Built on green technologies, Talkatora Stadium inaugurated

Talkatora Stadium complex will be an environmentalist’s delight. Constructed with recycled building material, fly ash and heat reflective glass, the dome-shaped stadium is a perfect green zone. On Wednesday, Delhi’s Chief Minister Smt. Shiela Dikshit inaugurated the sporting complex.

The Times of India, dated 25 Feb 2010, reports that while describing the stadium as a unique piece of modern-day architecture, Chief Minister said it was built with environment-friendly materials.

The complex encloses the stadium and a facility block. The stadium has been connected to the block through a tunnel which will be used by athletes during the Games.

Talkatora, which is the venue for the boxing competition, and the stadium will accommodate 2,700 spectators and has a parking capacity for 500 cars.

Smt. Dikshit said efforts are on to make the Games a memorable event so that Delhi can host bigger sporting events in the future.

Elaborating on various infrastructure development projects, She said the city must seize the opportunity to present itself as ‘‘a major destination for international sporting events’’.

The Delhi government has undertaken several key infrastructure development projects as part of its preparation for the Games.

Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi Chairman Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP, said India could now bid for the 2020 Olympics. ‘‘All Games-related projects will be completed as per their deadlines,’’ Kalmadi said.

New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) chairman Parimal Rai while elaborating on the state-of-the-art facilities being provided at Talkatora Stadium said the complex had been upgraded with acoustic ceiling, score boards, sports lighting etc.

Speaking on the facility block, Rai said: ‘‘it is a multi-purpose air-conditioned building which has been constructed in accordance to the green building concept. Heat reflective glass has been used for the facade of this block. Rain water harvesting provisions as well as dual knob flushing system have been included in the design concept.’’

During the Commonwealth Games, each floor of the facility-block will be used for a specific purpose. For instance, the ground floor of the block will have athlete cubicles, medical office warm-up area and athlete lounge. The first floor will have a doping-control office, federation office, and technical official lounge, committee room, meeting room and changing rooms, among other facilities.

Around 104 CCTV cameras will be fitted on the periphery walls of the stadium. Natural resources and habitat have been integrated into the overall design of this stadium.

Argentina appreciates Delhi’s security measures for Hero Honda FIH World Cup

The Hero Honda FIH World Cup which is seen as a test for Delhi in run up to the mega sporting event, the XIX Commonwealth Games, to be held in october this year, got a major boost by the support shown by the Embassy of The Argentine Republic.

The Argentine Republic (Argentina) has complimented the Delhi Police for its security arrangements for the Hero Honda FIH World Cup to be held in New Delhi from 28 February 2010.

In a letter to Mr. Y S Dadwal, Commissioner of Delhi Police, the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in New Delhi has said, “The Mission highly appreciates and wants to thank for the security measures that the Delhi police is taking in order to assure the peaceful and safe celebration of this sports event, and specially the safety of the Argentine sportsmen.”

The letter further reads,” The Embassy of the Argentine Republic avails itself to this opportunity to renew to the Delhi Police the assurances of its highest consideration.”

Ensure better quality of Delhi roads, court tells MCD

While the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is busy re-surfacing the city's roads ahead of the Commonwealth Games, the civic agency was Thursday told by the Delhi High Court to ensure "better life" for the roads so that they do not "crumble with the onset of the monsoon".

Justice Kailash Gambhir said, "The MCD shall indicate as to whether they have acquired two machines, namely jet-patching and infra-red heater, and within how much time the said machines will be functional on the roads of Delhi."

The MCD is responsible for construction and maintenance of 94 percent of roads in Delhi.

The MCD earlier told the court that pot-holed roads will soon be a rare sight in Delhi, courtesy a 'Municipal Laboratory' recently upgraded and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to test samples taken from road construction.

"The Municipal Laboratory has been technically upgraded and has obtained ISO 9001 certification. Now, the laboratory is fully equipped with the latest machines to test samples of road construction as per the CPWD specifications," MCD counsel Maninder Acharya earlier told the court.

The civic agency has also pooled in the expertise of the Sri Ram Institute for Industrial Research and the Regional Testing Centre to conduct quality checks on samples of road projects worth between Rs.5 lakh and Rs.25 lakh, counsel said.

