work and made it possible on a short span.'' ''I am sure everything will be in place in time and I can ensure that the other venues will come up well before the games start,'' she told mediapersons. ''Our Assembly is very nearby to this venue so whenever we feel like doing wrestling, we will come here,'' she joked.

India came under severe criticism after construction of several venues, including the athletes' village, fell behind schedule, forcing the postponement or shifting of many international meets planned as test events.

The Chief Minister admitted that completing the rest of the work in such a short period of time would be a tough job. ''Now only eight months are left and we need to complete so much work, it would be tough.'' As India is much interested in watching cricket, Kalmadi said people should now focus on Commonwealth Games to make it a grand success.

''Cricket is played within 10 nations and in CWG as many as 200 countries take part. It is a big event people should now focus on these games not only cricket,'' Kalmadi said.

The CWG Organising Committee chief further claimed that Delhi will host the Games more successfully than Manchester and Melbourne. ''The Delhi Games would be better than Melbourne (2006) and Manchester (2002).'' The under-fire Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President, who has faced all-round criticism for delays in construction work at the Games' venues, said the success of the event would also reflect in India's performance. ''The success will help Delhi become a tourist attraction.'' He futher urged Delhiites to follow traffic rules so that the participants coming from abroad should not have bad impression about the capital city.

''Delhi needs to follow traffic rules then only can we make this event a grand success,'' Kalmadi said.

There is an athlete lounge, change rooms, sports equipments room, medical and physiotherapy, fitness and gym, cafeteria, conference room at ground floor of the Ludlow Castle wrestling venue.

In the first floor, there is a maple wood sports flooring to accomodate six wrestling mats (12X12m each). The building is centrally air conditioned. Elevated at a cost of Rs 13 crore is an amalgamation of granite and fabricated steel, the venue conforms to international standard.

PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan, Education and Transport Minister Arvinder Singh and MLA Prahlad Singh Sahni were among others present in the occasion.

Let's all kick in for the Games

THE news this week that soccer's international governing body, FIFA, was considering only European bidders for the 2018 Soccer World Cup should have been good news for the Gold Coast's bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

For instance, it should have meant that the $45 million the Federal Government had reportedly earmarked to fund the World Cup bid should have become available for the Coast's hope to host the Commonwealth Games.

But by some sleight of hand, once-strong government support for the Coast bid seems to have evaporated. If we did not know better we might think both the Queensland and Federal governments have decided that the Coast bid for the Commonwealth Games will cost too much. Perhaps Ms Bligh needs to tell us now -- is Queensland too broke to help fund a Gold Coast bid?

The fact is that the forlorn Australian bid for the World Cup was at best naive, at worst totally unrealistic.

But the Gold Coast bid for the Commonwealth Games is well grounded and has a real chance of success -- provided it gets the kind of support it has been promised. It was way back in June 2008 that Premier Bligh told Parliament that the Gold Coast would have the exclusive right to be Australia's nominee for the 2018 Games.

She said she had agreed to commission a 'full and comprehensive feasibility study' into the Coast bid. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also gave his support for the Coast's Commonwealth Games bid, though to be fair he refused to contribute funding because of the $45 million he said the World Cup attempt would entail.

Despite this week's revelation from FIFA, the Government says Australia's bid is going ahead.

Even a successful World Cup bid would hold little benefit for the Gold Coast, or even Queensland for that matter, with the big games going to southern cities.

But if the World Cup bid should fall at the first hurdle, we expect the Prime Minister to fulfil his implicit promise to provide federal funds for the Coast bid -- just as we expect the Premier to keep her explicit promise to help fund the Coast's Games bid.

Both federal and state funding will be crucial if the Gold Coast is to mount a realistic bid for the Games but it seems that since the World Cup failure both have taken their eye off the real ball.

One of the first hurdles to be passed for the Gold Coast to throw its hat into the ring is for the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to meet to formally decide whether an Australian bid for the 2018 games will proceed; but the ACGA seems preoccupied with other matters.

Its website proclaims that the organisation 'is now fully focused' on the 2010 Games in Delhi, India. We suggest that Ms Bligh, Mr Rudd, and especially the ACGA should be much more focused on the Gold Coast bid.

A successful Commonwealth Games bid for the Gold Coast would provide a major fillip to sports infrastructure for the greater Gold Coast, infrastructure that would form a lasting base for the future growth of sports tourism to the area -- an area of tourism that is at present under-used but which is expected to expand dramatically in the future.

The provision of that infrastructure would fit in neatly with State Government economic plans for the area. The Games would create an increase in tourism, an increase of awareness of the Gold Coast on an unprecedented scale.

That in turn would boost the economy of the entire area. Securing the Games for the Coast would be a feather in the caps of both Ms Bligh and Mr Rudd that would boost their stature here immeasurably. Last, but far from least, hosting an event of the stature of the Commonwealth Games would represent the coming of age for the Gold Coast as a city to be reckoned with.

But time is running short. The deadline for Commonwealth Games associations and candidate cities to notify of their intention to bid for the 2018 Games is March 31 -- just two months away.

Now is the time for Ms Bligh and Mr Rudd to put their money where their mouths have been -- we need your support.

Delhi Govt on lookout for 50,000 students volunteers during CWG

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said the Delhi Government was on the lookout for 50,000 students to act as volunteers during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. ''We will need at least 50,000 student volunteers during the Games. The Education department should start identifying students of 11th and 12th standards for it,'' Ms Dikshit stated at the inauguration function of first CWG Wrestling venue here.

Out of 50,000 students, 10,000 will be needed for the opening and closing ceremonies of the CWG, she explained.

''These ceremonies are a reflection of country's culture and are crucial in creating a good image,'' the Chief Minister observed.

''Participation in such a huge event is in itself a big thing for every student,'' she added.

No excuse for non-completion of CWG venues to be tolerated: Sheila

Warning administrators and all other parties involved in organisation of the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) that no excuse would be tolerated for non-completion of Games venues, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said ''now, there is no time to make excuses.'' ''We have very less time to complete the construction work for CWG, so rain, heat, draught or anything cannot be taken as excuse for non-completion of work. We have to finish all the work well before time,''Ms Dikshit said today at the inauguration function of first Wrestling venue of CWG.

The Ludlow Castle Wrestling training venue for the participants of CWG was inaugurated at Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidayalaya at Shyamnath Marg near Civil Lines in the presence of Chairman Of the CWG Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi, PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan, Delhi Education and Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely and other dignitaries of Delhi government.

