Delhi hoteliers threaten to boycott Commonwealth Games

Hotel owners in Paharganj in Delhi are up in arms against the government and the Commonwealth Games (CWG) organisers.

The hotel owners have threatened to boycott the CWG, if the government does not offer them any help. This could create a huge crisis as the area has close to 30,000 low-budget hotel rooms, which are a huge hit with backpackers from around the world.

"All we are telling the government is that when they can spend Rs 140 crore to upgrade and renovate the Ashoka Hotel, why can't they help the hotels here, which will be hosting a majority of the visitors to the city," said Arun Gupta, secretary general of the Delhi Hotel Mahasangh.

"We are not asking the government to dole out free money, all we want is some subsidy and some low interest loans so that we can carry out renovation, make it aesthetic and upgrade facilities in our hotels," added Gupta

"Frontage of most hotels could be made better and aesthetic. If the foreigners come here and are happy, will it not be good for the country and the government's image? Besides not all hotels require help, only 35 per cent of them actually need support from the government," said Gupta.

The authorities on the other hand have a different take on the issue. "The government is providing all kinds of help to better facilities and also in upgrading civic amenities at these locations. However, I won't be able to comment on what help the tourism department of the Union Government is providing to the hotels," said Narayan Swami, special advisor, Commonwealth Games 2010.

Health team to be trained for Commonwealth Games

The Delhi Health Department has called upon the services of 200 masseurs who will form part of the health team for taking care of visitors coming here for the Commonwealth Games this October. As per agreement with the Kerala Government, the masseurs selected from prestigious medical institutes will be Delhi soon for additional training.

“The masseurs from Kerala and West Bengal will form part of the team that will work closely with visitors and ensure that proper treatment is provided to them. Hosting the Commonwealth Games is a great honour and we have to ensure that the visitors are well taken care of,'' said Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia.

“Though these masseurs are well trained, we will involve them in another re-orientation programme to ensure that they are able to keep up with the demands of the job during the Games. The training will also allow them to understand sport injuries and the kind of treatment that is prevalent outside India. The training programme will help them to be also prepared to take on the workload that will come in during the Games,'' said the Minister.

Focus

Stating that the department is also training doctors, nurses and other medical staff for the Games, she said: “We have studied the experiences of other countries while hosting the Games. The focus is also to offer fast and effective service during the Games and be prepared for any kind of untoward incident.''

‘Sportsmen must not surrender to terrorism’

Legendary cricketers like Steve Waugh and Ian Botham adjured the athletes worldwide to not let terrorism affect sport anywhere in the world including India, which is set to host the extremely popular IPL and Commonwealth Games later this year.

Waugh said the terror attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan last year has changed the safety perception of the players but was of the view that players should not surrender to terrorism by skipping sport events.

“Sportspersons are more concerned now a days. Earlier they used to feel they are safe but in the last couple of years that perception has changed because of the way the Sri Lankan players were attacked in Pakistan.

“The entire landscape has changed but as sportspersons, we shouldn’t give in to terrorism and must travel to play the game,” said the two-time World Cup winning captain.

Ian Botham, former England all-rounder, also echoed similar views, saying, “We got to take a stand. We have so many tournaments lined up. In India we have IPL and Commonwealth Games. In South Africa we have the Soccer World Cup then there is the World Twenty20 in the West Indies and the World Cup in the sub-continent and Olympics in London in 2012.

“We just can’t allow one phone call before the events to disrupt the tournaments. We shouldn’t surrender to terrorism. My suggestions will be to go and enjoy the game,” Botham said.

There are some apprehensions among players about travelling to India but India’s World Cup winning captain Kapil exuded confidence that the Indian government will do whatever it takes to ensure safety of the athletes.

Mayor claims no anti-encroachment drive for roadside dhabas

Referring to media reports about MCD's anti-encroachment drive against roadside dhabas before the Commonwealth Games, Delhi Mayor Kanwar Sain today claimed the news to be false. The Mayor clarified that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has not started any exclusive drive against streetside dhabas across the city as part of its anti-encroachment drive.

''MCD is removing encroachment from public land as part of its regular drive in all the 12 zones. Whenever a drive is launched on a particular stretch of road, all types of encroachments are removed. But MCD is not targeting specifically dhabas as reported,'' he said. He added that MCD will continue to follow uniform policy of encroachment removal.

CWG federation, Walia review medical arrangements for CWG

The Commonwealth Games Federation Health experts and Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia today reviewed the medical arrangements for Games-2010.

