CWG OC manages doping control

The Organising Committee (OC), Commonwealth Games, is carrying out doping control responsibilities under the overall supervision of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) at the ongoing World Cup tournament.

A 12-member team headed by Dr. Munish Chander, Director, Doping Control, Commonwealth Games, is handling sample collection at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

The urine samples will be tested at the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) here.

Dr. Peter Weffers Bettink of the Netherlands, Chairman of the FIH Medical Committee, is the overall in-charge of the doping control.

Dr. Bettink, it is learnt, determines the players to be tested on a day-to-day basis. Players are chosen at random.

Test event

The CWG anti-doping set-up has taken up the World Cup as a test event to fine-tune its arrangements. Earlier it had carried out the doping control at the Commonwealth shooting championships also.

It is scheduled to take over the responsibility during the Commonwealth boxing championships here from March 10.

Hockey does not have a history of doping. Two Spanish woman players were cleared of doping charges before the Beijing Olympic Games after a qualifying tournament in Azerbaijan in April 2008.

An Indian player had tested positive in tests conducted at the Delhi laboratory prior to the departure of the team for the Olympics qualifying tournament in Madrid in 2004.

The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) did not pursue the case. The Dope Control Centre (DCC), as NDTL used to be called then, was a non-accredited facility at that time.

Strictly going by the rules, no sanctions could have been imposed by the FIH then.

Rs 330 crore sanctioned for Commonwealth Games security

In order to ensure foolproof security during the Commonwealth Games, the government has sanctioned Rs 330 crore for procurement of high-tech weapons and devices to counter any possible nuclear and biological attacks.

The fund has been alloted to purchase close circuit television cameras, different types of metal detectors, equipment for bomb disposal squads, devices to deal with chemical and biological attacks, armoured vehicles and various types of weapons.

The Home Ministry has given highest priority to the security of the fortnight-long sporting extravaganza which is scheduled to be held between October 3 and 14, 2010.

"All weapons and equipment will be procured and put in place well before the Commonwealth games begins. We will ensure that funds will not be a constraint in the overall security of the games," a Home Ministry official said.

So far, there is no credible threat to the Commonwealth Games. But, government is taking all precautions as any attempt to target any sports person or official by terrorists may have international repercussion.

Apart from specialised commandos and regular police, IAF helicopters with commandos armed with snipers and assault rifles will be deployed to keep a hawk-eye vigil over Delhi during the Commonwealth Games.

A three-tier security ring will be thrown across each of the 13 competition venues for the Commonwealth Games and special attention was being given to prevent "Lahore-type" attacks on the athletes who will be taken from the Games Village to the venues in dedicated lanes with helicopters providing air surveillance.

Militants had attacked Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore during their tour of Pakistan on March 3, 2009.

To ensure fleet security, each of the 574 vehicles used for ferrying athletes across the city, will have to undergo a mandatory anti-sabotage clearance every morning before athletes board it.

Around 9,000 athletes from 71 countries besides 100,000 international spectators are expected to participate in the Commonwealth Games.

Purple cabbage, seedless cucumber on Games platter

A world-class infrastructure and fool-proof security are not the only things in offing during the Commonwealth Games. The organisers are also fixing up delightful menus prepared with select ingredients ranging from purple cabbage and seedless cucumber to multi-coloured pepper.

Leading agricultural scientists in Delhi are currently working on a number of vegetables, which are not only safe and pesticide-free but also fancy and colourful. These vegetables will be served to over 7,000 athletes, delegates from over 70 countries and other tourists who will be here for the mega sporting event Oct 3-14.

"We are getting ready for the Commonwealth Games. They will get safe and colourful vegetables to eat," Baljit Singh, a principal scientist with the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) here, told IANS Thursday.

"It is our job to provide them good food. We know October is an off season but we will cultivate vegetables in protected environments," he said.

"Vegetables like purple cabbage, special broccoli, multi-coloured peppers, cherry tomato with at least seven percent sweetness, French radish and seedless cucumber are some of our focus areas now.

"We have cultivated them under protected environment and are now training farmers, living in 80-km radius of the national capital, to grow these vegetables," said Singh, who is the head of the Centre for Protected Cultivation Technology at IARI.

He said several farmers in and around Delhi are interested in cultivating these vegetables.

For example, farmers in Najafgarh are likely to cultivate pesticide-free cauliflowers while those in Alipur will produce seedless cucumber. Special sweet corns are likely to be sourced from Sonepat in Haryana. Several farmers in Bilaspur region of Himachal Pradesh are likely to provide red, yellow and green pepper.