Calling it the first step of a long journey, the CM asserted, ''We need to work hard not just for completing the games but also creating a good image of the city and the country.'' Congratulating the people responsible for completion of this venue in a very short period, Mr Chauhan said, ''Its an achievement to complete the venue in such a short period of 11 months and that too at the cost of just Rs 13 crore as against the estimated expenditure of around Rs 20 crore.'' He said two more such stadiums, Chhatrasal and Tyagraj, would be ready by March.

As these three sites come under the Education Department, these will be given back after the CWG and students will be able to use these stadiums to hone their skills.

The fully air-conditioned multi-purpose Wrestling training venue can accommodate six wrestling mats and is equipped with all the latest and essential technology the athletes require.

Commonwealth Games will boost other sports in India: Kalmadi

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi Friday said the Commonwealth Games in the city will definitely help in developing other sports in the country.

"Cricket is a very popular sport in India. But I think Commonwealth Games will provide a boost to development of Olympic sports infrastructure in the country," said Kalmadi at the inauguration function of Ludlow Castle Wrestling training venue here.

"Cricket is played in only 10-12 countries while Olympic sports are played in nearly 200 countries. I hope because of Commonwealth Games people look towards Olympic sports also," he added.

Govt relaxes arms import provisions for Commonwealth Games shooters

In what would come as a major boost for the country's top shooters preparing for this year's Commonwealth Games, the Sports Ministry has "liberalised" provisions for the import of weapons and cartridges for their training.

"The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has liberalised and rationalised procedures for import of weapons and ammunition and resale of used weapons by renowned shooters," the ministry said in a statement.

"A Committee under Joint Secretary (Sports) examined the existing procedures and decided to liberalise them. The orders to this effect has been issued by the Ministry, yesterday."

Under the new guidelines, the No Objection Certificates required for an import license and the Custom Duty Exemption Certificates will no longer have to routed through the ministry.

"A renowned shooters may be allowed to approach the Regional Authority of Director General Foreign Trade (DGFT) directly after obtaining the recommendations of National Rifles Association of India.

"The present practice of MYAS issuing 'Custom Duty Exemption Certificate' may be dispensed with and a suitable provision may be made for automatic grant of custom duty exemption on the basis of self-certification by the renowned shooter along with the documentary evidence in respect of import of weapons/ammunition."

The Ministry also revised the quota of custom duty exempted ammunition for top shooters.

"15,000 cartridges per year (For renowned shooters participating in one event), 20,000 cartridges per year (For renowned shooters participating in two events) and 25,000 cartridges per year (For renowned shooters participating in more than two events)," the ministry said.

The Ministry said top shooters can now also import upto five custom duty exempted weapons.

"Renowned Shooters may be allowed to avail of Custom Duty exemption for only five weapons, at any point of time. In case, he holds more than five weapons, on which he has availed Custom Duty Exemption, the limit imposed thereafter of five weapons, will exclude the weapons that have completed the minimum usage time prescribed in the import licence.

"As such, import of weapons beyond the limit of five weapons shall not be eligible for Custom Duty Exemption. Further the overall ceiling imposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs on holding of weapons will apply," the statement said.

Besides, the shooters will also be allowed to sell their used weapons but only after five years of acquiring them.

"The present practice of prior approval may be dispensed with, and the Renowned Shooter may be allowed, to sell the weapons once he/she meets the minimum duration of use condition i.e. five years in the case of Renowned Shooter, and three years in the case of a Shooter who qualifies as a Renowned Shooter, for three consecutive years", it said.

"The Renowned Shooter may be allowed to sell the weapons to any shooter, who is a valid license holder, registered with District/State/National Rifle Association," the ministry statement said.

The Ministry said the guidelines have been revised after taking the feedback of top shooters.

"The Ministry has examined this issue after receipt of representations from the renowned Shooters that the existing procedure for import of arms and ammunition is very time consuming and causes escalation of cost of import, as well as shortages of weapons/ammunition and thereby, adversely affect the training and practice regime.

"Furthermore, the guidelines for resale of weapons imported by Renowned Shooters is unduly restrictive and hampers the development of sports," it said.

Sevens coach sets sights on Commonwealth Games

The retention of the IRB Sevens World Series rugby title is a fast-fading dream for the Springbok sevens side and a pragmatic Bok coach Paul Treu has now set his sights on the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October.

“Of course it remains our main goal to retain the IRB title,” said Treu yesterday, “but the reality is it will take not only a huge effort from the Springboks in the remaining six tournaments, but also some unlikely results from the front-runners in the competition for that to happen.

“It is a good time to start building for the future and that includes the Commonwealth Games as our first goal after the IRB Series.

“We have some very good young players and we still have six tournaments to get to the right combination and standard.”

Treu has four new caps in the side for the tournaments in Wellington (February 5-6) and Las Vegas (February 13-14) in Philip van der Walt, Steven Hunt, Hoffman Maritz and Branco du Preez, as well as Cecil Afrika, who has played in two tournaments so far.

But, points out Treu, some of the youngsters in the squad, as well as members of the training squad in Stellenbosch, should be at their peak in 2016 when sevens makes its debut at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“That’s six years from now. These guys will be between 25 and 27 years old by the time the Olympics take place – hard and experienced.

“We’ve worked very hard over the last fortnight,” Treu said.

“With the new players in the side it was important they gel and feel comfortable with the structures. They all had good tournaments in Argentina (Mar del Plata) and Sri Lanka (Asian Invitation) and the ability is there.

“One must remember, however, that this is a big step up and the rigorous training the past few weeks was partly to prepare the younger guys for the tougher and longer schedule of the IRB Series.”

Need to work hard to complete CWG projects in time: Dikshit

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday acknowledged that it will be "difficult" to complete all projects related to the Sheila Dikshit Commonwealth Games 2010 in the coming eight months.

Nevertheless, she expressed hope that the administration will be able to finish the work in time.

"It will be difficult to complete the CWG works in the next eight months and we need to work hard. But I believe we will complete the work smoothly," she said inaugurating the Ludlow Castle Wrestling Training Venue at a school near Civil Lines, the first Games venue to have been completed.

She also cautioned officials against giving excuses for delay in completing the projects.

"Drought, heavy rainfall, no rain - all these excuses will not work for us now. Before September 3, we have to complete all works related to the Games," she said at the function, which was also attended by Delhi ministers Arvinder Singh Lovely and Raj Kumar Chauhan.