Reviewing the arrangements at a high -level meeting at Delhi Secretariat, Prof Walia informed the delegation chairman Datuk Dr M Jegathesan and other members of delegates about the activities in relation to medical arrangements related to the Games. She apprised medical advisor to Commonwealth Games, Jagathesan and his delegation about the preparedness and readiness of the Delhi Government to meet the requirements of Commonwealth Games participants. Prof Walia informed the delegates that three designated hospitals for definite medical care to athlete, team officials, technical delegates and others had been identified in the Capital.

They are GB Pant Hospital, RML Hospital, Jai Prakash Narain Apex Trauma Centre, AIIMS. Each of these hospitals will have a secure ward, emergency areas, ICU beds and 30 beds. Poly clinics with ten observation bed at Games Village for duration of the Games around the clock covered by two ALS Ambulances will be setup. Mr Jegathesan expressed his satisfaction and congratulated Prof Walia for the medical arrangements for the Commonwealth Games delegates by the Delhi Government and over its preparedness to meet the challenges of the event. He also advised that rehabilitation facilities should also be added in the Health Plan chalked out for extending 10 Isolated Beds for H1N1 patients, if found.

2010 CWG will have no security problems: Boxer Amir

British boxer Amir Khan on Wednesday said that security concerns in the 2010 Commonwealth Games was the product of media hype and the mega event in India will be a huge success.

"I think this security scare is more media hype. I was in Pakistan for three days and everything was so chilled out, there was no problem. I am sure when India hosts the Commonwealth Games, the security will be tight," Amir said at the Laureus World Sports Awards.

"I think Commonwealth Games is the second most important event, the first being the Olympics. It is massive tournament I always wanted to participate in the Commonwealth Games," said Amir, who won a silver in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Amir said the World Boxing Series was a brilliant concept and it would give the amateur boxers to show their potential.

"The amateur boxers would get a chance to have more fights against the best and prove who is the best among the amateurs," he said.

Asked if given a chance he would like to participate in the series, Amir said, "If I had a chance I would like to participate in the world series of boxing in India."

"After Athens Olympics, I decided to turn professional. Beijing Olympics was still four years to go then and I took this huge decision to turn professional as it gave me financial stability also and it had a massive affect on my career."

CGF takes stock of medical facilities in national capital

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), on Wednesday took stock of the medical facilities being readied by the Delhi Government for the Commonwealth Games to be held here from October 3 to 14.

At a meeting, Health Minister Kiran Walia appraised a CGF delegation about the 'Health Action Plan' adopted by the government to improve various medical facilities in Delhi ahead of the mega sporting event.

She informed the delegation that three hospitals are being readied to take medical care of athletes, team officials and other members of the Commonwealth Games family.

"The delegation expressed satisfaction over our preparation to meet health care requirements during the event," a senior health department official said after the meeting.

Jegathesan, who led the delegation, hoped the government will be able to fully implement its plan to provide the best medical facilities during the event.

He also advised the government to make available isolated beds at designated hospitals for treatment of swine flu patients.

The government has identified GB Pant hospital, RML hospital and Jai Prakash Narain Apex Trauma Centre, AIIMS as designated hospitals for the sporting event. Each of these three hospitals will have special wards, ICU beds and other facilities.

Walia also informed the delegation that polyclinics will be set up at the Games Village and modern ambulances will be deployed round the clock at various venues.

She said the government was also improving facilities at hospitals run by it as part of its preparation for the event.

A Commonwealth Games cell has already been made functional at Directorate of Health Services which has been asked to monitor implementation of the Health Action Plan.

Walia said doctors and para-medical staff have been trained to extend the best service to participants and officials of the event.

Do not give in to terrorism, tour India: Former star players

Legendary cricketers like Steve Waugh and Ian Botham on Wednesday adjured the athletes worldwide to not let terrorism affect sport anywhere in the world including India, which is set to host extremely popular IPL and Commonwealth Games later this year.

Waugh said the terror attack on Sri Lakan cricket team in Pakistan last year has changed the safety perception of the players but was of the view that players should not surrender to terrorism by skipping sport events.

"Sportspersons are more concerned now a days. Earlier they used to feel they are safe but in the last couple of years that perception have changed because of the way the Sri Lankan players were attacked in Pakistan. "The entire landscape has changed but as sportspersons, we shouldn't give in to the terrorism and must travel to play the game," said the two-time World Cup winning captain.