The scientist explained that protected cultivation meant that all these vegetables would be grown in "greenhouses under a controlled environment". Water, fertiliser and temperature will be controlled.

Wirral AC runner Chris Smith targets Commonwealth Games

IRRAL AC’s Chris Smith is hoping glory at this month’s BUCS Indoor Championships will kick-start his bid for Commonwealth Games selection.

The country’s biggest multi-sports event, which involves around 6,000 elite student athletes, takes place from March 10/14.

Smith, 21, took bronze in the 800m two years ago and is confident of improving on that this time around.

The University of Birmingham runner said: “I missed the whole of the last indoor season due to glandular fever and a torn hamstring, but this time I’ve had a full winter of training.

“I’m fit and aiming to win. I’m hoping to compete for Scotland in the Commonwealths. At the moment my PB of 1.48:20 is just 0.4secs off of the qualifying standard.”

WARRINGTON AC’s junior men clinched team glory at the English Cross Country Championships in Leeds. Matthew Jackson was their highest placed finisher in sixth spot. Harriers’ under-15 boys were fourth with Jack Christie in 15th place.

ST HELENS Sutton’s David Forrester set a new club best of 4:07.77 in a mile race for Florida State University at the ACC Championships in Virginia.

Sania Mirza focussed on Commonwealth Games

Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza, who is out with a troublesome wrist, is confident of playing in the Commonwealth Games, beginning October 3 in New Delhi.

The Times of India has reported that Sania, who complained of an old wrist problem during her first round loss in Dubai Tennis Championships last month, will be out of action for six weeks.

"I will surely play Commonwealth Games and I am preparing for it. But for the next six weeks I would not be able to play and practice due to my injury. Let me recover from my injury, then I will start playing," said Sania while attending a press meet in Kolkata.

Sania was in town to inaugurate a tennis academy in Pailan World School here.

Sania also congratulated the Indian hockey team for their fabulous performance in the opening match of the Hockey World Cup.

"The hockey team has done a fantastic job. I saw the first half of Indian and Pakistan hockey match and it was really exciting," she said.

OC CWG Delhi 2010 and SPIC MACAY join hands to galvanise India’s youth for the Games

The Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi has joined hands with SPIC MACAY to reach out to India’s youth and encourage them to be part of the Games beginning from 3 October. This partnership is part of the Organising Committee’s youth activation program and aims to sensitise students in various educational institutes across the country about the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi.

Expressing his happiness on this partnership, Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP and Chairman, Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi said that, “Spic Macay, through its association with India’s educational institutions, promotes the cultural heritage of India amongst the youth of the country. We hope to mobilize the support of the country’s youth for the Games through this partnership. The Games will leave behind world-class sporting infrastructure in the country and will proliferate a sporting culture that students and youth can most benefit from. Hence, we wish to galvanise and involve students across the country and encourage them to be a part of this mega sporting extravaganza.”

Dr. Kiran Seth, Chairman and Founder, SPIC MACAY said that, “It is very nice that the Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) has got a chance to associate itself with the Commonwealth Games. It is a matter of National pride that we ensure the success of the Games. SPIC MACAY shall make a big effort to enhance youth participation at different levels.

As part of this initiative, SPIC MACAY will reach out to 500 schools and colleges in Delhi and NCR and spread awareness about the Games by distributing specially created literature on the Games, arranging “SHERA” visits in campuses, organizing special photography exhibitions as well as showcasing short films on the Games. In addition, SPIC MACAY will conduct an extensive publicity drive to spread the word about the upcoming Games through its signature “Music in the Park” concert series for this year. A message on Commonwealth Games will be read out to the people of the Capital before, in the middle and at the end of each concert.

Mr. Kalmadi further added that, “Music, dance and art is the common cord that connects all. India’s rich legacy of musicians, dancers and other artists is well established and the Commonwealth Games is a powerful window to project India’s cultural diversity on the world stage. I wish to call upon all artists associated with SPIC MACAY to spread the message of peace, humanity and unity through sports by extending their support to the Games.”

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Rashmi Malik, Director, SPIC MACAY said that, “SPIC MACAY takes great pride in associating with the Commonwealth Games 2010 in spreading the message of equality, humanity and striving for the best. We are very happy to be part of the first ever Green Games taking place on the Indian soil”.

The next concert in the ongoing “Music in the Park” concert series is taking place on 6th March at Nehru Park in New Delhi and will witness performances by Sri. U. Shrinivas (Mandolin) and Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan (Vocal), a living legend of 102 years old.