"This is the first building to be completed for CWG. Today, We have completed the first phase of the Games. All credit goes to the PWD and education departments," she said.

She also used the opportunity to reach out to the students, whose participation, she believes, will be very important in hosting the Games successfully.

"I want to tell the children that we will need about 50,000 volunteers for the Games and our education department will soon start selecting volunteers. Besides, we need 10,000 students for opening and closing ceremonies," she said at the presence of IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi.

Kalmadi said the infrastructure for Commonwealth Games will be helpful in the future for those who want to take up Olympic sports.

"Cricket is more popular in the country and these facilities will help in encouraging those taking up Olympic sports," he said.

New Delhi Book Fair to promote sporting culture

Over 1,000 publishers and exhibitors from the country and abroad will take part in the 19th edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair that opens at Pragati Maidan here this Saturday.

Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal will inaugurate the eight-day fair at Hamsadhwani Theatre on the sprawling exhibition ground. In view of the upcoming Commonwealth Games in the city, the Minister will also release a special “International Rights Catalogue” with bibliographic and copyright details of over 550 titles of books.

The catalogue that connects with the term Commonwealth and the games associated with it seeks to facilitate an exchange of copyrights about books on sports among publishers. The idea behind the whole exercise is to have a wider understanding of sporting culture.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, National Book Trust chairman Prof. Bipan Chandra said this book fair is the largest in the Afro-Asian region and the second largest in the world. “This was brought home to me when I visited the Moscow Book Fair last year. Of course, the Kolkata Book Fair is also important and the Mumbai Book Fair too is coming up. As our fair is a biennial one, we have requested the HRD Ministry to have it every year. I am hopeful that Kapil Sibal, who is an intellectual, will agree to have this fair every year. Even the book fairs in Frankfurt, Beijing and Tokyo are held annually.”

Pointing out that NBT can organise the fair annually only if the Government provides a grant of Rs.80 crore, Prof. Chandra said: “We require support from the media for two causes. First, the Union Finance Ministry has imposed sale tax on books which is completely unnecessary. One can understand if this tax is imposed on automobiles. We hope that Pranab Mukherjee, who is heading this Ministry, will acquiesce to our request to withdraw this tax. Second, the India Trade Promotion Organisation has increased rental to alarming proportions. As a result, many publishers have decided not to participate this year.” Stating that the book fair will try to find a connection between the world of books and that of sports, NBT director Nuzhat Hassan said the theme of the fair is “Reading our Commonwealth: An International Rights Exhibition of Books on Sports”. Keeping in mind the Commonwealth Games, the NDWBF will have 700 titles published by 75 publishers across the country on different categories of sports, he said. Like the India International Trade Fair which after a few hiccups was successful in hosting the “green fair”, the book fair also seeks to be environmental-friendly.

Stating that the NBT respects all laws promulgated by the Government, its director has requested all publishers to adhere to the new guidelines. “At the last book fair we registered a 70 per cent increase in business in books published by us. Recession hasn’t made a big impact on books.

The NBT has taken a large punch of recession as we are giving stalls and stands on subsidised rates.”Though the National Book Foundation of Pakistan has refused to participate this year, Royal Book Company, Iqbal Academy and Sheikh Mubarakh Ali from the neighbouring country have confirmed their participation.

Protest against takeover of college land for Games

Ramjas College faculty members and students held a demonstration on the campus on Thursday in protest against the alleged manner of takeover of college land for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

The college had consented in November last to surrendering 865 square metres of land from its premises for widening of roads. Later according to a revised plan, instead of 865 sq. m. the college was asked in January to surrender 112 sq. m. at the Principal’s bungalow premises near Kranti Chowk and 745 sq. m. at Kranti Chowk (which included the parking lot in the college premises) along Sudhir Bose Marg and at Maurice Nagar Chowk.

Work related to road-widening and beautification by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi or the Delhi Engineers Ltd will take place in the area. The college authorities received a letter to this effect on January 20. However, before the college authorities received the letter seeking consent, labourers allegedly arrived to carry out work on the Principal’s bungalow premises last December. The bungalow premises are part of the Ramjas College Trust land.

“The Ramjas College Trust has to be consulted before any kind of work can begin on college land. Though a letter seeking consent was received, approval was yet to be granted,” a faculty member said.

The Ramjas College Principal, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, said: “The proposal to surrender 112 sq. m. from the Principal’s residence will mean that the distance between the house windows and the main road would be 14 to 16 feet. Not only this, a number of trees and fauna in the lawn would be destroyed.”

“Also the area that is being asked from the college includes a good portion of the car park,” Dr. Prasad added.

The college has reportedly asked for Rs.13.3 crore as compensation to build underground parking, stilt parking on the ground floor and other structures. Dr. Prasad said: “We have willingly cooperated with preparations for the Commonwealth Games. Not only have we given our sports ground for Games-related construction, rooms in the college hostel too will be available for CWG delegates to stay. Our students are also participating as volunteers for the Games.”

“We have gladly cooperated in the past and wish to continue in the future, but this had to be protested against,” he added.

The road widening work which will reportedly be carried out in the area too has invited disapproval. “What is the point of widening the road? Is it not serviceable enough? There are already enough roads leading to the university grounds where the main event will take place,” associate professor Debraj Mookerjee said.

Political Science Department teacher Tanvir Aeijaz added: “By broadening the road, it will become a thoroughfare and be open to all kinds of vehicular traffic while the idea has always been to maintain a compact university.”

QBR’s India schedule finalised

The Organising Committee Commonwealth Games (OCCG) on Thursday urged all States to honour sporting legends of their area during the Queen’s Baton Relay countrywide tour.

“Please ensure that all international sportspersons — past and present — residing in your state are involved in the relay.

“It will ensure a high visibility for Olympic sport ,” said OCCG Chairman Suresh Kalmadi while announcing the schedule of the QBR following his meeting with the nodal officers from different States and union territories.

The baton will enter India from Pakistan through the Wagah border on June 25 before travelling 20,000 km across the country and reaching Delhi on September 30 — three days prior to the Games.

The Secretary of Union Sports Ministry, Sindhushree Khullar, said the QBR would provide an opportunity to create sports consciousness among common people.

Baton’s 100-day sojourn: OC wants to make it memorable

With the Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton set to enter the host nation in June, a meeting of the nodal officers from all the states and Union Territories was held on Thursday at the Organising Committee (OC) headquarters. The Relay will enter the country through the Wagah Border on June 25 after finishing its journey across Pakistan.