Ian Botham, former England all-rounder, also echoed similar views at a discussion on cricket as a part of the Laureus Sport Awards at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

"We got to take a stand. We have so many tournaments lined up. In India we have IPL, Commonwealth Games. In South Africa we have the Soccer World Cup then there is the world cup Twenty20 in the West Indies and the 50-50 World Cup in the sub-continent and Olympics in London in 2012.

"We just can't allow one phone call before the events to disrupt the tournaments. We shouldn't surrender to terrorism. My suggestions will be to go and enjoy the game," Botham said.

Delhi 2010 venues get a thumbs up from Chefs de Mission

Chefs de Mission from Commonwealth Games Associations, currently visiting Delhi to assess the preparedness for the forthcoming XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi, expressed enormous satisfaction at the progress made at the Games Village and other venues.

Mr. Abdul Halil, Chef de Mission from Malaysia said, “I am confident that Delhi will organise excellent Commonwealth Games. At the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, work is going on, but I am sure that everything will be ready in time. In India the work in progress is very impressive.”

Chefs de Mission visited Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex, Games Village, Indira Gandhi Sports Complex and the Rugby 7 venue at Delhi University. At the Games Village, the delegates were shown a set of furnished apartments, where they got to see the facilities that would be provided to visiting athletes and officials during the Games time.

Chef de Mission Mr. Neville Fenton from Antigua said, “I am very impressed with the facilities, which we have seen at different venues, for the Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010. Surely it is going to be a lovely Games, and we will love to be a part of it. Here at the Games Village, the arrangements are fine."

One of the Chefs de Mission, Mr.Paul Huddlestone from Jersey said, “We visited the Jawawahar Lal Nehru stadium in the morning, and now we are at the Games Village. It appears good and in shape. Work is going on for the final touch up, and definitely these are quality facilities for the Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010.”

Chefs de Mission from 70 Commonwealth nations and territories have gathered in New Delhi for a three day seminar to take a first-hand experience and to familiarise themselves with India’s preparedness in hosting the XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi from October 3-14.

Games galas will showcase Indian culture - not all Bollywood

Plans for the 2010 Commonwealth Games ceremonies are a bit of a secret. There is speculation that India will showcase its Bollywood formula yet again in Delhi like it did in Melbourne. But here's what - you can actually expect a cultural fiesta replete with classical and folk dances and music!

Holding the spectacle together will be the ceremony's theme -- the wheel of life -- a take on the country's 5,000-year-long civilisation and colourful celebrations, say organisers. The Games will take place from Oct 3-14.

"Our key concept is 'the wheel of life'. We are also incorporating the idea that the 'whole world is one family', which is affirmed in the ancient Upanishad scriptures as 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'," a top official in the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) told IANS.

The organisers say the opening and closing galas have a budget of Rs.84 crore and will blend India's classical and folk dances, with music being the thrust of it.

Unlike the Indian show at the Melbourne Games in 2006, where only popular Bollywood dance numbers and stars like Aishwarya Rai, Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukherjee took centre stage, this time around 8,000 professional artists will be out in the middle.

"Bollywood is an integral part of India and recognised the world over. It could be a part of our closing ceremony but we aren't considering it for the opening," the official said, not wanting to be identified because of organisational rules.

The theme will, as Queen Elizabeth II said while declaring open the Melbourne Games, be to celebrate the value of sport as a means of bringing together people from 71 nations and territories and from a wide range of cultures, traditions and beliefs, the official said.

With rehearsals set to begin next month, the ceremonies department of the OC is buzzing with elaborate plans to dazzle the international gala.

The team working non-stop on the extravaganza is being guided by Kathak exponent Shovana Narayan who is also the ceremonies department's joint director general. Along with her, the creative heads incharge include Bharat Bala, India's noted creative director, filmmaker Shyam Benegal and script writer Javed Akhtar.

The organising committee has hired international consultants for the gala, including Australian producer Ric Birch and renowned creative engineer Mark Fisher.

While Birch boasts of having managed various Olympic Games ceremonies like the magnificent Beijing Games, Fisher is the man behind creative marvels like the Cirque-du-Soleil show.

India is culturally very diverse and we want our best to come out on the international platform. We have Ric and Mark on board to provide an international outlook and execution. India will be holding such a grand show, perhaps, for the first time. In addition, the organising committee is organising a horde of cultural events for players and visitors at different venues, said the person in charge of the show.

Artists from all corners of the country have been nominated by 'regional cultural centres' and will come together in various capacities for the opening and closing events of the Games scheduled in October, she said.

