80,000 take part in annual Sydney run

Commonwealth Games runner Ben St. Lawrence has edged favorite and fellow Australian Michael Shelley to win the 40th City to Surf race in 41 minutes, five seconds.

Australian Lara Tamsett was the top women's finisher Sunday in 46:54.

St. Lawrence, who will compete for Australia at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October, first ran the City to Surf when he was 8.

Former Olympic distance runner Steve Moneghetti, who will be Australia's chef de mission in New Delhi, holds the race record of 40.03.

The race attracted an estimated 80,000 competitors for the 14-kilometer (8.7-mile) run out of downtown Sydney to the city's eastern suburbs and a finish at Bondi Beach.

Kalmadi should resign, demand activists

In a letter written to the president of the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, founder national chief of the Arogya Sena, Abhijit Vaidya, has demanded resignation of MP Suresh Kalmadi  from the chairmanship of the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games. Vaidya also demanded Kalmadi's resignation as a Member of Parliament stating that Kalmadi has betrayed the people of the city who elected him three times. Moreover, he has also betrayed the nation, the latter stated.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, Vaidya said, "A letter has been sent to the party president on Friday demanding Kalmadi's resignation against the backdrop of recent fiasco over the management of the Commonwealth Games, to be held in Delhi in October."

Vaidya added: "The blatant corruption in preparations for the Commonwealth Games not only has tarnished hopes of 1.1 billion Indians, but also has hurt our national pride. The organising committee has crossed all limits of corruption by fudging contracts, forging documents and manipulating prices. The Indian high Commission in London has accused the organising committee of tempering with e-mails. Everyday, new facts are pouring in about the misappropriation of public funds and massive escalation in the budget for the games."

Vaidya said the Arogya Sena seriously holds Kalmadi responsible for this. We consider Kalmadi as the main culprit, as he is a master political manipulator," said Vaidya. He added that Kalmadi has never raised his voice for the citizens of Pune. Be it floods, the swine flu calamity, water shortage, inflation, fire in slums, and so on. "We have appealed to Sonia Gandhi to put moral pressure on Kalmadi to resign from both the posts, as he has lost his moral authority to hold these posts," he said.

The organisation has also put forward a demand to set up a judicial enquiry committee to investigate Kalmadi's role in the alleged corruption.

Hostels turn budget hotels

This is one piece of patriotism that may just have been unnecessary.

Even as Delhi University students — made to stay away from hostels in the name of the Commonwealth Games — take up expensive accommodation outside, their colleges will be making a quick buck from renting out those hostel rooms. College principals have received letters from the UGC asking them to fix room tariffs for the upcoming Delhi Games. The rooms will be let out as budget accommodation to tourists expected to visit the city for the Games.

Interestingly, college authorities claim they did not know that the hostel rooms were being upgraded as tourist accommodation. However, the sports ministry, which is involved with the project, claims the project had always been targeted for tourist stay. Said a senior sports ministry official, ‘‘No one was forced, everyone volunteered to be part of the project. They knew what it (the hostels) was being upgraded for.’’ The point seems to be in debate now though. Said Bhim Sen Singh, principal, Kirori Mal College, ‘‘I was taken aback on receiving the letter from the UGC.

I am neither a businessman, nor a hotelier. How am I supposed to fix the tariff for my hostel rooms?’’ Chandrachud Singh, warden, Hindu College, concurs. He said, ‘‘There were rumours that technical staff or security personnel will stay in our hostels.’’ The principal of Miranda House has another cause for worry. ‘‘If tourists are going to stay in the rooms, we may also have to arrange for security and food. But the UGC hasn’t given us any grant for revamping the kitchen. The grant was only for renovating the rooms.’’

Ministry sources, not surprisingly, have a different take. Said the official, ‘‘More than Rs 20 crore has been spent on upgradation of the hostels in both DU and Jamia (Millia Islamia university). The 2,500 bedrooms that will be available after this renovation work were always meant to be used as budget accommodation, a fact that was made clear to both UGC and the colleges.’’ Officials say asking students to vacate the rooms for the renovation work in the hostels is a routine process. ‘‘Abroad as well, for mega sporting events like the Commonwealth Games, universities are asked to make space. Its an international norm,’’ added the official. According to the ministry, while some of the 2,500 beds may be set aside for use by volunteers, the majority would be for tourists.