“During its 100-day programme, the Baton will pass through all the states and UTs before arriving in Delhi on Sept. 30, two days before the start of the Games,” OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi said.

The meeting was held to ensure that all the creases are ironed out when the Baton passes through the states. Kalmadi said that all stakeholders— state administrative officers, state sporting associations, local defence forces, police and the OC — must coordinate to ensure smooth running .

International athletes have to be in the foreground of the Relay and should be the Baton bearers in cities, said Kalmadi. “All international sportspersons must be sent invitations to receive the Baton.”

Sports secretary, Sindhushree Khullar, called upon the nodal officers to ensure that their states used the Relay as a platform to convey a larger message: “Sport is for all and the Relay will test the reach of the directorates of sport and the state Olympic associations,” she said.

To ensure adequate security cover, four teams have been set up for reconnaissance of the domestic sector covering all states, starting February 8.

Delhi digs into its pockets for Games

The Delhi government on Thursday revised its budget estimates for the year 2009-10.

The budget was enhanced by Rs 2,723 crore to Rs 25,760 crore.

The earlier estimated budget was Rs 23,043 crore.

Delhi Finance Minister A.K. Walia said the additional funds would help speed up Commonwealth Games 2010 related projects that had hit roadblocks because of fund shortage.

This will mean additional allocations for the public works department for its road projects, the Delhi Jal Board and the Delhi Transport Corporation that have been reeling under poor financial health and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit.

"All these departments needed funds and had placed their demands. There is a lot of work happening in the city," said Walia.

The finance minister said the PWD would get Rs 504 crore over the amount allocated earlier, while DJB will get another Rs 275 crore extra.

The DTC will get another 280 crore and the MCD will also get an additional amount of Rs 290 crore.

The government that had been demanding additional funds for funding Games projects said the cash flow was because of receipt of various dues.

"In March 2009, we had a small savings loan surplus of Rs 5775 crore. We spent Rs 3,250 crore this year — some will be left for next year — about Rs 2,513 crore. Plus we also got our allocation under small savings loan for this year for Rs 1156 crore," said Walia.

“We also got refunds for Central Sales Tax and VAT for Rs 1450 crore. This was accruing with the GOI since we implemented VAT.”

The plan outlay has been increased from Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 11,300 crore in revised estimates for 2009-2010.

An increase of Rs 1408 crore in non-plan outlay and an increase of Rs 9 crore in centrally-sponsored projects was also approved.

Walia said that an amount Rs 800 crore was increased for roads and bridges, which includes construction of flyovers, bridges and widening and improvement of roads particularly relating to the Commonwealth Games.

Delhi's budgetary prov to go up for Games-related projects

With the aim to ensure timely completion of all Commonwealth Games-related projects and overcome any paucity of funds, the Delhi Government has decided to enhance its plan outlay from Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 11,300 crore in revised estimates for the current financial year -- 2009-2010.

The total budgetary provision for the current year will go up from Rs 23,043 crore to Rs 25,760 crore. There will be an increase of Rs 1408 crore in non-plan outlay, an increase of Rs 9 crore in centrally-sponsored projects. This was decided in a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, which was attended by Finance Minister A K Walia, Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta, Principal Secretary (Finance) J P Singh and other senior officers of the Finance and Planning Departments.

Briefing mediapersons after the meeting, the state Finance Minister said an amount of Rs 800 crore alone has been increased under the Head of Roads and Bridges, which includes construction of flyovers, bridges and widening and improvement of roads, particularly those relating to the Commonwealth Games. The Plan outlay for the Public Works Department (PWD) has been increased from Rs 1471 cr to Rs 1975 cr and for the the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) from Rs 345 cr to Rs 635 cr. The allocation for the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has been increased from Rs 340 cr to Rs 619 cr to enable it to purchase more new buses. The outlay of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has also gone up by Rs 227 cr ie from Rs 1365 crore to Rs 1592 crore.

Eye on Commonwealth, Delhi govt enhances budgetary allocation

Racing against time to complete Commonwealth Games-related works, Delhi government today enhanced its budgetary allocations by Rs2,723 crore to Rs25,760 crore to meet funds shortage for projects such as roads, infrastructure and buses in the city.

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister Sheila Dikshit here.

"The government has decided to enhance its plan outlay from Rs10,000 crore to Rs11,300 crore in revised estimates for the fiscal year 2009-2010 whereas total budgetary provision for the current year will go up from Rs23,043 crore to Rs25,760 crore.

"There will be an increase of Rs1,408 crore in non-plan outlay and an increase of Rs9 crore in centrally-sponsored projects," finance minister AK Walia told reporters.

He said that an amount of Rs 800 crore alone has been increased under the head of roads and bridges, which includes construction of flyovers, bridges and widening and improvement of roads particularly relating to the Commonwealth Games.

As per the decision, plan outlay for the PWD has been increased from Rs1471 crore to Rs1975 crore and for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

"The allocation for the DTC has been increased from Rs340 crore to Rs619 crore to enable it to purchase more new buses. Similarly, the outlay of the DJB has also gone up by Rs227 crore — from Rs1,365 crore to Rs1,592 crore," Walia said.

All venues being built for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi are supposed to be completed by March 31, but so far
only Dhyanchand Hockey Statdium has been completed.

Moreover, there are many other infrastructural projects such as roads, bridges as well transport services which are yet to be readied even though merely eight months are left for the mega multiple-sport event in the capital.

Wanted: Masseurs for the Commonwealth Games

Facing a major shortage of professional masseurs to cater to sportspersons during the Commonwealth Games scheduled here this October, authorities are now looking for foreign experts and also trying to bring in masseurs from other states.

"I don't have the exact number, but around 400 masseurs are needed for the Games. We are trying to arrange them from other states like Kerala," Delhi's Health Secretary J.P Singh told IANS while admitting the shortage of masseurs for the Games.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG), the 19th edition of these games, will be held from Oct 3 to 14. Thousands of athletes are expected to take part in the event.

"We need properly trained and well qualified masseurs to provide support to sportspersons taking part in the Games. But there is a serious shortage of them," said an official of the Delhi government's health department.

"We are in the process of identifying and shortlisting masseurs. Once that is done, further training would be imparted to them by experts," the official added.

"It is a little difficult to find well-trained masseurs as a lot of them are employed with private massage parlours. A number of them may be busy serving tourists during that period and this has led to increase in their demand," he added.

