CWG 0001-2000: branded cars to ferry VIPs during Games

You may find luxury cars sporting unique numbers ferrying delegates during the Commonwealth Games.

Delhi Government has proposed an exclusive registration number series for the 2000-odd cars the Commonwealth Games organising committee (OC) is procuring for VIPs.

The series is likely to start with the letters CWG, abbreviation for the sporting event used globally, followed by numbers 0-2000, a senior Delhi government official said.

While no final decision has been taken yet, chances are that these vehicles will continue to have this special number as legacy of the Games.

“Special numbers will help police and OC members identify vehicles catering to delegates and other VIPs, especially in wake of security curbs during the event,” Delhi chief secretary Rakesh Mehta said.

The cars will include sedans and more luxurious cars for VIPs like visiting heads of states. There will be limited number
of super luxury, bulletproof cars for VVIPs. The cars will have distinct colours and the Games logo.

Sources said these cars would be ‘sponsored’ by one of the three Indian car manufacturers. Since these cars would be later sold through dealers, the OC wants brand-value associated with the fleet. A unique registration number would add to the brand value, a Delhi government official said.

During the Melbourne Games, Toyota had sponsored cars and later sold them as special edition cars.

According to officials, the transport department has already written to the ministry of road transport and highways seeking its permission to start this series of unique numbers. Senior officials said all vehicles are issued '10-digit' registration number that includes the state code and the district code where the vehicle is registered.

“It would require amendment in the Motor Vehicle Act to have unique series for which transport officials have been directed to write to the union ministry,” a Delhi government official said.

OC bullish over opening ceremony, security

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee joint director general, TS Darbari has said that Delhi will host the best ever opening ceremony and insisted that security will be foolproof during the October 3-14 Games.

The delay in construction of venues had raised doubts regarding India's capability to host a world class opening ceremony.

But Darbari have put all speculations to rest. “The opening ceremony, the way it has been planned, it’ll be the best ever,” Darbari, who is in Australia for Queen's baton relay ahead of the October 3-14 Games, said .

“Better than Melbourne, better than any Commonwealth Games, better than Beijing. It’s a guarantee,” he added.

Delhi is facing a test against time to put the venues in place as work in the main Nehru Stadium, swimming complex and cycling venue is lagging behind. However, Darbari exuded confidence that by June the constructions should be over to allow hosting of test events.

“It’s going to be tight but it will happen,” he said.

Darbari scotched doubts that visiting family and supporters of the athletes could be at risk when outside the sporting venues.

“Delhi is very, very safe (and) secure — not only for the sports people who are coming but also for their families and for the tourists.

“I know what the plan is that is being formulated, I can’t share the details, but let me tell you it is foolproof,” he said.

Commonwealth Games official complains: Firm managing sponsorships is getting the cuts, not the deals

The top revenue official of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) has prepared a note saying that a foreign company contracted to bring in sponsors for the Games has achieved “practically nil” results.

With less than six months to go for the Games, the OC has only six sponsors, with just over a quarter of the Rs 1,200 crore sponsorship target met.

Four of these sponsors, making up the bulk of the total sponsorship value so far, are public sector organisations. However, the company managing the sponsorships, the Singapore-registered Sports Marketing and Management (SMAM) gets a commission of between 15% and 22.5% on all sponsorship deals, including those struck with Indian public sector undertakings.

“SMAM’s contribution in major deals signed so far has been practically nil, even though they are entitled to the same commission from these deals as they are from deals which are negotiated by them,” wrote V K Saksena, Additional Director-General, Revenue, in a note prepared on February 12.

Saksena is an IAS officer on deputation with the OC. The note, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, was written after Saksena discussed the matter with OC Treasurer Anil Khanna. Khanna, who heads the R K Khanna Tennis Academy, joined the OC after the previous treasurer, A K Mattoo, quit in the wake of the crisis in Indian hockey in January.

Saksena sent the note to SMAM on February 20, asking for a review of their performance. March 17 was fixed as the date for the review, but the meeting was cancelled. SMAM has earlier managed sponsorships for the Melbourne (2006) and Manchester (2002) Commonwealth Games, and works for the British Olympic Association.