In DU, hostellers were asked to vacate their rooms by the end of May in at least six of the eight colleges letting out their hostels for the Games. All these colleges received anything between Rs 50 crore and Rs 1.10 crore to renovate their hostels to accommodate guests during the event in October.

The UGC letter, dated August 2, asks the colleges on north campus for suggestions on deciding the tariff at which thay would like to let out their rooms during the Games. According to sources, the revenue generated from letting out the rooms will be going to the UGC, which may funnel the money back into the two universities, DU and Jamia.
Even as Delhi University students — made to stay away from hostels in the name of the Commonwealth Games — take up expensive accommodation outside, their colleges will be making a quick buck from renting out those hostel rooms. College principals have received letters from the UGC asking them to fix room tariffs for the upcoming Delhi Games. The rooms will be let out as budget accommodation to tourists expected to visit the city for the Games.

Interestingly, college authorities claim they did not know that the hostel rooms were being upgraded as tourist accommodation. However, the sports ministry, which is involved with the project, claims the project had always been targeted for tourist stay. Said a senior sports ministry official, ‘‘No one was forced, everyone volunteered to be part of the project. They knew what it (the hostels) was being upgraded for.’’ The point seems to be in debate now though. Said Bhim Sen Singh, principal, Kirori Mal College, ‘‘I was taken aback on receiving the letter from the UGC.

I am neither a businessman, nor a hotelier. How am I supposed to fix the tariff for my hostel rooms?’’ Chandrachud Singh, warden, Hindu College, concurs. He said, ‘‘There were rumours that technical staff or security personnel will stay in our hostels.’’ The principal of Miranda House has another cause for worry. ‘‘If tourists are going to stay in the rooms, we may also have to arrange for security and food. But the UGC hasn’t given us any grant for revamping the kitchen. The grant was only for renovating the rooms.’’

Ministry sources, not surprisingly, have a different take. Said the official, ‘‘More than Rs 20 crore has been spent on upgradation of the hostels in both DU and Jamia (Millia Islamia university). The 2,500 bedrooms that will be available after this renovation work were always meant to be used as budget accommodation, a fact that was made clear to both UGC and the colleges.’’ Officials say asking students to vacate the rooms for the renovation work in the hostels is a routine process. ‘‘Abroad as well, for mega sporting events like the Commonwealth Games, universities are asked to make space. Its an international norm,’’ added the official. According to the ministry, while some of the 2,500 beds may be set aside for use by volunteers, the majority would be for tourists.

In DU, hostellers were asked to vacate their rooms by the end of May in at least six of the eight colleges letting out their hostels for the Games. All these colleges received anything between Rs 50 crore and Rs 1.10 crore to renovate their hostels to accommodate guests during the event in October.

The UGC letter, dated August 2, asks the colleges on north campus for suggestions on deciding the tariff at which thay would like to let out their rooms during the Games. According to sources, the revenue generated from letting out the rooms will be going to the UGC, which may funnel the money back into the two universities, DU and Jamia.

Now, Games tickets miss deadline, buyers angry

Looking forward to catch a Commonwealth Games 2010 event with your family? You will have to wait some more.

People looking forward to buy physical tickets to the Games will have to wait longer now, with the organising committee (OC) delaying the launch of tickets for mass sale till later this month. Earlier, it was supposed to be available from August 1.

At present, tickets are only available online on the Commonwealth Games website and some IRCTC and Central Bank of India outlets. However, only two ticket vouchers can be bought from these outlets or the website for the opening and closing ceremony, and four for sports events.

People are complaining that this limits the options. Says Arati Jain, a resident of Lajpat Nagar, ‘‘The reason for buying tickets early is so you avoid the crowd. But when I went to turn the voucher — that I had bought in June — to actual tickets in a Central Bank outlet, I was told this could be done later in August. What’s the point of buying tickets early?’’

That’s not the only complain coming in. People claim the limit on the number of tickets one can buy from the website or outlets will only give rise to touts coming into the picture. William Peckett, who has bought tickets worth Rs 21,000 for the ceremonies as well as the sporting events, says, ‘‘I bought my tickets without knowing where I would be sitting, since the outlet had no information on the seating plan in the stadium. The limit on the number of vouchers sold could well give rise to touts.’’ It’s a worry that is not confined to Peckett. Anil Thadani, who has bought tickets for his entire family for the opening ceremony by making his employees buy them from the internet, says it’s an idea that is surely being copied by others. ‘‘With two months left, it’s high time the OC made the tickets freely available. Limiting the numbers will only ensure that touts have a field day,’’ adds Thadani.