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee spokesperson Lalit Bhanot also said: "Yes, there is a shortage of masseurs. We are trying to arrange masseurs from treatment centres in West Bengal and Kerala."

"We are also trying to bring in foreign experts. They will be in the city during the games and would train the selected masseurs here," Bhanot told IANS.

Officials said: "The health department is considering training the masseurs in foot massage, Ayurvedic massage, Panchakarma, oil massage and other types of massages. The health department along with the Games organising committee is likely to jointly bear the expenditure of their training."

The health department official refused to say by when the masseurs would be trained or ready or how they would be recruited.

Experts believe massage also helps in stress management.

Explaining the importance of masseurs in any sports event, Alakananda Banerjee, head of the physiotherapy department at Max Hospital in Saket, told IANS: "They are a very important aspect of the training of sportspersons and are required in all sports like hockey, football and others. Masseurs are required before, during and after any sporting event.

"When sportspersons play, their muscles get tightened which can lower their performance. The massage helps in blood circulation, ultimately helping the sportspersons. The Commonwealth Games will definitely require the services of lots of masseurs."

Banerjee said she had been approached by the Games authorities to help in identifying well-trained masseurs and had recommended some names.

Besides the professionally trained masseurs, the city and the nearby areas have a number of traditional masseurs, who are generally untrained, but quite popular among tourists.

But experts have warned against employing any untrained masseurs.

"No traditional masseur can be taken just like this. Masseurs need to be very technically sound and they need to understand human anatomy well. They need to be professionally trained as wrong massage can even lead to injuries," Banerjee added.

Registration mandatory for Delhi travel and tour agents

With barely eight months left for the Commonwealth Games, Delhi government has made registration mandatory for travel and tour agents in the city to ensure safety of tourists.

"Lakhs of foreign travellers are expected to visit the capital during the mega event, and registration will streamline the travel operators," a senior Delhi government official said.

With the extravaganza drawing near, several agents have launched new deals to attract domestic and foreign travellers for sightseeing tours in Delhi and nearby states.

The government's move is aimed at cracking down on fly-by-night operators who bring a bad name to the tourism industry by cheating travellers and tourists.

"We want to encourage serious players as well as instill confidence among tourists. Hence, we will allow only license holders to carry out their business. Non-license holders will be strictly dealt with," he said.

This will also help the government access a vast database, creating an avenue for revenue and curbing malpractices.

According to the recent studies and surveys by business chamber, ASSOCHAM, around 10 million international tourists are planning to visit India during theCommonwealth Games.

After Commonwealth Games, tax waiver for Hockey World Cup

After the Commonwealth Games, the Delhi government has decided to waive off taxes for the Hockey World Cup to be held from February 28-March 13 at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium. The government has decided to waive off all revenue collected as entertainment and luxury tax from the organisers of the tournament. This will cost the government exchequer Rs six crore.

Although the officials concerned were not keen on giving the waiver, the decision was left to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Hockey India representatives had met Delhi Chief Secretary, Rakesh Mehta, earlier this month demanding waiver of entertainment tax on tickets and luxury tax on hotel rooms to be booked for delegates.

Earlier this month, the Delhi cabinet had waived off luxury tax to the tune of Rs 30 crore on hotel rooms booked by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee for athletes, delegates, sport physicians and international mediapersons.

HI to appoint retired high court judge

Hockey India (HI) on Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that it would appoint a retired High Court or Supreme Court judge as the Returning Officer for its elections.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice AP Shah asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and HI to file their response on how they were planning to conduct the election and suggest the name of the retired judge who could be appointed as their Returning Officer.

Meanwhile, the Centre informed the court that differences with HI have been sorted out after the sports body agreed to follow its suggestion on conduct of the election. The court was hearing a PIL questioning how the sports body is functioning and alleged irregularities in the conduct of the election.

The election, however, has been put on hold after the Rajasthan High Court last week restrained HI from conducting the exercise. The Centre had earlier approached the High Court challenging HI’s appointment of GS Mander.

CWG workers in bad shape: HC

Has anyone spared a thought for the approximately 15,000 labourers toiling day and night in rough weather to make Delhi a world-class city for the 2010 Commonwealth Games?

If a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Delhi High Court based on two surveys is to be believed, they are working and living in highly dangerous and deplorable conditions.

They earn lower than the stipulated wage and have no access to even the most basic sanitation and health facilities.

A bench comprising of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice R S Endlaw has sought the response of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and agencies in charge of the construction -- DDA, CPWD, NDMC and MCD - on the PIL filed by People’s Union For Democratic Rights, an NGO, by February 3.

The bench asked government counsel Najmi Waziri to take instructions about whether the government can form a committee to oversee the welfare of the labourers, including payment of minimum wages.

Senior lawyer and human rights activist Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the NGO, told the Bench that the plight of the 1982 Asiad workers was also the same, till the Supreme Court intervened on the same NGO’s petition and ordered improvement of their conditions.

Alleging that the Minimum Wages Act was being violated, he contended that while it was Rs 151 in Delhi, most of the workers at Commonwealth Games sites were being given between Rs 100 and 114 and also not being paid double wages for overtime. The PIL claimed that workers were not being provided proper safety equipments.

“It is known that one worker died in December 2008. Many deaths were occurring but are going unrecorded,” it said.

Gonsalves also demanded issuance of proper ID cards to workers.

He complained of unhygienic conditions in camps, with irrregular supply of power and water and an insufficient number of toilets.

The PIL wanted setting up of an independent committee by the court to visit sites, so that it can see for itself the plight of the labourers.

Prasar Bharati official broadcaster for Commonwealth Games

Prasar Bharati has taken the rights of live telecast of the Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi in October this year. Mr Baljit Singh Lalli, Chief Executive Officer of the Prasar Bharati said here today that the rights have been taken for the live telecast on Doordarshan and live transmission on AIR in India only.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said the Prasar Bharati will have first right of telecasting/transmitting in India for the live coverage of the 12-day international event.

He said Doordarshan, the public broadcaster will switch over to complete digitalisation of its terrestrial infrastructure within 8 years.

DD currently has 1,435 Analog TV transmitters, with a single TV being broadcast in service in 7 or 8 MHz bandwidth. The broadcaster has been given the mandate of complete digitalisation of its terrestrial infrastructure by 2017, he added. Asked about the improvement of programmes of DD he said, ''We do not enter any competition with any one and will remain as the public broadcaster as Parliament has already declared.'' He, however, admitted that there was scope of improvement in programmes of the channel.