For the opening ceremony alone there are around 15,000 participants, including the nearly 8,000 professional artists from all over the country. Nearly 6,000 schoolchildren from in and around Delhi have been selected to participate.

The rehearsals for the smaller ceremonies like player's welcome will begin in April and the larger events will be rehearsed in July.

In addition to the events by the organising committee, the Delhi government has lined up Indian music, dance and theatre shows in a carnival atmosphere with plenty of Indian food to savour.

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games logo row

Similarities have emerged between new design and previous logo developed by branding company.

The new logo for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games has sparked a controversy after it emerged that the company that developed it created a similar logo three years ago.

Branding consultants Marque, the Glasgow-based company that designed the logo at a cost of £95,000 had also designed a logo for The Common Guild, an arts organisation based in the city in 2007.

Like the Glasgow logo, it too features a capital G surrounded by two partial circles within a complete circle.

The Glasgow 2014 logo that was unveiled in the city on Monday also features a capital G at the centre with partial circles around it.

Organisers described the concept behind the logo, saying it is derived from time, data and measurement, with four distinctive parts. The outer ring symbolises the fact that it is the 20th Commonwealth Games, the yellow ring which is 17/20th of the size of the outer red ring symbolises the 17 sports on the programme, the blue ring, which is 11/20th of the size of the circle represents the 11 days of the event, and the G in the centre represents Glasgow, the colour reflecting the Gaelic meaning of the city's name, 'Dear green place.'

With regard the Creative Guild logo, Marque described it on their website by saying: "We aimed to create an identifying mark, which could be stamped, etched or embossed. This would serve to 'authenticate' the diverse range of Common Guild activities: exhibitions and events, including gallery-based exhibitions, non-gallery projects, interventions and collaborations.

"The delicate line-work and application of the logo mark are a direct reference to a printers 'chop marks'."

The Common Guild logo differs from the Glasgow 2014 logo by having a vertical line through the middle and the lines are much finer. Unlike the Glasgow logo - which is primarily intended to be in colour, although with variants in single colours, the Common Guild logo is only ever used in a single colour.

The Common Guild logo is made from a stylised rendering of the letters 'T' 'C' and 'G', while the 2014 logo takes its inspiration from aspects of sport like running tracks, targets and stopwatches. It is also intended to be displayed with the Commonwealth Games Federation bar below it.

A Glasgow 2014 spokesperson said: "The Glasgow 2014 logo is an original piece of art work that is rooted in sport: time, data and measurement, with a "G" for Glasgow at the heart of the logo, as it is the heart of the Games.

"Whilst it does bear a similarity to The Common Guild logo - which is based around its initials, T, C and G - the Glasgow 2014 brand went through very rigorous testing against existing trademarks and brands. We believe there will be no issues arising from any similarity that people might see."

Marque were selected to develop the branding in October last year after 66 companies from around the world expressed an interest. A shortlist of six was selected before Marque was chosen unanimously by the selection panel that included Paul Stickley, the head of visual communication at the Glasgow School of Art, Commonwealth and Olympic athlete Shirley Webb, and two directors from the Glasgow 2014 organising committee.

Having a specific logo for the games is a requirement made by the the Commonwealth Games Federation as part of the contract to the city that wins the bid to host the games. A logo also allows organisers the opportunity to earn additional income from sponsorship and by selling the right to use the logo.

Fennel, Chefs de Mission monitor Commonwealth Games preparations

Commonwealth Games Federation President Michael Fennel on Wednesday visited the Games Village along with the Chefs de Mission of Commonwealth Games to monitor the preparations for the forthcoming event.

The Chefs de Mission of 71 participating nations, are in New Delhi to attend a seminar from March 8-12 about the security
arrangements and other preparations for the Games.

Commonwealth Games CEO Mike Hooper and Fennel led the delegation to review the current progress.

The Delhi Development Authority, which is a delivery partner of the Commonwealth Games, has taken the charge of developing the state-of-the-art Games Village along the river Yamuna.

As per the report of the Commonwealth Games website, the village is being created at a cost of dollar 230.7 million, which includes the Residential Zone and is spread over an area of 63.5 hectares.

The village is also equipped with training areas for athletics (400 m eight-lane synthetic track and separate area for Throwing Events), swimming (50x25m, kids and leisure pool), weightlifting, wrestling and a fitness center.