Hero Honda and Coca-Cola are the two private sponsors who have come on board so far with commitments of Rs 38 crore and Rs 15.7 crore respectively. PSUs NTPC, Air India and Central Bank have committed Rs 50 crore, Rs 50 crore and Rs 51 crore respectively.

SMAM will get a commission for all these deals. The only sponsorship it will not get a commission for is by the Indian Railways, which, at Rs 100 crore, is the lead partner for the Games, and whose sponsorship was part of the Budget announcement.

OC chief Suresh Kalmadi said, “When you are tying up with a PSU, our effort is about one-third. They will not give us a sponsorship based merely on our clout until SMAM gives them a detailed presentation and then follows it up.”

The agreement between SMAM and the OC was signed on July 25, 2007, making the company the “sole and exclusive negotiator and procurer of sponsonsorship for licensing contracts”.

In his note, Saksena said, “SMAM claims to have brought 150 companies so far, but hardly any of these have joined the OC as sponsor.” SMAM was unable to find any sponsors for the international leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay.

Despite repeated attempts, no official from SMAM could not be contacted. The company’s India representative Susan Hunt was not available, and calls to Mike Bushell, who heads the firm, at its office in New South Wales, went unanswered.

Kalmadi said that he was “satisfied” with SMAM, and sponsors would come “very soon”.

“We will be getting more sponsors on board very soon. It has been seen worldwide that in the last six months in the run-up to the event, sponsors start pouring in. We are satisfied with the working of SMAM and will achieve the sponsorship targets,” Kalmadi told The Indian Express.

The OC is currently negotiating with Maruti Suzuki, Samsung, Tata, Arcelor Mittal and several other firms.

All arrangements in place to ensure Delhi 2010 will be safe, secure: Kalmadi

Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi reiterated its confidence that the Commonwealth Games, to be held in October, will be hosted in a safe and secure environment.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi Police have been working on making the best security arrangements for the athletes and visitors in the Commonwealth Games. Along with them, we are monitoring the situation in the wake of the recent incident in Bengaluru and we are leaving no stone unturned to make sure that the Capital is safe and secure,” Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi Chairman Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP, said.

“The Commonwealth Games Federation has been advised by its international security consultant that India is making the best security arrangements for the Games,” he said. “Besides, we have had a number of security briefings for Heads of Missions of the Commonwealth countries and, recently, we had the Chefs de Mission Seminar for all 71 nations. At each such forum, our security plans and arrangements have been welcomed as the best,” he said. “ the CGF President Mr. Mike Fennell was also satisfied with the security arrangements.”

“We have been planning the security arrangements for many years and Government has spared no expense in asking for the best equipment and personnel to be in place. Once all venues are ready, there would be another International Security Liaison Group Security Commanders’ conference. We are taking no chances at all,” Mr. Kalmadi said.

The test events for a number of sporting disciplines, including FIH World Cup hockey, Commonwealth Shooting Championship, Commonwealth Boxing Championship, Badminton Asia Championship, invitational meets in archery, rugby 7s and lawn bowling have all been held successfully and the participants have been happy with the levels of security provided,” he said.

“The security arrangements for the Commonwealth Games are constantly being monitored by the Organising Committee Commonweath Games 2010 Delhi in tandem with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi Police. We are sure we will have a safe and secure Games and that the athletes will be able to perform, assured that they would be given the best protection,” Mr. Kalmadi said.

Tourism packages sought for C'wealth games

Commonwealth Games 2010 Organising Committee Special Director General Jiji Thomas today demanded that the Kerala Government should prepare special tourism packages to attract tourists who visit the state for the Games.

He told reporters here that more than one lakh foreign tourists were expected to reach the country during the Games.

States like Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh
had already prepared "special tourism packages" in connection with the Games, he said.

He had spoken to Kerala sports minister M Vijayakumar in this connection and was expecting a favourable reply from the government.