He said Doordarshan centres at Jalandhar and Chandigarh had been promoting regional language writers by organising various programmes. He said the direct to home (DTH) service of Prasar Bharati will by introduced more Free to Air channels. Earlier Mr Lalli inaugurated the three- day 26th international Punjabi Conference at Punjabi University here. In his speech, he expressed concern that an ominous trend had developed that the new generation of educated and elite Punjabi families were gradually shunning learning and use of Punjabi language in their day-to-day life and prefer to converse in Hindi or English. Speaking in the same vein, Vice Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh said use of Punjabi in conversation at home by the Punjabis will not only keep the language ticking but will also fight back the challenges posed by languages which have emerged as a vehicle of globalisation now.

He, however, cautioned the experts not to involve themselves in witch-hunting and narrow technical niceties and provide liberal atmosphere for development of Punjabi in the fields literature, Science and Information Technology.

Punjabi Tribune Editor Varinder Singh Walia said Punjabi should be made the language of science and technology as it has a lot of potential for these fields.

Dr Daljit Singh, senior Director of Doordarshan Kendra, Jalandhar also spoke on the occasion.

World Cup snub big boost for Coast Games bid

A POSSIBLY fatal blow to Australia's $45 million bid to host the 2018 soccer World Cup could be good news for the Gold Coast with a renewed push to get vital Federal Government funding for the 2018 Commonwealth Games bid.

Soccer governing body FIFA yesterday announced it would probably only consider bids from European countries to host the 2018 Cup, the snub raising hopes the Federal Government will now abandon its stumbling bid and concentrate on the more realistic attempt to lure the Commonwealth Games to the Gold Coast.

But it is not all smooth sailing for the Commonwealth Games bid team, with speculation Geoff Dixon -- the NSW-based chairman of Queensland Events who had been conducting a feasibility study for the Games to come to the Gold Coast -- will now be given a bigger role in the World Cup bid process.

In November Mr Dixon was appointed by the Federal Government to assist with the World Cup bid and is now expected to take on a more high-profile role.

Premier Anna Bligh said yesterday the FIFA announcement could benefit the Coast.

"This is good news for our Commonwealth Games bid. It's now full steam ahead and we will be working hard to get everyone on board," she said.

Although Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has given his support for the Commonwealth Games bid he has refused to contribute any funding because of the $45 million contributed to the more risky World Cup hosting attempt.

If Australia does continue with a bid for the 2022 World Cup it will be up against the United States, Qatar, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea.

The Australian Commonwealth Games Association is due to meet early this year to decide whether an Australian bid for the 2018 games will proceed.

Commonwealth Games: HC notices to govt for 'violation' of labour laws

The Delhi high court today sought a response from the Centre for its alleged failure to provide all thebenefits of labour laws to workers involved in construction work for the coming Commonwealth Games.

A bench headed by chief justice AP Shah issued a notice to the Centre and asked it to file the response by February 3 when the matter would be taken up for further hearing.

The Court passed the order on a PIL filed by civil rights group Peoples Union for Democratic Rights which submitted that the Centre has failed to force private companies to abide by the labour laws.

"The government and its agencies as well as their numerous contractors have got used to the idea that they are not accountable for the working and living conditions and can pass up their responsibility, ignoring the legal requirements.

This has resulted in inhuman conditions for construction workers in Delhi," the advocate, appearing for the group, said.

The rights group pleaded the court should intervene to correct the impression and to bring relief to poor and vulnerable 4,15,000 contract daily wage workers who are working on these projects.

The NGO pleaded there has been rampant violation of labour laws which has come to light when it conducted an inquiry.

It pointed out that minimum wages were not paid to most of the workers and the wages were irregularly paid with considerable delay and with contractor's often withholding part of the wages.

It pointed out that there has been death of several workers at the work site which have not been recorded and the safety equipment were often not made available to workers.

"Wage slips were not given to the workers in accordance with law. As a result, the workers had no proof whatsoever that they were employed and many of the workers were living in rooms, eight persons to a room without doors, without protection during winter, without electricity and without toilets," the petition said.

"The workers who came from Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Punjab were not given the benefits of the Interstate Migrant Workers Act and were totally at the mercy of the contractors and they are never given a weekly off with wages as required by the Minimum Wages Act and are required to work on all seven days," the petition said.

Commonwealth Games' costs 'out of control'

The cost of the 2014 Commonwealth Games is “out of control” because inflation and pensions were excluded from its budget, the Tories have claimed.

Holyrood's public audit committee heard that the Glasgow event's supposed £374 million price tag is likely to be exceeded.

Inflation costs, which are unknown, and £2.5 million of pension payments for the Games’ 900 workers are likely to require the use of an £80 million contingency fund.

But Liz Hunter, the Scottish Executive director of equalities, social inclusion and sport, told the committee the true cost will not be known for another three years.

She admitted the budget will almost certainly rise, but claimed it is unlikely to exceed the total amount of money available, including the contingency, of £454 million.

“Even with inflation the £374 million will be more than enough right up to the very end of the process. By that point it will be clear how much of the contingency will be required,” she told MSPs.

But Derek Brownlee, Scottish Tory finance spokesman, said the Games were “just another example of a project that is out of control”.

James Kelly, Labour MSP for Glasgow Rutherglen, added that it is “staggering” that inflation costs were not factored into the budget.

Ian Reid, finance manager for the organisers, said pension costs needed to be met because of a recent change in the law. Previously there had been no mandatory requirement to do so.

Hugh Henry a Labour MSP and committee convener, requested a copy of the rules for pension payouts because of a “growing concern over public sector pensions”.

The committee also heard that television rights to broadcast the Games have been sold to Australia. Negotiations are ongoing with the BBC, according to John Scott, chief executive of Glasgow 2014 Ltd.

He also admitted ticket sales were “revised down” in the budget. George Black, Glasgow City Council chief executive, told the committee he could not provide costs for the athletes’ village but hoped to do so soon.

Panjab Varsity claim varsities tennis trophy

Spearheaded by 2010 Commonwealth Games probable Vijayant Malik, Panjab University annexed the All-India Inter-University Tennis Championship by outplaying Delhi University in the final with a 3-1 margin at the Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar today.

The North Zone Varsities champions squad consisting of Vijayant Malik, Mandeep Singh Gill, Gurmohit, Simarveer and Shekhar was given a rousing start by lanky Vijayant Malik, a trainee of Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association, who outserved and outstroked Prateek Bhambri of Delhi University in straight sets 6-2, 6-1.

