Let's all kick in for the Games

THE news this week that soccer's international governing body, FIFA, was considering only European bidders for the 2018 Soccer World Cup should have been good news for the Gold Coast's bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

For instance, it should have meant that the $45 million the Federal Government had reportedly earmarked to fund the World Cup bid should have become available for the Coast's hope to host the Commonwealth Games.

But by some sleight of hand, once-strong government support for the Coast bid seems to have evaporated. If we did not know better we might think both the Queensland and Federal governments have decided that the Coast bid for the Commonwealth Games will cost too much. Perhaps Ms Bligh needs to tell us now -- is Queensland too broke to help fund a Gold Coast bid?

The fact is that the forlorn Australian bid for the World Cup was at best naive, at worst totally unrealistic.

But the Gold Coast bid for the Commonwealth Games is well grounded and has a real chance of success -- provided it gets the kind of support it has been promised. It was way back in June 2008 that Premier Bligh told Parliament that the Gold Coast would have the exclusive right to be Australia's nominee for the 2018 Games.

She said she had agreed to commission a 'full and comprehensive feasibility study' into the Coast bid. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also gave his support for the Coast's Commonwealth Games bid, though to be fair he refused to contribute funding because of the $45 million he said the World Cup attempt would entail.

Despite this week's revelation from FIFA, the Government says Australia's bid is going ahead.

Even a successful World Cup bid would hold little benefit for the Gold Coast, or even Queensland for that matter, with the big games going to southern cities.

But if the World Cup bid should fall at the first hurdle, we expect the Prime Minister to fulfil his implicit promise to provide federal funds for the Coast bid -- just as we expect the Premier to keep her explicit promise to help fund the Coast's Games bid.

Both federal and state funding will be crucial if the Gold Coast is to mount a realistic bid for the Games but it seems that since the World Cup failure both have taken their eye off the real ball.

One of the first hurdles to be passed for the Gold Coast to throw its hat into the ring is for the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to meet to formally decide whether an Australian bid for the 2018 games will proceed; but the ACGA seems preoccupied with other matters.

Its website proclaims that the organisation 'is now fully focused' on the 2010 Games in Delhi, India. We suggest that Ms Bligh, Mr Rudd, and especially the ACGA should be much more focused on the Gold Coast bid.

A successful Commonwealth Games bid for the Gold Coast would provide a major fillip to sports infrastructure for the greater Gold Coast, infrastructure that would form a lasting base for the future growth of sports tourism to the area -- an area of tourism that is at present under-used but which is expected to expand dramatically in the future.

The provision of that infrastructure would fit in neatly with State Government economic plans for the area. The Games would create an increase in tourism, an increase of awareness of the Gold Coast on an unprecedented scale.

That in turn would boost the economy of the entire area. Securing the Games for the Coast would be a feather in the caps of both Ms Bligh and Mr Rudd that would boost their stature here immeasurably. Last, but far from least, hosting an event of the stature of the Commonwealth Games would represent the coming of age for the Gold Coast as a city to be reckoned with.

But time is running short. The deadline for Commonwealth Games associations and candidate cities to notify of their intention to bid for the 2018 Games is March 31 -- just two months away.

Now is the time for Ms Bligh and Mr Rudd to put their money where their mouths have been -- we need your support.

Delhi Govt on lookout for 50,000 students volunteers during CWG

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said the Delhi Government was on the lookout for 50,000 students to act as volunteers during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. ''We will need at least 50,000 student volunteers during the Games. The Education department should start identifying students of 11th and 12th standards for it,'' Ms Dikshit stated at the inauguration function of first CWG Wrestling venue here.

Out of 50,000 students, 10,000 will be needed for the opening and closing ceremonies of the CWG, she explained.

''These ceremonies are a reflection of country's culture and are crucial in creating a good image,'' the Chief Minister observed.

''Participation in such a huge event is in itself a big thing for every student,'' she added.

No excuse for non-completion of CWG venues to be tolerated: Sheila

Warning administrators and all other parties involved in organisation of the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) that no excuse would be tolerated for non-completion of Games venues, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said ''now, there is no time to make excuses.'' ''We have very less time to complete the construction work for CWG, so rain, heat, draught or anything cannot be taken as excuse for non-completion of work. We have to finish all the work well before time,''Ms Dikshit said today at the inauguration function of first Wrestling venue of CWG.

The Ludlow Castle Wrestling training venue for the participants of CWG was inaugurated at Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidayalaya at Shyamnath Marg near Civil Lines in the presence of Chairman Of the CWG Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi, PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan, Delhi Education and Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely and other dignitaries of Delhi government.