OC chairperson Suresh Kalmadi admits there has been a delay in the availability of tickets. ‘‘Now, the tickets will be available after August 15,’’ he said. While Kalmadi refused to reveal the reason for the delay, sources say the printing of the tickets has been held up. The tickets, say sources, are being printed from Pune, and there had been talk of having the new Rupee symbol on it, which delayed the process. Now, the earliest the tickets will be available to spectators is in the second half of August.

The ticket sales form an important part of revenue generation for the OC, which is already reeling from lack of sponsors. More than 17 lakh tickets are to be sold for the fortnight-long sporting extravaganza, in different phases. The sale of physical tickets was to be the later phase, where the tickets were to be made easily available, so as to drum up interest. The tickets range from Rs 50-1,000 for the sporting events and Rs 1,000-50,000 for the opening ceremony while for the closing ceremony, it’s between Rs 750-50,000. Four events are free — marathon, walk, cycling road race and cycling time trial.

CWG procurement: Treading in murky waters

The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee is having a tough time explaining its decision to rent AlterG treadmills ahead of the globally used Technogym treadmills. While the supposedly NASA-recommended treadmills cost $65,000 (Rs 30 lakh) each, the Technogym treadmills are a much cheaper Rs 6-8 lakh.

If the OC's idea was to bring in cutting-edge equipment, the question of why they chose to do so for the two-week event as opposed to installing these machines at training centres, is a pertinent one. And, interestingly, India's elite athletes are as confused about the value of the new-fangled treadmills as anyone else.

Interestingly, the country's premier training facility, the National Institute of Sport in Patiala, uses Technogym treadmills. Athletes there told the Hindustan Times that they had never seen, or even heard of, the AlterG treadmills, in all their travels abroad representing India in competitions. In fact, the Athens and Beijing Olympics both had Technogym as equipment partners.

What's most mystifying is the OC's claim that the AlterG treadmills, which have an anti-gravity system that make you feel 20% lighter, will somehow help athletes. "If these treadmills improve the efficiency of players why not have them at the National Institute of Sport?" asked an Olympian, who did not want to be named.

Another player, who hoped the controversy would die down, said: "We are happy with our equipment here at NIS. The treadmills are world class and these are the same treadmills that were used in the Beijing Olympics."

India's elite athletes, drawn from disciplines as varied as boxing, wrestling, athletics, cycling and weightlifting, currently training on Technogym treadmills at NIS, Patiala, just can't understand why the OC is so keen on AlterG.

The controversy over the high cost of renting treadmills forced the OC to clarify that they would be buying some treadmills, for the athletes to use, while renting others at Games venues.

"We have not ordered treadmills worth Rs 9 lakhs. The picture shown in reports is a household treadmill," A K Saxena, who is the joint director for overlays, clarified on August 4. "The professional treadmill that we were shown costs around $60,000. A high-end treadmill with add-ons will cost $75,000."

The fact remains, however, that even the Rs 10.5 lakh that the Chandigarh Sports Department paid for high-end treadmills, is under the scanner.

It's alleged that the treadmills actually cost only Rs 6-8 lakh, and that prices were inflated when they were procured. The Central Bureau of Investigation has raided the premises and a probe is still on.

Let us play, say athletes

"Bring the focus back on the athletes." "It's not often that we get a chance to participate in front of our home crowd in such a major Games." "Punish the guilty though."
Athletes speak

This is response from India's stars who will be represent the country at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi from October 3-14.

"Aisa mauka kis ko milta hai ki apne mummy-papa ke samne khele (Who get this rare opportunity to play in front of their parents in such a big event)" said an emotional Surinder Kaur, captain of the women's hockey team, who was a member of the silver-winning squad in 2006 Melbourne Games.

"Hope the Games don't get cancelled," is what she's been praying for right now.

"I have already requested for passes or tickets from officials so that my parents can watch me play in New Delhi."

The main concern for athletes, ever since the 2010 Commonwealth Games was hit by a slew of controversies, was whether the Games would be held or not.

"How many times has any Indian athlete performed in his or her country in such a mega event? Not too many," said Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh.

"It's only during such events as the Olympics, Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games that we get so much attention. Sportsmen should stay away form controversies."

Even Sushil Kumar, Olympic bronze medalist in wrestling, said that the "guilty should be punished, but let the Games get its due recognition.

"Otherwise, when are sportsmen who represent the country in Olympic disciplines going to get our bit of attention? What better time than now, when we are playing at home?"