The village has 14 blocks, 34 towers and 1,168 air-conditioned flats to comfortably accommodate 8,000 athletes and team officials.

There will be a number of apartments, ranging from two to five bedroom units, each with ensuite facilities. There will be only two occupants per room, which makes it the highest ratio of facilities provided for any Games, as per officials of Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010.

India had earlier come under severe criticism after construction of several venues and facilities for the Games, including the athletes'' village, fell behind schedule, that forced the postponement or shifting of many international meets planned as test events.

Prasar Bharati signs pact with UK's SIS for CWG games

Prasar Bharati has signed a formal agreement with UK-based Satellite Information Services (SIS) Live for producing and broadcasting the Commonwealth Games next year for Doordarshan.

Doordarshan sources confirmed the agreement was recently between Doordarshan director general Aruna Sharma and SIS Live commercial director Philip Aspden.

The British broadcasting group had been shortlisted out of the two consortiums which had filed their bids when the last date closed for this purpose.

The other shortlisted group was Nimbus Communications which had come in a consortium with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as lead partner.

Later, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry had taken a final decision keeping in view some points raised by an empowered committee comprising top officials of Doordarshan and All India Radio.

Satellite Information Services Live of the United Kingdom has formed a consortium with SIS Broadcast and Satellite Information Services Ltd. as lead partner. SIS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Satellite Information Services (Holdings) Ltd and is owned by a combination of leisure and financial investors.

Under the terms of the agreement, SIS LIVE will provide all the production facilities and personnel to cover 17 different sports across 12 venues in Delhi, as well as the Games’ opening and closing ceremonies.

44 JJ clusters to be relocated under Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojana

Delhi Government has prepared a list of 44 JJ clusters which would be relocated during Commonwealth Games 2010 under its ambitious Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojna. The locations of the slum clusters are bound to cause political tremor as it would the voters' politics of several constituencies. In the first phase of relocation and allotment of 7,900 flats to slum-dwellers, the Delhi Government has identified 44 JJ clusters across the city which is set to change the voters' profile in several constituencies such as RK Puram, New Delhi, Timar Pur, Bawana and Civil Lines.

The list of 44 JJ clusters include Wazirpur JJ clusters, cluster at G-point Gole Market, Sanjay Gandhi at Chanakyapuri, cluster at Dhobi Ghat, DDU Marg, Arjun Das camp at Laxmi Bai Nagar, Bengali camp Kidwai Nagar, cluster near Polo Ground, Bhai Ram camp at Race Course Road, Sri Ram camp at South Campus, clusters at DPS R K Puram, Safdarjung Airport Authority, Bandhu camp Vasant Kunj, Dhobi Ghat cluster at South Avenue, clusters near NC Joshi Memorial hospital, Daya Basti, Barapullah Nallah bridge, Bharti Nagar, Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar near Badli, Anna Nagar, Wazirpur Railway track, Qutab Road, Pant Nagar, Mansarovar Park, behind Old Secretariat, Nivedita Kunj R K Puram, Kirti Nagar and New Friends Colony.

Political analysts say if these clusters are removed or relocated, the demographic profile of several Assembly constituencies would be changed. The slum dwellers are traditionally considered Congress party's voters in Delhi. In other words, the Delhi Congress leaders would have to work hard in the next Assembly polls. PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan said that these 44 JJ clusters would be rehabilitated before the 2010 Commonwealth Games as flats are ready. Sources said that most of the clusters are located in New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC and Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Delhi Administration, Flood and Irrigation and Land and Development department in South Delhi and New Delhi areas.

The average size of the flats will be 25 square metres and the allottee will have to contribute Rs.60,000 which will be arranged as a soft loan. The Union Government will contribute Rs.1,19,000, the contribution of land owning agency will be around Rs.90,000 whereas the Delhi Government's contribution will be Rs.62,000.

Noting that the JJ clusters will be identified in phases as per the determined priority, the Slum and JJ Department has been made the nodal agency for relocation and rehabilitation of jhuggi-jhonpri clusters from the land belonging to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Delhi Government. Besides, the Railways, the Delhi Development Authority, the Land and Development Office and the New Delhi Municipal Council have been empowered to carry out this process themselves as per the policy of the Delhi Government.

It is noted that the cut-off date of residing in jhuggis for making a jhuggi-jhopri dweller eligible for allotment would be December 31, 1998. For availing themselves of the scheme, the applicant's name should be there in the voters' list as on the referred date and they should also posses a ration card issued on any date before the cut-off date or up to the date of survey.