As Indian Railways are among the sponsors for the Games, a special train will be run for publicisng the Games. It will run between New Delhi and Kerala. He said infrastructure development for the Games was going on at full swing. More than 1200 employees were working at the organising head quarters, round the clock. As the Games date nears, their number will be increased to 2000, he added.

CWG panel kickstarts awareness campaign

The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee today started an awareness campaign in Kerala to give the Games a pan-India presence. Shera, the Games’ official mascot, would be introduced in various states during the campaign.

“As per the contract, the Games go by the name of the host city, which in this case is Delhi. However, it is not Delhi-centric. Starting from Kochi in Kerala, we will organise roadshows in Kolkata, the north eastern states, Goa and Ahmedabad. These activities are a prelude to the Games and will go on till June 25, till the Queen’s Baton Relay reaches Wagah border,” said Jiji Thomson, special director general of the organising committee.

The relay was launched on October 29 last year by the Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth. The international sector of the relay would traverse 1,70,000 kilometres by land, air and sea and touch all the Commonwealth countries in all continents. The baton would arrive in India from Pakistan at the Wagah border on June 25 to start its 100-day national tour. The national sector would be twice as long as the domestic sectors of the baton relays of the previous two Games in Manchester and Melbourne, according to the organising committee. It would visit 28 state capitals, along with other cities covering more than 20,000 kilometres. The Games would be held from October 3-14, wherein 71 Commonwealth Games associations and 8,000 athletes and officials would participate in 17 disciplines.

The committee had a budget of Rs 40 crore for advertising in electronic and print media, besides organising promotional activities like painting competitions for schoolchildren.

Kalmadi invites Delhi to take active part in CWG

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman, Suresh Kalmadi has laid importance on hospitality during the Commonwealth Games as the the international sports event is a massive opportunity for India.

Speaking at a CII conference on 'Commonwealth Games – the Excitement and Opportunities', Kalmadi said that the whole city of Delhi should be get involved in the grand reception of the visitors during CWG.

India successfully holding the prestigious sports event will up the country's prospects of being considered as potential and competent host for Olympics.

During the first green Commonwealth Games, the country is also hoping to play host to and woo the heads of various enterprises, who will be looking at commercial and business opportunities.

Commonwealth Games is set to begin on Oct 3 and conclude on Oct 14.

In an encouraging development, Commonwealth Games Federation (CWF) chief Mike Fennell, who has been nothing but skeptical of India's capabilities to host the games, has also expressed confidence in the country's preparations.

Mrs. Dikshit and Kalmadi launch ticket sales for Delhi’s biggest badminton event since 1982

Chief Minister Mrs. Shiela Dikshit and Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi Chairman Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP, today launched the sale of tickets for the Yonex-Sunrise Badminton Asia Championship to be held at the state of the art DDA Siri Fort Badminton Stadium from 12 April 2010. It is the biggest badminton competition in the Capital since the 1982 Asian Games.

Mrs. Dikshit said she was confident the event would draw full houses, especially since India’s own Saina Nehwal is a big draw. “Last month, Delhi showed it loves top notch sporting events by supporting the FIH World Cup Hockey and the Commonwealth Boxing Championships. I am sure that the Badminton Asia Championships, featuring a lot of leading names, will also draw a terrific response,” she said. 

Mr. Kalmadi said he expected the Badminton Asia Championship to be a roaring success. “Badminton Association of India hosted the World Junior Championship in Pune and the World Championship in Hyderabad successfully. By bringing the Asian Championship as the test event for the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi, BAI has ensured that the sport stays in the public eye,” he said.

BAI President Mr. V. K. Verma pointed out that the ticket prices were pegged really low. “Given the fact that the world class players will be competing for honours in the event, we have pegged the ticket prices really low,” he said. “The prices range from Rs 50 to Rs 200 for the first two days, Rs 100 to Rs. 350 for the third and fourth days, Rs 150 to Rs 500 for the quafterfinals and semifinals and from Rs 300 to Rs 1500 on the final day.”