Safe-sex campaign on Games wagon

Delhi has decided to install condom-vending machines to make the Commonwealth Games “totally safe’’. But the drive isn’t stopping there. The village dhaba will serve the safe-sex recipe, too.

The Centre plans to make condoms available in 70 lakh retail outlets within a year, the majority of them in rural areas. Grocers, workshops, hotels, roadside vendors, besides dhabas, could be the new channels.

The move has been prompted by worries about the increasing HIV/AIDS cases in rural areas. Around 2.5 million people are estimated to be infected in the country overall. Women account for a million — half of them in villages. Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab have the highest number of cases.

“Availability and acceptability are the greatest hurdles to promoting condom use. By making them available in places like kirana (grocery) shops or dhabas, we will be able to tackle the problems. Once you get condoms from places where you buy everyday stuff, the shame factor will come down,’’ said an official of the National Aids Control Organisation (Naco), the government agency tasked with containing the disease.

All brands of condoms will be made available in the new outlets, but priority will be given to Nirodh, manufactured by the Centre-owned Hindustan Latex Ltd.

Self-help groups (SHGs) will help increase awareness about the use of condoms in particular, and HIV/AIDS in general, under a Naco proposal that the rural development and tribal affairs ministries have accepted.

“We have decided involve the rural development ministry as this is one ministry most accessible to rural homes. Villagers tend to be more open to its representatives as they believe the ministry gives them many benefits (under various ministry-run welfare programmes such as rural job scheme NREGA),’’ the Naco official said.

The SHGs, supported by the ministry, are among the groups that help implement the development plans. Naco will train around 23 lakh SHG members to spread awareness about the disease among rural women.

“The prevalence of HIV is higher in urban areas. But what puts the rural people more at risk is their low awareness level,” the Naco official said, adding the information gap was particularly alarming among village women. The concern comes against the backdrop of reports that more rural women were getting infected.

According to Naco, the epidemic is more widespread in cities, greater among men, decreases with increasing education and is found to be highest among women whose spouses work in the transport industry. Truck drivers are known to be more vulnerable and condom sales in highway dhabas are aimed at this group.

The government is also planning to introduce female condoms in rural areas in the next phase. “It will be even tougher but we want to try out,’’ said the Naco official.

I'm ready for judicial probe, now: Suresh Kalmadi

It was early in the morning but Suresh Kalmadi was already looking tired and tense. The never-ending reports on corruption and mismanagement - which the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) chairman calls "drummed-up campaign" - have probably taken their toll.
Kalmadi spoke to TOI on the recent scandals regarding the Queens Baton Relay, the SMAM contract and a host of other charges against him and OC. Excerpts from an interview:

Two OC officials have been suspended now in the Queen's Baton relay scandal but the ministry had said they should be removed. Why have you ignored the ministry's advice? Besides, you had reinstated TS Darbari despite the Customs case against him. Why?

Darbari was not reinstated. He had not been suspended, he was sent on leave (in February). In the Kochi Customs case, Darbari was called by the Customs to give a statement.

He came back in April and showed us a letter from Customs which stated that he was there as a witness and that he had not been charged. I again wrote to chief of Customs to ask if there was any charge. I just could not take him off.

Then his name figured in the AM Films case...

Yes, now his name has figured in that case regarding forged e-mails. Darbari and Mahendroo and Jeychandran were at the Queen's Baton Relay and they did a good job. But when this thing came up, I went to meet external affairs minister SM Krishna to confirm the facts.

I found that there was indeed a difference in the e-mails sent by Darbari and Mahendroo and the one given by MEA. I formed a three-member committee, which submitted its report and we suspended the officials. The matter has now been referred to the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Who is responsible for doctoring the e-mail?

I don't know. I can't hang anybody without knowing the truth.

Your response to most of the negative stories in the media has been to say that the blame lies with other agencies, not with OC. Now that three of your own officials have faced suspension, is that a tenable position?

There might be cases that are coming up but we are dealing with it severely. We have suspended these people. There's no question of shielding anybody.

But I must tell you I'm only responsible for organizing the Games. Right now, there's a CVC report which has not blamed me anywhere. The agencies which have been blamed have to give answers to that. I will take responsibility for my part, for my budget of Rs 1600 crore.

What about SMAM?

The contract was formulated five years back. The deal was cleared by OC's executive board, which made the government of Delhi look into it.

