Delhi Commonwealth Games will be the best ever: Sheila Dikshit

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said on Friday that the upcoming Commonwealth Games in New Delhi would be one of the best games ever organised.

Addressing an inaugural event at the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee headquarters here, Dikshit said: "These Games really will be one of the best that has been conducted anywhere in the world. We are almost everyday feeling more confident that we are up to it."

"We are grateful to have the Games in Delhi because what is being constructed for Delhi right now to facilitate the Games is going to be a great legacy for India," she added.

Speaking on the occasion, Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi said the Games would be a huge success the way preparations were shaping up.

"Things are shaping up and all the foreigners are realising that developing countries like India can do it. And we are going to do it. There are no two ways about it," said Kalmadi.

He also refuted claims that there was a rift between him and Dikshit, or the Union Sports Minister M S Gill.

"Be it Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman of the Organising Committee, or Mrs Sheila Dikshit, who is looking after Delhi, or Dr Gill who is looking after sports, we are all one and we are looking after Team India under the leadership of our Prime Minister," said Kalmadi.

India is expecting two million tourists in New Delhi for the Games, as well as about 10,000 athletes from 71 teams representing 54 Commonwealth member states.

Construction delays have raised fears that the venues for the Commonwealth Games may not be ready on time, potentially embarrassing host India, which hopes the Games would showcase its rising economic power.