Bookmyshow.com has been identified as official ticketing agency. Tickets can be booked online by logging on to www.bookmyshow.com from 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30, 2010. The agency will setup a call centre (011-39895050) and will send SMS/e-mail alerts for updates on the Championship 2010.

Tickets will also be available for purchase at Café Coffee Day outlets near Siri Fort Sports Complex and across major areas in Delhi. CCD outlets at the following locations will have tickets for sale: Gargi College, Chanakyapuri, Greater Kailash I M-Block Market, Greater Kailash II M-Block Market, Lajpat Nagar, Ansal Plaza, South Extension II, Rajouri Garden, Connaught Place Inner Circle and Galleria Market (Gurgaon).

Preparation for mega events like CWG time consuming: Kalmadi

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi on Monday sought to defend delays in completion of venues, saying preparation for such a mega event is always time consuming and the country cannot present "half-cooked meals" to the world.

"We are organising a major sporting event in the country after a gap of 28 years, after Asian Games in 1982. It's a big challenge for us. You need to present a world class event when the whole world is watching. You need to showcase everything on a large scale. You cannot serve half-cooked meal," Kalmadi said.

"We are not lagging behind. All venues are ready barring JLN stadium and Yamuna Sports Complex. There work would be over by June 30. You need to understand when a city organises any international sports event, it takes five to 10 years to prepare itself. This is the same with Delhi," he said, speaking at a seminar titled "The Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth: Indian Sport poised for a take off" here.

He said Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell was happy with the progress of preparation when he last visited the country.

"About delays and extending deadlines I want to say that when CGF chief Mike Fennell paid his last visit to India he had said that Delhi Games will going to be best ever, even better than Melboune," said the IOA chief.

"We want to promote Olympics sports through Commonwealth Games and we are up for the challenge. Winning the gold medal in Commonwealth is much more important than winning a match in cricket," he said.

Kalmadi thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for releasing Rs 600 crores from his special fund on the training of the athletes, in paying foreign coaches and looking after their food and lodging.

"We are incurring an expenditure of 1600 crores and we have taken it as loan from the government. We will pay them by the way of sponsorship. The total cost of organising the Games is 10,000 crores. You see magnitude of Games is enormous," Kalmadi said.

Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy said rather than being a burden on the country, the Games would present India various opportunities in several fronts.

"The prestige of the country is associated with the successful organisation of the Games. We in the government are treating this event as a prestigious national project. This is an opportunity to showcase to the world that we are up for even bigger sporting challenges," Reddy said.

"It not in anyway could be counted as a burden on the country, but it's a bonanza of numerous opportunity. With the games we are ceasing the opportunity to put sports infrastructure in place," he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit supported Reddy and said that the huge money involved in the preparation of the October 3-14 event will not be a waste but will give a rich dividends in future.

"Everybody is critical of the amount of money involved in the preparation for the Games. But I want to make it clear that whatever we want to achieve as a nation will be done through this event," Dikshit said.

"It's not a big burden but a big jackpot for the whole country. Legacy of India as well as Delhi in particular are also attached to it.

"Whatever sum of money we are spending on the stadium upgradations, on building infrastructures for the visitors and athletes, all these will work in presenting Delhi as a major sporting destination," she added.

Secretary General of the Commonwealth Kamlesh Sharma said despite all the alarms, India and all the stakeholders involved would be proud of their enhanced stature after the completion of the Games.

"This event is for the welfare and development of other sports in the country," he said.

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee targets Rs. 3 bn from TV rights

The Commonwealth Games Organising Committee hopes to earn Rs three billion from television rights fees during the Games in Delhi in October this year..

Speaking at the Indian International Sports Summit (IISS), CWG 2010 DG V K Verma said that the Melbourne Games in 2006 had generated around Rs. 2.4 billion from television rights fees.

“We have already exceeded that figure by 20 per cent. We have sold rights to various broadcasters like BBC, Foxtel, and TVNZ. With Doordarshan showing the games in High Definition, we are confident that there will be greater acceptance in Indian TV homes.”

