Commonwealth Games a symbol of change

The Commonwealth Games is less than three months away and the conduct of the event will be a key measure of India's ability to successfully host such events.

A memorable Commonwealth Games will bolster India's hopes of making a strong bid for the 2020 Olympics.

These issues were discussed threadbare in a seminar at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi on Friday. The topic of discussion at the seminar, an initiative by the Times of India, was 'Times Future Arenas, From Commonwealth to Olympics'.

Well-known TV anchor Charu Sharma was critical about the manner in which things have been handled since winning the right to hold the Games. "This is a big occasion for us but we have gone around in the worst possible manner. We have been bickering all this while when we should have been working," he said.

Cricketer Aakash Chopra was also sceptical about the preparations. Other speakers including veteran journalist Ayaz Memon, cricketer Deep Das Gupta, former swimming star Hakimmuddin Habibulla and journalist Boria Mazumdar were of the view that the Games should be used as a stepping stone to the Olympics.

"Commonwealth Games would be one more step towards a sporting culture. It will be symbol of change," said Memon.