However, Aditya Jain restored parity for Delhi University by prevailing over Mandeep Singh of Panjab University by 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) in the second singles. Vijayant Malik and Mandeep Gill combined well to defeat the Delhi University pair of Prateek Bhambri and Rubal in straight sets 6-2, 6-0.

International Vijayant Malik sealed the fate of Delhi by defeating Aditya Jain in straight sets 6-1, 6-0 in the reverse singles.

Vijayant Malik and Gurmohit are students of DAV College, Sector 10 while Simarveer, Mandeep Singh Gill and Shekhar are students of Panjab University campus.

Eight Track Athletes for Commonwealth Games

ATHLETICS will have only eight of the 48 athletes that Uganda has entered for the Commonwealth Games that are due in New Delhi October 3-14. There will be 29 officials, minus the general team officials.

Chef de Mission William Tumwine revealed last week that the tentative list of both the athletes and officials will total 77, minus the rugby entourage whose costs will be covered by the International Rugby Board.

"The list was entered and this is the total we are considering. We might however make some changes in the different disciplines, but we can not go over the total," said Tumwine.

Shooting and archery are back in the games with two and four athletes each, while squash will make its international debut with four athletes.

"We will be sourcing for more tickets for the other team members after the organizers offered 20," explained Tumwine. Uganda's entourage will have 17 female athletes.

The other disciplines that have been entered for the games include swimming (4), badminton (6), boxing (4), cycling (4), table tennis (4), tennis (4) and weightlifting (4).

Meanwhile, athletes gunning qualification to the world cross country championships reignite their campaign this weekend, when they take part in regional championships.

According to tathletics federation publicist Namayo Mawerere, the Kyabazinga cross country for the Busoga region will take place at Jinja while the western and eastern events take place in Rukungiri and Amuria respectively on Saturday.

The regions will use the events to select teams for the national championship in Amuria on February 6.

The top performers in Amuria will make the team to the world championship March 28 in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Buganda, northern and West Nile regions held their competitions a fortnight ago.

Plan panel cuts budget for CWG campaign

Planning Commission has turned down tourism ministry's demand for an additional Rs 50 crore for overseas promotion of Commonwealth Games and has instead cut down its budget. The ministry had asked for a hike of Rs 50 crore for special promotion keeping in view the forthcoming Games but is now faced with a budget cut of Rs 50 crore.

The lack of coordinated publicity before a high profile sporting event could end up damaging the whole purpose of hosting the Games and pitching India as a tourist destination, the ministry feels. The ministry's budget was Rs 1,000 crore for 2009-2010. Of this, Rs 250 crore was allocated for overseas marketing and promotion while Rs 60 crore was left for domestic promotion. "Plan panel has not only rejected our demand for more funds but also cut our budget from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 950 crore," a source said.

Distorted map puts Games Federations on the mat

The Commonwealth Games Federation on Tuesday found itself in the eye of a storm for putting up a distorted map of India on its website.

The blunder came to light on the Republic Day, forcing the embarrassed officials of the federation to correct the map and apologise to the nation.

“It was a mistake and we apologise for it,” CEO Mike Hooper said.

The Indian map on http://www.thecgf.com showed some areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat as parts of Pakistan. The corrected version, uploaded within hours of a media storm, shows these areas as Indian territories.

Once the mistake came to light, the organisers of the 2010 Commonwealth Games claimed they had brought it to the CGF’s notice. “We have noticed it and told CGF officials about it. They have promised to get back to us,” Organising Committee secretary Lalit Bhanot said.

The run-up to the Games, which will be held here from October 3 to 14, has already seen a series of controversies, with the federation and the Organising Committee constantly at loggerheads over the pace of preparations.

Plan to promote CW Games abroad

The Tourism Ministry has chalked out plans to intensify overseas promotion of the Commonwealth Games to be held in the Capital in the second half of this year. In April-June quarter, the Tourism Ministry will organise promotion shows in various overseas capital cities including Toronto, Sydney, Auckland, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Mr Sujit Banerjee, Tourism Secretary, told Business Line.

He also made it clear that the Tourism Ministry will not undertake domestic promotion for the Commonwealth Games 2010. “The Delhi Government will have to do the promotion of the games within India. It has agreed to do that,” sources in the Ministry said. The Tourism Ministry had a budget allocation of Rs 250 crore for promoting India in overseas markets during the current fiscal.

Till end December this fiscal, the Ministry has already spent Rs 142 crore for overseas promotion, sources said. For promotion of domestic tourism, the Ministry had budget of Rs 60 crore, of which Rs 35 crore has been spent till December 2009.

Distorted Indian map posted on CWG website

The 2010 Commonwealth Games ran into further controversy today as the CGF mistakenly displayed a distorted map of India on its official website.

The map displayed parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat as parts of Pakistan, drawing severe criticism and protests from several quarters.

The uproar forced the embarrassed Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) officials to correct the map and apologise to the nation for the mistake.

CGF CEO Mike Hooper, left red-faced by the gaffe, appolised for the error and clarified that the map has been corrected.

''It was a mistake and we offer our sincere apologies for it,'' Hooper told reporters.

''It was a mistake and we took immediate steps to correct it as soon as it came to our notice,'' he added.

The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee claimed they were the first to notice the mistake and brought it to the CGF's attention.

''We have noticed it and told CGF officials about it. They have promised to revert to us on the issue,'' Organising Committee secretary Lalit Bhanot said.

''The CGF has informed us that it was done by mistake and they have rectified the error,'' he added.

Kookaburras unperturbed by security threats in India

Even as the security concerns in the Indian Capital have become a raging issue, Australian men's hockey captain Jamie Dwyer claims the Kookaburras will travel New Delhi for both the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games this year.

The hockey team's visit to New Delhi for the next month's World Cup will also come at a time when relations between India and Australia have taken a wrong turn following the attacks on Indians Down Under. The Hockey World Cup will also serve as a test of security arrangements for the Commonwealth Games which are also to be staged in the Capital in October.

There have been reports that the World Cup and Commonwealth Games could see a possible attacks by the terrorists but Dwyer said the team was comfortable with the security arrangements and had been briefed by a member of the coaching panel who visited India recently.

''We just like to be informed. We want to know everything like where we're staying and about the venue, but we want to go,'' Dwyer told AAP.