The Committee has already signed up various partners for sponsorship. Air India is the official airline. Other companies who have come on-board include Hero Honda, NTPC and Central Bank Of India.

“We are looking for around 15 more companies. We are targeting revenues of around Rs 5 billion from this. We will also launch our licensing and merchandising programme in a couple of months. These will range from apparel and accessories, collectables and publishing to gifts and homewares. It is important to give everyone an opportunity to own a piece of the Games, promoting awareness, goodwill, enthusiasm and inclusion. We expect to earn around Rs one billion from this."

Verma also said there will be cultural programmes leading up to the event. A total of 5000 journalists will be covering the event in what he says will be a state-of-the-art media centre. Around 2.2 million spectators are expected to attend the Games. Over 100,000 tourists are expected to come to Delhi. Out of the Rs 100 billion being spent on the Games, Rs 80 billion will be on things like infrastructure. He says the overarching goal is to make Delhi the sports capital of Asia.

Meanwhile, an industry source said even if the Committee makes Rs. 2.5 billion in sponsorship money, it would have done well. Government owned entities like SAIL and ONGC may also be asked to put in money. Among the private partnerships, Coca-Cola is said to have put in Rs 200 million for being the beverage partner.

Rs687 cr boost for Commonwealth games Overlay

The Union Cabinet has approved the ministry of youth affairs and sports’s proposal for providing Rs687 crore for Overlay to the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee. The proposal came in context of the government’s decision to assure that facilities are provided as per the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) recommendations and keeping in view the benchmarks set by 2006 Melbourne CWG and Beijing Olympics.

All temporary fittings, fixtures and equipment which are mandatory to make the training and competition venues ready come under Overlays. The installation of these equipment will make for excellence and capacity enhancement in all mega international and mega events.

About 8000 athletes across the world will take part in the Games which will be covered by 2000 media personnel from both electronic and print mediums.

The organising committee is developing 23 competition venues and 26 training venues for 17 disciplines. Many non-competitive venues have also been made including the Games village, the international broadcasting centre (IBC), main press centre (MPC), Games family hotel, etc.

'Let's make Delhi the Asian capital of sports'

Delhi should focus on being the Asian capital of sports and work towards bidding for the Olympic Games, V.K. Verma, director general of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, said Friday.

"The security has been unhitched until now and the infrastructure development has been going full swing, all in preparation for the Commonwealth Games. But we have to ensure that the same is being maintained even after the games so that we can hope to win the bid for the Olympic games after this," Verma said on the concluding day of the two-day Delhi Tourism conclave.

"A sports culture has to be inculcated here. The trigger has been the Commonwealth Games, but let's maintain it. Let's make Delhi the Asian capital for sports," he added.

Saying that the onus now lies on every Delhiite to get the "return on investment" that the Commonwealth Games have been, Verma said: "During the Beijing Olympics, the head of the tourism department said 'the world has given us 16 days, we will give them 5,000 years', meaning that the event would be so spectacular that it will be indelible from one's memory.

"We have got 12 days (Commonwealth Games are between Oct 3-14) and without sounding too boisterous, let's say that in the next 20 years we will be at the pinnacle of all other must-visit places in the world." he said.

CWG: England, Australia keen to send squads

The Organising Committee Commonwealth Games (OCCG) on Thursday claimed that England would send a huge contingent for the event here in October.

Quoting from the Commonwealth Games England (CGE) website, OCCG said England would bring a squad of 560 persons, more than its squad for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

“There is no doubt that there are lots of athletes who see Delhi as a vital developmental stepping stone towards the 2012 Olympics in London and they are very keen to be in the team,” said the Chef de Mission of the English squad, Craig Hunter, after his recent visit to India.

“Having seen every competition site, we believe it will all be ready,” Mr. Hunter said.

Australian Commonwealth Games Association Chief Executive Perry Crosswhite did not give much importance to the security issues and said his country would take part.

Commonwealth Games, a boon for Delhi: Suresh Kalmadi

The Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC), Suresh Kalmadi, has said the Commonwealth Games will be a boon for New Delhi.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Kalmadi said: "The Commonwealth Games to be staged later this year has been possible due to the liberal loan worth 1600 crore rupees advanced by the Government of India. So, this event will be a boon for New Delhi.