It was approved after that. The same SMAM was in Melbourne and Manchester. But our complaint these last six months was that they were not collecting enough money. We decided we had to terminate the contract and try to raise money on our own.

Cancelling the contract before August 1 was not possible, because the procedure was very lengthy. Our legal people pointed out that we could give a three-day notice to terminate the contract after August 1, which we did. But we have terminated it only on grounds of non-performance. There's nothing wrong in the contract.

But they could have been given commission on money they had not raised?

We have not paid them a penny. Their cut was 15, 20, 23 per cent, depending on the slab. Anyway, I have no independent financial authority, so the contract was not my personal decision. It was cleared at the executive board level.

You have blamed Mani Shankar Aiyar for delaying the preparations of the Games during his tenure as sports minister. But OC has delayed things too like catering, merchandising. Who is accountable for these delays?

OC. I'll accept it. As for catering in the Village, we floated a tender and only one bid came. When we refloated the tender only one group came up again and quoted a higher rate. We could not do anything about it.

There are just a few groups that can handle catering on this scale. One group went to the Asian Games in Guangzhou and another went to the World Youth Games in Singapore.

How did Guangzhou, Singapore get caterers in advance? Didn't they plan much earlier?

Yes, this may be true but those caterers were probably more interested in going there. They may have decided between themselves, like a cartel.

What about in-stadia catering?

It's not my personal decision. A committee of 15 people takes a joint decision. The members pointed out that the rates were very high (Rs 500 per head). We decided that Rs 150-200 would be justified. We have issued a fresh tender.

Didn't IRCTC come up with a package of Rs 150 per head?

I was keen on the IRCTC thing as the money could have been adjusted through the sponsorship we are getting from them. But IRCTC's food packet did not have adequate content - it was not enough food for volunteers. The new deal should be signed in 15 days.

Things that are coming out about treadmills, toilet paper - these too are the OC's responsibility. What is the explanation for the exorbitant amount of money paid?

As for toilet papers, the Rs 3,750 mentioned as the rate for one roll in media reports is the price for a box of 100 toilet paper rolls. As for treadmill, this is a special treadmill... not available in Delhi.

But suppliers of treadmills admitted they are hiring them locally for Rs 1 lakh and charging the OC almost ten times more. We are no longer hiring them, the venue owners are purchasing them.

You have complained about other agencies involved in the Games.

Others have complained, I have never complained. In fact, we have world class infrastructure. In the Games Village, a great job has been done. Test events have proved Field of Play areas are ready. Venue overlays will be done in time.

My problem is that infrastructure has been delayed a lot. We have to do the overlays, set up training camps etc. I'm not complaining but we should have got the stadia six months back. There are just 40 days for Games Village to be opened. Whatever is happening in the media is distracting.

But you have differences with sports minister MS Gill

We have only differed on tenure guidelines, not CWG. I'm saying we should have discussions on that but only after the Games. I didn't want this disturbance at this time.

The focus right now is on scandals, murky deals etc. Don't you think that in the larger interest of the country you should step down?

We have been working for the past seven years when we got the Games. Now, most of the things are falling into place, I'm not going to run away. I have made a commitment to international community and the people of India that we will have good Games. Now, with 40 days left, I can't run away. No one can organise these Games now. Let there be a probe.

I have done nothing wrong. Why should I quit due to the media's drummed-up campaign. Let there be a probe a judicial probe. It can start now, I'm ready for it. It does not have to wait till after the Games.

But OC treasurer Anil Khanna resigned?

Just because he perceived something was wrong and he resigned does not mean I will resign too at this stage.

Khanna said he stopped signing cheques in May? What did he see was so wrong in OC that he quit?
Things are perfectly right in OC. If things were bad why would AK Mattoo come back? If Khanna has done something... he has resigned. That's his call.

Is Khanna guilty?

I don't know. What I know is OC is not guilty.

Sports ministry has said govt will not bid for Asiad 2019...

If govt is not keen, we are not keen either. I don't want to organize any more sporting events till I clear my name.

Do you feel let down by your party (Congress)?

We got these Games when BJP was in power. Our party continued, gave all support, all money. But this is basically an Indian Olympic Association (IOA) function. IOA has elected me as the chairman of OC and I'm doing my best. Whatever is happening, the party is not involved but yes, it is supporting us.

In 1982, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were fully and publicly behind Buta Singh. Now, we don't see the same support from Sonia Gandhi and others.

