1620 crore budgetary boost for 2010 CWG

Hit by delays and escalating cost of infrastructure, the 2010 Commonwealth Games here received a massive budgetary boost on Thursday with the central government allocating Rs 1620 crore as loan to the Organising Committee of the event.

"The Union Cabinet today approved the proposal of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for providing a revised budget of Rs 1620 crore, as loan to the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010, at the prevailing government rate of interest, for organising the CWG at Delhi during October 3 to 14. Budget approved earlier was Rs 767 crore," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

Elaborating on the reasons for the budgetary hike, she said rising cost of opening and closing ceremonies, the increase in the number of days for Queen's Baton Relay – from 136 to 240 days for international leg and from 60 to 100 days for domestic leg -- were among the reasons that forced the increased allocation.

"Inclusion of new items that are essential for the successful delivery of the Games but were not provided in the initial budget of the OC, namely accreditation, city operations, sponsorship and TV rights, security, sustainability and environment and ticketing," she said. Cost escalation in respect of accommodation, catering, protocol and CGF relations, Queen's Baton Relay, rent for office of OC, communication, image and look technology, risk management, insurance and technical conduct of sports were also listed as reasons for budgetary hike.

Besides, the Minister said, "the number of volunteers has gone up to nearly 30,000 and the cost of accreditation, catering, uniform etc on this account has also increased.”

Global Television Wins Bid For 2010 Commonwealth Games International Broadcast Centre

Global Television has won a world wide tender to design, install and operate the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

This will be the first time in Commonwealth Games history that the event has been broadcast in High Definition digital, also marking a critical milestone for Indian television.

Australia’s leading and most experienced services provider to the television industry, Global was selected from a tough international field after an intensive three-month evaluation period.

Global delivered the IBC technical build for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and has brought the same team together for Delhi 2010. Global will also work with an on-the-ground Indian partner, Shaf Broadcast.

The IBC is the hub for all Commonwealth Games broadcasting activity, handling incoming television pictures and sound from the host broadcaster, distributing that footage to international rights holders and managing rights holders’ outgoing transmissions.

Global’s track record in providing complex technical broadcast requirements for major international events is well established. In addition to the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Global Television has delivered IBC requirements for the 2007 FINA World Championships (swimming), World Youth Day in 2008 and the 2000 Sydney Paralympics.

Global Television CEO Kerri Thompson said: "The 2010 Commonwealth Games IBC tender is among the most prized on the international broadcasting event calendar.

"As the nucleus of broadcast activity for the competition, the IBC transmits literally thousands of hours of sporting drama, achievement and news to viewers around the world.

"Away from the competition venues, perceptions of the Games’ success will hinge on the quality and timeliness of material beamed home.

"In securing this contract, Global Television is especially proud to showcase the Australian broadcast industry’s capabilities and demonstrate the High Definition digital expertise for which Australia is renowned."

The Delhi Commonwealth Games IBC will house studio and reporting facilities for broadcasters and journalists from around the world. Occupying 8,000 square meters, up to 1,500 broadcast professionals will be based at the IBC.

Global Television begins work on the contract immediately, with a technical team en route to Delhi for briefings this week and to attend the first World Broadcasters Meeting for rights holders.

The XIX Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 will be held from 3rd–14th October next year. Competition will feature 17 sports, with around 8,500 athletes and officials from 71 Commonwealth Games Federation member countries expected to attend.

Shah Rukh wants to perform in CWG opening ceremony

The controversy-marred build-up notwithstanding, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan on Sunday said next year's Commonwealth Games here would be successful and expressed his desire to perform at the event's opening ceremony.

"God willing, I think India will hold a successful Commonwealth Games. I am confident about that," Khan told reporters on the sidelines of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon.

Khan said he would love to perform during the opening ceremony of the event at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium and would also come to watch some of the sporting events.

"I would love to perform (in the opening ceremony). It really sounds great. I will come during CWG. Get ready Dilliwalo," he said amid loud cheers from fans.

Khan said it was heartening to see such a large number of people braving the early morning chill to participate in the half marathon.

"I love you Delhiites, you were wonderful and I am overwhelmed," he said.

Khan also urged regular organisation of half marathons in other parts of the country to promote sports and said health permitting, he would participate in next year's half marathon.

"I have never participated in a marathon, but I would definitely love to do so. When I'll feel fit, then I'll come," Khan said.

"Sports is most important after education and we should promote it to the highest level. I love sports and want such events to be organised regularly. During my school days, I was very active in sports," he said.

Another Bollywood actor Rahul Bose said with every passing year, Delhi half marathon is getting bigger.

"This marathon has established itself as a brand and that is recognisable. Through this concept, you are also helping deprived and disadvantaged people of the society in a novel way," Bose said.

