Monday, March 15, 2010

Govt declines to back Auckland's Games bid

Prime Minister John Key has confirmed the government will not be backing Auckland's bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.Key says the issue is not the cost of the bid but how much it would cost to run the event. He says New Zealand faces a $600 million loss, even taking account of benefits such as increased tourism, if it was to go ahead.

"It's very, very expensive and we can't see the economic pay back... The economic loss was so great that we couldn't justify it."

He accepts events often run at a loss but the money in this case is largely operating costs without investing in new stadia or other long-lasting benefits.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully declined to comment until he met officials.

NZPA sought an estimate of the cost from the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) of making the bid and of actually hosting the games but it has not yet been provided figures.

The Queensland bid for the 2018 games is expected to cost $14m. This year's Commonwealth Games in India will cost $2 billion.

The Government last year provided money to assess Auckland's ability to host the Commonwealth Games.

The $325,000 feasibility assessment was commissioned by the NZOC and was funded by New Zealand Major Events, a unit of the Ministry of Economic Development, along with government sport funding agency Sparc and Auckland councils.

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Bangladesh Olympic chief impressed with CWG preparations

Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) president Abdul Mubeen Monday gave the thumbs up to India's preparations for the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games.

Mubeen, who is also the Bangladesh Army chief, met Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi during his visit to the its headquarters and was briefed about Delhi's preparations.

"Shera (the Games' mascot) is on the right track," Mubeen said.

"I am truly impressed. I am sure the entire gamut of preparations and arrangements shall reach a grand finale and result in a resounding success (of the Games)," Mubeen said.

Kalmadi said the Commonwealth Games will be a great learning experience not just for India but for the subcontinent as well.

"With improved sporting infrastructure, the Games will be a big boost for the development of sports in India as well as the neighbours."

Mubeen is here on a goodwill visit at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, Gen. Deepak Kapoor.

DDA unveils apartments for Games visitors

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has unveiled 2709 apartments in five blocks named in honour of Ganga, Godavari, Kaveri, Sindhu and Narmada rivers. To be furnished by the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), these apartments will be available to visitors to the Commonwealth Games here in October.

“We have started bookings for the newly constructed apartments by DDA in South Delhi. Till date, bookings for 2,000 of the nearly 5,000 rooms have been confirmed,” a senior ITDC official responsible for room bookings during the Games said. “These are three, two, and single bedroom types. The tariff varies from Rs 4,000 per day to Rs 10,000 per day.”

The rooms are being furnished with facilities like air-conditioning, LCD TV, music system, refrigerator, beds and other amenities. Art work from all regions, including Madhubani, Rajasthani, Worli and Pipli paintings, will adorn the walls of these rooms.

ITDC will set up food courts to cater to the needs of the guests during the Games. Specially trained staff would be deployed at food courts to serve the guests, the official said.

The Commonwealth Games is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors with as many as 71 nations participating in the biggest sporting extravaganza staged in India.
 


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