The PM has given full support. He has given for the first time Rs 600 crore for training. Athletes are getting better food, foreign exposure and scientific support for athletes. Mrs Gandhi also was responsible in getting the Games here.

Should PSUs bail out CWG 2010?

The state-owned firms may have partly bailed out the Delhi Commonwealth Games (CWG) organisers offering sizeable sponsorship but questions are now being raised whether it has been fair on the government’s part to ask PSUs to dole out money for the event from their corporate social responsibility (CSR) reserves.

CSR experts fear the ‘good cause’ deed rather than help PSUs build trust with various stakeholder groups may well cause severe damage to their brand’s reputation, which may take years to rebuild.

“As soon as a brand owner starts to put out messages about its corporate responsibility credentials, it becomes open to inspection. The words must be matched by deeds, otherwise it will be seen as a cynical PR exercise,” Suren Sista, pavate fellow at Cambridge University’s Judge Business School said.

As it stands, the private sector has largely stayed away from the event and the state-run entities like NTPC (Rs 50 crore), Air India (Rs 50 crore), Central Bank of India (Rs 51 crore) and Indian Railways (Rs 100 crore) have done the rescue act. Contrast this.

The only two major private sponsorships have come from the two-wheeler maker, Hero Honda (Rs 38 crore) and the global beverage major, Coca Cola (Rs 15.71 crore). Here comes the question. Why PSUs which are largely built on tax payers’ money should be asked to fund the controversy-ridden event whereas India Inc has not come forward to be associated with it?

And this has been despite the growing corporate trend of deploying CSR funds into sports, which not only meets their brand marketing objectives but also offers community returns at large. “A few years ago several sponsors of sports may have shied from openly declaring the linkage of CSR with return on investment, however, the scenario has changed over the years,” Monish Chatrath, executive director at accountancy firm Mazars said.

Globally, private brands like Barclays Bank have been one of the largest supporters of grassroots football. Similarly, credit card giant Visa has played a key role in the development of Paralympics for over a decade. Back home, electronics major Panasonic has now been supporting the Indian football team as part of a CSR initiative.

Even the Tata group has played sponsor to many international sporting events. A relatively new entrant in the telecom space, Aircel too today is a title sponsor to India’s biggest tennis event—Chennai Open. CSR experts say what these firms realised has been the advantage of the combination of the financial leverage and the emblematic power inherent in sport.

Yet when it has come to India’s biggest sporting extravaganza since Asiad in 1982, there has been reluctance from the private players to open their wallets.

The corporate interest lies in maximising profits while maintaining sustainable growth. It’s not simply about the delivery part but also the process—how it would enhance return on social investments. This is where the organisers have failed to offer the clarity,” Mritunjay Kapur, managing director at business consulting firm, Protiviti India said.

As the countdown has drawn closer to the games, each passing day has opened up a new controversy: leaky stadium roofs, delay in construction, overpriced equipment and shabby contract deals are some that has recently hit the headlines.

According to Parul Soni, executive director, development advisory services at Ernst & Young, since CSR investments has a huge impact on brand value in the modern business arena and has imbibed within the corporate commercial thinking, no entity will like to take a chance with its value creation strategy.

“Nobody wants their money to go into a pool of funds. Overall, it lacks strategic appeal for private players,” he said.

Lessons from the games

Never in all the years I have known him have I ever agreed with Mani Shankar Aiyar about anything. So it is with some nervousness I admit that on the Commonwealth Games I agree with him one thousand per cent. Who was the lunatic who bid for them in the first place? He needs to be identified and horsewhipped in public for putting India in such a disgraceful situation. If it was Suresh Kalmadi, then horsewhipping is not punishment enough because having landed the Games he should at least have known that he should do nothing that would expose India’s corrupt and incompetent underside to an international audience.

Did nobody in the Government of India notice that cities that bid for international sporting tournaments are cities that have some basic civic amenities in place? They have decent roads, a public transport system that works, hotel rooms in adequate supply so usually all that needs to be built are a few new stadiums. If you go through the Rs 11,000 crore budgeted for these Games, you will find that nearly half the money is being spent on extras like improved policing and cleaner monuments. Yes, the Asian Games were held in Delhi once long ago (and a side benefit was colour TV) but they were on a smaller scale and in retrospect as much a waste of taxpayers’ money as the Commonwealth Games. The stadiums fell to ruin in months because they were built in shoddy fashion and Indian athletes were rarely allowed to use them. The Asian Games village was first occupied by politicians and high officials then the apartments were sold. This may have been the only profit the Games made for the Delhi government. What is more important is that not a single sport in India benefited in any way.