"The Organising Committee has the budget of 1600 crores. This money has been given to us as loan which we have to repay through sponsorships, through revenue, merchandising and ticketing. So, we have to return all the money we have got. And we are getting a lot of sponsors on board. There is going to be no expenses on our account to the government.

Whatever is happening, the stadiums, the roads, metro and airport is not just for the 15 days of the Games, but that is a legacy for the city of Delhi to enjoy," added Kalmadi.

Kalmadi further said the CGOC is confident about successfully conducting the games.

He also claimed that the game would leave behind world-class sporting infrastructure and allied civic facilities in the country.

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.

Stopping Kalmadi at stadium’s parking was protocol, says top cop

Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal has said Commonwealth Games organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi was stopped at the parking level of Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium as per security protocol.

Dadwal made this point in a letter to the Member of Parliament, who had taken objection at being stopped from taking his vehicle to the stadium’s gate number 1 recently.

Kalmadi had subsequently sent a letter to the city police chief. In his reply, Dadwal pointed out that all security protocol was followed and only heads of states and VVIPs are allowed to go up to gate number 1.

Newsline had reported on March 5 that Kalmadi and International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Leandro Negre’s vehicle was allowed only till the parking stage of the National Stadium.

While Kalmadi had asked the police chief to instruct police officials to allow their vehicle up to gate number 1, where other dignitaries were allowed, Dadwal replied that security is prime concern for the Delhi Police.

“The security protocol was properly followed by the Delhi Police as per international security standards and instructions,” Dadwal said in the letter.

Police sources said similar security format was followed at Beijing Olympics, and the same standards would be followed in the Commonwealth Games starting here on October 3.

“As per international security standards, vehicles of even senior Delhi Police officers, including the commissioner, are allowed till the parking level,” a senior officer said. “Only one vehicle, which is used to ferry the security apparatus, has the pass to go ahead.”

According to the officer, even after showing the official accreditation, all officers and VIPs are being frisked and checked before being let in at the stadiums.

Kalmadi had said in his letter to Dadwal that vehicles of certain dignitaries were allowed up to gate number 1, while the vehicles carrying him and the FIH president were given access “only up to the car parking facility”.

Kalmadi to attend review meeting of NGOC in Ranchi

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president and Chairman of Commonwealth Games organising committee Suresh Kalmadi would arrive here tomorow to attend a review meeting of the 34th National Games Organising Committe (NGOC).

''We expect that Mr Kalmadi will take decision on dates of the mega event which has been postponed for five times,'' organising secretary of NGOC S M Hashmi said.

Hashmi said Mr Kalmadi would also discuss about the preparations in the meeting to be held alongwith the NGOC core committee and Steering Commitee of IOA.

Chief Minister Shibu Soren, Working President of NGOC, Deputy Chief Minister and chairman of Steering Committee and other office bearers are likely to participate in the meeting.

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.

Railways decision to become Delhi 2010 Lead Partner is a landmark: Kalmadi

“Railway budget has number of encouraging moves for Olympic sport in India”

Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi Chairman Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP, today hailed Minister of Railways Ms. Mamta Banerjee’s announcement during her presentation of the Railway Budget before Parliament that Railways would be the Lead Partner of the Games to be held in October this year as a major landmark.

“I congratulate Ms. Mamta Banerjee for the announcement,” Mr. Kalmadi said. “It augurs well for the Games that Railways has come on board as Lead Partner. Railways’ role in nation building and in the evolution of Olympic sport in India is well known.”

Mr. Kalmadi also welcomed the decision to launch a special train, the Commonwealth Express which will have an exhibition and travel all over India to promote the Games as well as the spirit of sportsmanship among the youth.

“I am particularly delighted by Ms. Banerjee’s announcement that Railways would recruit more sportspersons in its ranks in the coming year,” Mr. Kalmadi said. “Olympic sport in India needs such incentives for the young to be drawn towards taking up sport as a career,” he said.