Not satisfied, Justice Gambhir directed the civic agency to prepare a time-bound schedule for the construction of roads that meet international standards.

It said, "MCD will file an additional affidavit as to whether they are adopting modern technology for re-laying the roads for ensuring better quality and standard of Delhi roads, and also for their better life tenure so that the roads do not crumble with the onset of monsoon."

The court also directed the civic agency to consult the Public Works Department (PWD) and Central Road Research Institute to introduce proper mechanism for re-surfacing the city roads.

The court asked the MCD to file a detailed affidavit by April 7

India wins silver medal at Commonwealth Shooting championship

Indian women shooter Birmati on Thursday won a silver medal on the sixth day of the ongoing Commonwealth Shooting championships being held in the national capital.

She won the silver medal in the 50-meter Prone Badge and Pairs event for women by scoring 592 points.

On her part, Birmati was an elated shooter by contending she had done her job quite job well beyond the expectations.

"I had prepared myself mentally that I will do well. I only focussed on my basics. I worked well on my basics. Now I will prepare for the Commonwealth Games. I hope to give my best and produce the best possible results in the Commonwealth Games," Birmati said.

New Zealand shooter Sally Johnston, who ended up bagging 593 points, won the gold medal in the event.

In the same event, Scotland's Jennifer McIntosh finished third, but was tied in points with the Indian shooter.

As on February 25, India led the medal tally with 17 Gold, 12 Silver and 6 Bronze medals.

Karni Singh Shooting range gets the thumbs-up from shooters

The renovated Karni Singh Shooting Range has got the thumbs up from all the shooters taking part in the ongoing Commonwealth Shooting Championship.

All national and international shooters taking part in the event rated the range as ‘world class’.

‘The Championship was a very good preparation for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. These ranges are at par with any other international range. International shooters who are participating in the championship are equally impressed with the world class facilities here,’ said pistol shooter Samresh Jung, who was adjudged the best shooter in the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Martin Mace, Northern Ireland’s team manager, was impressed with the facilities at the range.

‘I would like to take it home. This is the second time I have come here since 1995. Security can sometimes be used as an excuse by governments of participating countries to not compete. However, I am completely satisfied with the security arrangements in place,’ he said.

Ratna Sharmin Akhter from Bangladesh was satisfied with the facilities and infrastructure at the renovated shooting range.

Commonwealth Games boost for city gymnast Ryan McKee

A TALENTED gymnast is jumping for joy after a welcome cash boost from a Scots firm.

Ryan McKee, 15, of Glasgow - who is hoping to compete in the city's 2014 Commonweath Games - was handed s1500 by building firm Laidlaw Scott.

Also sharing in the windfall from the company's Future Champions sponsorship programme, are athlete Sean Fontana and cyclist Greg Brown, both from Glasgow.

They were helped out with funding in a bid to secure places to compete at the London Olympics in 2012 and the Glasgow games.

Ryan said: "I want to make the Great Britain squad and represent Scotland, and the help is definitely going to give me a better chance of doing it."

Talkatora opens for boxers ahead of Commonwealth Championships

The Talkatora Indoor Stadium was Wednesday inaugurated amid much fanfare and will be thrown open to Indian boxers preparing for the Commonwealth Championships by 1st March to help them get a feel of the arena ahead of the 10th to 18th March event.

The dome-shaped arena, which would also host the boxing competitions of the Commonwealth Games later this year, has been renovated at a cost of Rs 150 crore.

Inaugurated by Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit and Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi Wednesday, the stadium's seating capacity has, however, come down from 3000 to 2700 after the renovation.

"It belongs to the boxers now. They can come here and practice for the Commonwealth Championships. It's there's," Kalmadi said.

"It's a world-class facility and meets all the requirements set by the Commonwealth Games Federation," he added.

The arena will have a boxing ring erected inside by 1st March.

"By 1st March or latest by 2nd March, a boxing ring will be erected inside," said Competition Director for the championship Lenny D'Gama.

Olympic and World Championship bronze medallist Vijender Singh, Commonwealth Games gold winner Akhil Kumar and Asian champion Suranjoy Singh were among the boxers who had demanded that the stadium be made available to them at least a week ahead of the championship.