Instead of these mega events, what Indian sportsmen need are basic facilities like proper stadiums, decent accommodation, financial support and nutritious food. Until we provide these facilities, not just in small towns but in villages too, we are not going to produce sportsmen who can win medals in international sporting competitions. When, somehow, one emerges despite the absence of basic facilities, we make such a ludicrous fuss over said sportsman or woman that it makes me personally cringe with shame.

So lesson number one, from the appalling mess that these Commonwealth Games have turned out to be is that we need to create basic facilities for Indian sportsmen. China did even when Mao Tse Tung was killing off millions of his people through famines. There was always food and shelter for athletes. This is why China’s tally of medals at the Olympics is always in double digits. Russia did even when it was the Soviet Union and most of its citizens lived in misery. India failed in sports facilities almost as miserably as we have failed to create the schools and universities we so desperately need. So our young people are busy picking up guns and fighting real wars from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Stadiums may not stop children from stoning policemen in Srinagar or get the Naxalites to surrender their arms but they will help channel some of the energies of that half of India’s population that is under the age of 25.

The second lesson we can learn from these Commonwealth Games is that we must ensure that politicians and bureaucrats are kept firmly away from sporting organisations. It cannot be the job of ministers in the Government of India to head major sports bodies. Nor can it be the job of senior bureaucrats. Judging by the appalling state of governance in India they should have more than enough on their plates without interfering in sports and sporting events. At the Olympics, the Indian team is an embarrassment because there are usually more officials in it than athletes.

The third lesson we can learn from the Games is that we must stop deluding ourselves into believing that India has escaped the Third World category and is now an emerging economic superpower. We are not. If we ever reach that position, you can be sure that the first thing that will happen is for our cities to start looking like modern cities instead of glorified slums. As things stand, we have to sadly admit that there is not a single Indian city that is modern even by the standards of Asian cities like Hong Kong, Singapore or Bangkok. Delhi, despite all efforts to tart it up for the Games, still looks bad and it is much better than the rest. In Mumbai, you know you have landed in a Third World country from the moment you touch down in an airport that appears to be sprouting out of a slum. So until we get our fundamentals right, no more Games please.

Ahead of CWG, will Taj get another 'facial'?

In 2001, just before then Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf  visited Agra, the world heritage monument was given a multani mitti 'facial' to decrease the yellowness caused by air pollution and restore its pristine white colour.

Now, ahead of the Commonwealth Games, the Taj may need it again when athletes and visitors from many countries are expected to visit Agra to see the monument.

For, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has sounded a grim warning about alarming levels of suspended particulate matter (SPM), more than five times the permissible level, around the 360-year-old monument. The scientists say high SPM level is the main culprit behind yellowness of marble.

After setting up the Taj Trapezium Zone and ordering shifting of around 300 polluting industries within a 25-kilometre radius of the monument in 1996, the SC had on November 7, 2000, directed CPCB to set up four 'Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations' at Taj Mahal, Itmad-ud-Daulah, Nunhai and Rambagh.

The latest report submitted by CPCB through advocate Vijay Panjwani to the apex court appears to suggest that the ambient air quality around Taj Mahal is getting spurious and could be the cause behind the yellowness of the white marble of Taj Mahal.

After the "no tolerance for pollution" orders of the apex court, the SPM level around the monument had shown a decline from 2002 (376 per cubic metre) till 2005 (306). But, in 2009, it rose to 334 fuelling fears that fresh measures need to be taken urgently to save Taj Mahal from getting that dull white lustre. The ideal annual level of SPM, as per the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, is 70 per cubic metre.

The monthly monitoring report about air quality in 2010 is even more alarming. In January, the SPM level around Taj was 332 and it marginally declined to 297 in February. The SPM level climbed sharply to 575 by April and maintained a high of 490 and 470 in the months of May and June.

Digvijay seeks CVC probe

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Saturday demanded that Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) should act immediately on alleged corruption in the Commonwealth Games projects. “Why hasn’t the CVC filed FIRs against those accused (of irregularities) so far? Why did it not prevent when it was happening?” Singh asked.

OC gets 5 stadia
The Sports Authority of India handed over five of the nine stadia it is preparing for the Games to the Organising Committee on Saturday. These include Karni Singh Shooting Range, Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Gymnastics stadium, the cycling velodrome and the wrestling stadium.