The decision to establish five sports academies in Delhi, Secunderabad, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai and to install a number of astro-turf hockey pitches across the country augurs well for sport in the coming years, Mr. Kalmadi said. “With such encouragement from Railways, I am sure Olympic sport will flourish in India,” he said.

Pakistani militants threaten Commonwealth Games

A Pakistan-based militant group has warned foreigners not to attend three upcoming international sporting events in India, while another one has claimed responsibility for a deadly weekend bomb attack on a city in western India.

Ilyas Kashmiri, an alleged al-Qaeda operative who heads the notorious militant 313 Brigade, contacted the Asia Times Online to warn foreigners not to come to the Hockey World Cup this month, the Indian Premier League in March, and the Commonwealth Games in October.

"We warn the international community not to send their people to the 2010 Hockey World Cup, IPL and Commonwealth Games," said an emailed message to Asia Times Online's Islamabad office.

"Nor should their people visit India - if they do, they will be responsible for the consequences."
A previously unknown group calling itself Lashkar-e-Taiba al-Almi also telephoned the Islamabad bureau of India's Hindu newspaper to say it carried out Saturday's bombing at a German bakery in Poona, which killed ten people, including two foreigners.

It claimed to have split from the larger Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the militant organization blamed for the Mumbai attack of November 2008, because LeT "took its orders from Pakistan's intelligence agency", according to The Hindu.

Both messages said they were motivated by Indian policies in the disputed region of Kashmir, which is claimed in entirety by both India and Pakistan and has sparked three wars between them since they won independence from Britain in 1947.

The two messages, which could not immediately be verified independently, are likely to place further strain on scheduled talks between the Indian and Pakistani foreign secretaries in Islamabad next week - the first such talks since the Mumbai attacks.

They are also sure to heighten fears of further militant attacks in India, especially among British and other Western athletes who are due to attend the three upcoming sports events.

Following the Mumbai attacks, last year's IPL had to be staged in South Africa and Australia pulled out of a tennis Davis Cup tie in India.

New Zealand has already responded by announcing that its men's hockey team will delay travelling to the World Cup, which is due to start in Delhi, the Indian capital, on February 28.

"While Hockey New Zealand still plans for the Black Sticks men's team to attend the Hockey World Cup in Delhi, it has decided to keep the team in Perth until further notice," Hockey New Zealand chief executive Hilary Poole said.

"We have been monitoring this situation all along. But the events over the past 24 hours have lead us to reassess the situation."

The New Zealand Olympic Committee, which is responsible for the New Zealand team going to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, said it was aware of the reported threat.

"We are seeking government advice on the nature and validity of the threat and will take action as appropriate," an NZOC spokeswoman said.

A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said the government was closely monitoring the situation.
Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister, also said his government was keeping a close eye on the situation, and liaising with Indian authorities.

"Indian authorities have pledged to implement strong security procedures for all upcoming sporting events in India,” he said. “We, however, will be following this very, very closely.”

Perry Crosswhite, Chief executive of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association, said he had discussed the threats with the Department of Foreign Affairs, but had yet to alter any plans.

Ric Charlesworth, the coach of the Australian men's hockey team, said he was not overly concerned, but the Kookaburras have been assigned an armed guard.

Paul Marsh, the Australian Cricketers' Association chief executive, agreed the threat level in India had escalated, but said changes to IPL players' travel plans would not be made until closer to their departure date.

"We've gone from a situation where the threat levels in India have been concerning in recent times but now your looking at a probably legitimate, direct threat against the event,” he said.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India, which organizes the IPL, said it would be seen as an insult if any Australian players pulled out because of safety concerns.

“It won't be seen in a good light. They must come, so they should believe the assurances being given by the government," spokesman Rajiv Shukla told Australian radio.

Lalit Bhanot, the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee secretary general, also downplayed the threats.

"We have taken that responsibility, we will provide them security and our government, our police, home ministry, the OC (organizing committee), everybody here is committed to providing them security cover,” Mr Bhanot said.