Sebastian Coe backs Cardiff Commonwealth Games bid

Sebastian Coe today backed Cardiff's bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, claiming that they stand a good chance.

The chairman of London 2012 said: "Wales is beginning to get a reputation for very high quality event management."

In recent years Cardiff has gained an impressive reputation for attracting and hosting major sporting events, including the Rugby World Cup final, FA Cup finals, world championship boxing and rallying, Grand Prix speedway and Ashes Test cricket.

The Ryder Cup will be held at the Celtic Manor Resort near Newport, next year.

The Commonwealth Games, however, would be the biggest sporting event ever hosted in Wales, with 71 teams from around the world and over 5,000 athletes.

The Welsh capital would be the central base for the Games, but facilities in both Swansea and Newport would also be used, under plans announced last month.

Coe told BBC Wales: "[Hosting the Games] It's not that far-fetched.

"If they have a really good coordinated programme, and obviously political and sporting support, you could see Wales do that again."

The Raja Nahar Singh Palace in Ballabgarh is being turned into a tourist destination in time for the Commonwealth Games

The Raja Nahar Singh Palace, a heritage property in Ballabgarh, is getting a complete makeover.
Call it the effort of Haryana Tourism to promote the resort or the pressing demand in the national capital region to get ready to receive the guests for Commonwealth Games 2010.

Renovation work at the palace site is going on at a fast pace.
Haryana Tourism Divisional Manager, Sheetal Prasad Jain, said thattheRajaNaharSinghPalace, that was taken over by the state tourism department in 2003, had undergone a major change a few years back. However, some changes remained. Haryana Tourism sources said that over Rs 1 crore was to be spent. "The idea is to make it a complete tourist destination," said Jain.

"The walls are being painted with the colours in vogue in the periodthepalacewasconstructed.
Cementing of the parking area and changing of the flooring is also under the renovation plan," Jain said.

Jain said though the premises are open to public and many marriage functions are being held there, the construction work will continue as per schedule.
"Marriagesarekeepingthepremises engaged. However, the work is going on in full swing and we hope to complete it in a month or so," he said.

Jain said guests on New Year eve would have an altogether different experience. 2003 This is the year when the Raja Nahar Singh palace was taken over by the state tourism department. It had undergone some changes. Rs 1 crore This is the amount of money that will be spent on the complete renovation of the heritage site, say officials. 2009 Although marriages are keeping the premises engaged at present, officials says work is on in full swing at the palace.

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Delhi College Hostels to fulfill the accommodation crisis

Delhi Lt. Governor advises colleges to minimize activity during games

India may house thousands of athletes, officials and tourists participating in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in university hostel rooms normally meant for students because of a desperate accommodation crunch in its capital.

A sports ministry-appointed panel has identified 3,250 “suitable” hostel rooms across Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia and the Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology (NSIT) for the accommodation, top government officials told.

The identified hostels and campuses will now be upgraded or renovated to meet accommodation standards that will be available at the official Games Village, the government has decided based on the panel’s report, sources said.

Games organizers are likely to allocate a room to each participant athlete, official or tourist but officials are not ruling out the need to ask some to double up in the rooms.

The Games Village, under construction along the banks of the Yamuna, is expected to have a capacity of 8,500 athletes and officials. But the organizers fear they may need more accommodation.

The tourism ministry has indicated concerns over a potential shortage of rooms for tourists.

“This is a desperate move. But it will help the institutes and the hostels, so it is a win-win situation,” a government official said.

The sports ministry has asked the human resource development ministry to co-ordinate with the institutions which are likely to stall most academic activity during the Games, HRD sources said.

Delhi lieutenant-governor Tejinder Khanna has also asked the HRD ministry to specifically shut down DU during the Games, scheduled between October 3 and October 14 next year, government sources said.

Khanna, in his letter, has, however, sought the closure of DU arguing that it will help reduce traffic on the capital’s roads duringthe Games.

DU’s grounds are also a venue for the Rugby7s, a seven-a-side avatar of rugby at the Games. Rugby players are likely to be housed in the DU hostels.

Of the 3,250 rooms identified by the panel, around 2,100 are in boys’ hostels — with other facilities such as toilets for men. The remaining rooms are in girls’ hostels, the sources said.

A majority of the rooms selected around 2,000 are in DU while the rest are in Jamia and NSIT, an autonomous institute of the Delhi government.

The sports ministry panel has argued that the government will need Rs. 6.5 crore for the renovation and upgradation of identified rooms, hostels and campuses — at the rate of around Rs 20,000 per room.

Senior DU and Jamia officials said the universities might need to shut down or minimize academic activity during the Games.

“But the hostels and so the university will benefit in the long run because of the upgrading and renovation,” a DU administrator said.