Kalmadi meets police chief
Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi held a meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal on Saturday to discuss various security-related issues. Kalmadi raised concerns about security arrangements being made for the safety of the OC’s assets during the Games. “All arrangements have been made and there is nothing to worry. Delhi Police is ready to handover the Games venues to the OC,” Dadwal said.

Mani Shankar Aiyar takes another dig at Games

Nominated Rajya Sabha MP Mani Shankar Aiyar took a potshot on Saturday at the coming Delhi Commonwealth Games, saying arrangements were being made to ensure that the 100,000 foreign guests expected to come were not mobbed by beggars and the poor.

He was addressing a seminar on the "Role of Media in the 21st century and India's Image" in the capital.

"In a globalised India, the English media feels prosperous and wants to carry India forward. Nearly 100,000 foreign guests will come to India in less then two months (for the Commonwealth Games). I hear that 70,000 have confirmed their bookings. Special arrangements are being made to ensure that they are not besieged by beggars and the poor, but interact with men attired only in coats and ties," he said.

"On their way to the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, they (the foreign visitors) should not chance upon those begging for livelihood at shrine of (Sufi saint) Nizamuddin Auliya," Aiyar said, adding the "economic imbalance between the citizens and consumers is glaring".

The question is “whether Indians should be made prosperous or India should made richer," Aiyar said.

OC CWG Delhi 2010 unveils medals for the Games

Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi today unveiled the victory medals for XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi. Delhi 2010 medals combine sporting excellence with fine craftsmanship.

The victory medals were unveiled by Organising Committee CWG 2010 Delhi Chairman Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP and Dr. Lalit K. Bhanot, Secretary General, Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi here at the OC headquarters.

The medals for Delhi 2010 are a product of excellence and reflect the spirit of the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi, a testament to brilliance and success of the athletes. 

“Indian athletes won 50 medals in the 2006 Games. We hope 70 of these wonderful medals will be won by Indian athletes. India finished fourth in the medal tally at Melbourne. We’re hopeful of moving to the third place this time.” said Organising Committee CWG 2010 Delhi Chairman Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP

“The Prime Minister has given us Rs 700 crore for training of athletes, I am confident that will reflect in India’s medal tally,” added Mr. Kalmadi.

The medal design is clean and simple and the dominant form that gives it dynamism is a rising upward spiral that starts taking shape from the plain textured base, gradually becoming the highlight of the medal. It represents the rise to glory for each athlete from struggle to their moment of glory.

The front of the medal has the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi logo and dates. The back has the emblem of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

The medal is 6 mm thick with a diameter of 63.5 mm. The signature element’s starting fin is raised by 1 mm and it rises up to 3 mm on the last fin. The embossed logo and date is raised by 1mm.

The lanyard of the medal carries all six Games colors (pink, purple, green, red, yellow and blue) blending into each other. It is created with Delhi2010 brand and design elements.

The medal case is clean and simple with black background enhancing the logo embossed on top in Gold, Silver or Bronze - matching the medal inside. The color and simplicity of the box is keeping with the significance of the product it carries. The black base provides an appropriate background to the multi-hued lanyard and the medal itself.

OC CWG Delhi 2010 has ordered a total of 1,408 medals, which includes multiple medals for team events. The cost of producing each gold medal is Rs 5,539, while every silver medal costs Rs 4,818 and a bronze medal Rs 4,529. The total cost of producing these medals is Rs 81, 08,566 including the price of the boxes and lanyards.

Considering the various constraints in medal manufacture, Tombac Bronze (92% copper, 6% zinc and 2% nickel) was selected as base metal. This metal has the ability to flow under compressive force and allow formation of sharp and firm features in design.

The India Government Mint, Kolkata, was entrusted with the design, development and manufacture of the medals. The Image & look department of the CWG Delhi 2010 has created 4 design options for victory medals. After sampling the existing design was selected for final prototype. 

The Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi authorities had prepared 4 photographic perspective views of the medals. State of the art CNC Engraving Machines are being used for manufacturing. Sample medals took almost a month to manufacture to match the conceptual view.

Due to high projection the life of each die was very short which meant that total number of dies required for manufacture of medals are very high.

The manufacture of the medals is in full swing. The medals will be subjected to a very special process called ‘Frosting’ for generation of mat surface on the base and top surface of the letters and main design will be polished to a glossy finish. Each medal requires manual and intricate finishing bringing the conceptual artwork to reality.