The World Cup will be staged at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium, the same venue to be used for the Commonwealth Games hockey tournament.

Dwyer said he had enjoyed playing in India previously, and was looking forward to the March 2 World Cup pool match against the host nation.

''India is a massive hockey nation and the crowds are very vocal. Our second game's against them and it's going to be massive.

''Wherever India play there's a great atmosphere and it's going to be great,' he added.

We apologise for mistake in India map: CGF CEO Mike Hooper

The Commonwealth Games Federation was embroiled in a controversy today because of a distorted India map put on its website earlier onTuesday.
The map of India on www.thecgf.com showed some areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat as parts of Pakistan as organisers of the 2010 Commonwealth Games said they raised the issue with CGF officials.

"We have noticed it and told CGF officials about it. They have promised to revert back to us on the issue," Organising Committee secretary Lalit Bhanot said.

"They would definitely correct it. We were told that they would talk to the people who maintain the site and get back to us," added Bhanot.

"It was a mistake and we apologise for it," CGF CEO Mike Hooper said. Hooper said the goof-up was entirely unintentional. "It was not intentional but we have rectified the matter immediately. And we certainly apologise to all concerned," Hooper said.

"We generally use reliable sources for the territory of the Commonwealth countries but we are going to double check all of those again," said the CGF official.

The corrected version, uploaded within hours of a media storm, now shows these areas in Indian territory.

Commonwealth website shows J-K, Gujarat in Pak

In a major blooper the website of Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) shows parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat belonging to Pakistan.

Just eight months before the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi, the official website of the Federation is carrying a distorted map of India.

The website is owned and operated by the Commonwealth Games Federation.

The Delhi Games Organising Committee says that Commonwealth Games Federation will be asked to rectify the mistake.

Secretary General, Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, Lalit Bhanot said, “It wasn't cleared by Delhi OC. It has escaped our notice but the fact remains as soon as it came to our notice, we spoke to them and asked them where they had picked it.”

Meanwhile, the CGF Chief executive Officer Mike Hooper, “It’s an honest mistake. It's been there for 5 years. We relied on our site developers. We apologise for it and have removed it."

The Commonwealth Games have already been marred by controversies related mainly to tardy preparation of infrastructure. Usually it's the Organising Committee that is pulled up by the Games Federation for the slow preparation of infrastructure.

However, this time the tables have turned. It's the Games Federation that's in the firing line for a major blunder.

India unveils first Commonwealth Games venue

India threw open its first Commonwealth Games stadium over the weekend with a promise to deliver the rest of the venues in time for the October event in New Delhi.

"I am confident everything will be in place in time," sports minister Manohar Singh Gill said after inaugurating the refurbished Dhyan Chand National Hockey Stadium on Sunday.

The stadium, named after an Indian field hockey legend, was used for the 1951 and 1982 Asian Games and will play host to the 12-nation men's World Cup from February 28 to March 13.

The 20,000-seater complex in central Delhi has four floodlight towers, two synthetic match pitches and one practice pitch, and will be used for the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games.

"A beginning has been made and you will now see the 10 remaining competition venues being completed one after another," Gill told reporters.

"Yes, we could have finished the work a year in advance to get the facilities tested, but at least we can ensure that the venues will come up well before the Games start."

The Commonwealth Games Federation has repeatedly expressed concern about the slow pace of work for the Games, which will involve 6,000 athletes drawn from the former British Empire competing in 17 sports.

Federation president Mike Fennell said in December he was distressed by a report by the CGF evaluation commission that two major venues would not be ready until June, barely three months before the opening ceremony.

The commission said 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.

Fiji’s CG fate to be known in March

The Fiji Sports of Association and National Olympic will know if Fiji is still allowed to participate in the Commonwealth Games in India by the end of March.

FASANOC has taken their case to the Court of Arbitration of sports in Switzerland after the Commonwealth Games Federation made the decision to ban Fijian athletes from taking part in the 2010 CWG.

FASANOC president Vidhya Lakhan believed they had a strong case against CWG’s decision.

“Our appeal is based on the fact that, in our view, the Commonwealth Games Federation has erred in the interpretation of and application of its own constitution,” he said.

The CWG constitution clearly states that “all competitors in the CWG must be citizens or subjects of the Commonwealth country that enters them.”

“It has been confirmed to us by the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Secretariat that, even though Fiji is fully suspended, it is still a member of the Commonwealth. If this is the case then Fijian athletes, in our view, can participate in the Delhi Games,” Lakhan said.

FASANOC has opted for a three member tribunal to sort their case – a QC from New Zealand will act for FASANOC, the CWG is expected to nominate a candidate CAS will appoint a third member, who Lakhan believes will be the Chairperson.

“We have requested they make their decision known by the end of March because we have athletes still training, hoping to participate. We want to know now before athletes are sent overseas for international exposure,” Lakhan added.

Commonwealth Games to be green

To achieve “zero carbon footprint”, the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games-2010 will be holding various awareness campaigns in the run-up to the mega sporting event in the Capital this October. OCCG is trying hard to the keep carbon footprint at its lowest for the Games and set up the benchmark for future sporting events in the country.

At a conference-cum-exhibition “Brand: CWG Delhi-2010” organised by ASSOCHAM here this past Friday, OCCG reiterated its commitment of reducing the carbon footprint and setting the benchmark for future sporting events. “The Organising Committee is funding new public awareness campaigns and exploring synergies in these areas with sponsors through some events like ‘sustainable transport day’, ‘cleaner Delhi drive’, ‘water conservation day’ and ‘World Environment Day’” said T.S. Darbari, Joint Director-General of Commonwealth Games Delhi-2010.

Mr. Darbari also apprised the corporate representatives at the seminar of the significant marketing and sponsorship opportunities that the largest sporting extravaganza in the country presented. “The Commonwealth Games have undoubtedly asserted India’s global presence and brought to the forefront the country’s emergence as a sporting, political and economic giant,” he added.

OCCG Chairman and MP Suresh Kalmadi said: “The Commonwealth Games in Delhi would be the best ever ‘green games’ by incorporating sustainability as a key feature of the Games. The organising committee is aware of the large environment footprint of the Games and is taking proactive strides towards mitigating such impacts.”
Planting trees

Nobel laureate Dr. R. K. Pachauri said his organisation The Energy Resources Institute was keen to participate with the Organising Committee to ensure that the Games are green. He recommended planting trees along railway tracks, developing bio-walls in all competition venues and converting the dormant Safdarjung airport into a city forest.