Calling it the first step of a long journey, the CM asserted, ''We need to work hard not just for completing the games but also creating a good image of the city and the country.'' Congratulating the people responsible for completion of this venue in a very short period, Mr Chauhan said, ''Its an achievement to complete the venue in such a short period of 11 months and that too at the cost of just Rs 13 crore as against the estimated expenditure of around Rs 20 crore.'' He said two more such stadiums, Chhatrasal and Tyagraj, would be ready by March.

As these three sites come under the Education Department, these will be given back after the CWG and students will be able to use these stadiums to hone their skills.

The fully air-conditioned multi-purpose Wrestling training venue can accommodate six wrestling mats and is equipped with all the latest and essential technology the athletes require.

Commonwealth Games will boost other sports in India: Kalmadi

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi Friday said the Commonwealth Games in the city will definitely help in developing other sports in the country.

"Cricket is a very popular sport in India. But I think Commonwealth Games will provide a boost to development of Olympic sports infrastructure in the country," said Kalmadi at the inauguration function of Ludlow Castle Wrestling training venue here.

"Cricket is played in only 10-12 countries while Olympic sports are played in nearly 200 countries. I hope because of Commonwealth Games people look towards Olympic sports also," he added.

Govt relaxes arms import provisions for Commonwealth Games shooters

In what would come as a major boost for the country's top shooters preparing for this year's Commonwealth Games, the Sports Ministry has "liberalised" provisions for the import of weapons and cartridges for their training.

"The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has liberalised and rationalised procedures for import of weapons and ammunition and resale of used weapons by renowned shooters," the ministry said in a statement.

"A Committee under Joint Secretary (Sports) examined the existing procedures and decided to liberalise them. The orders to this effect has been issued by the Ministry, yesterday."

Under the new guidelines, the No Objection Certificates required for an import license and the Custom Duty Exemption Certificates will no longer have to routed through the ministry.

"A renowned shooters may be allowed to approach the Regional Authority of Director General Foreign Trade (DGFT) directly after obtaining the recommendations of National Rifles Association of India.

"The present practice of MYAS issuing 'Custom Duty Exemption Certificate' may be dispensed with and a suitable provision may be made for automatic grant of custom duty exemption on the basis of self-certification by the renowned shooter along with the documentary evidence in respect of import of weapons/ammunition."

The Ministry also revised the quota of custom duty exempted ammunition for top shooters.

"15,000 cartridges per year (For renowned shooters participating in one event), 20,000 cartridges per year (For renowned shooters participating in two events) and 25,000 cartridges per year (For renowned shooters participating in more than two events)," the ministry said.

The Ministry said top shooters can now also import upto five custom duty exempted weapons.

"Renowned Shooters may be allowed to avail of Custom Duty exemption for only five weapons, at any point of time. In case, he holds more than five weapons, on which he has availed Custom Duty Exemption, the limit imposed thereafter of five weapons, will exclude the weapons that have completed the minimum usage time prescribed in the import licence.

"As such, import of weapons beyond the limit of five weapons shall not be eligible for Custom Duty Exemption. Further the overall ceiling imposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs on holding of weapons will apply," the statement said.

Besides, the shooters will also be allowed to sell their used weapons but only after five years of acquiring them.

"The present practice of prior approval may be dispensed with, and the Renowned Shooter may be allowed, to sell the weapons once he/she meets the minimum duration of use condition i.e. five years in the case of Renowned Shooter, and three years in the case of a Shooter who qualifies as a Renowned Shooter, for three consecutive years", it said.

"The Renowned Shooter may be allowed to sell the weapons to any shooter, who is a valid license holder, registered with District/State/National Rifle Association," the ministry statement said.

The Ministry said the guidelines have been revised after taking the feedback of top shooters.

"The Ministry has examined this issue after receipt of representations from the renowned Shooters that the existing procedure for import of arms and ammunition is very time consuming and causes escalation of cost of import, as well as shortages of weapons/ammunition and thereby, adversely affect the training and practice regime.

"Furthermore, the guidelines for resale of weapons imported by Renowned Shooters is unduly restrictive and hampers the development of sports," it said.

Sevens coach sets sights on Commonwealth Games

The retention of the IRB Sevens World Series rugby title is a fast-fading dream for the Springbok sevens side and a pragmatic Bok coach Paul Treu has now set his sights on the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October.

“Of course it remains our main goal to retain the IRB title,” said Treu yesterday, “but the reality is it will take not only a huge effort from the Springboks in the remaining six tournaments, but also some unlikely results from the front-runners in the competition for that to happen.

“It is a good time to start building for the future and that includes the Commonwealth Games as our first goal after the IRB Series.

“We have some very good young players and we still have six tournaments to get to the right combination and standard.”

Treu has four new caps in the side for the tournaments in Wellington (February 5-6) and Las Vegas (February 13-14) in Philip van der Walt, Steven Hunt, Hoffman Maritz and Branco du Preez, as well as Cecil Afrika, who has played in two tournaments so far.

But, points out Treu, some of the youngsters in the squad, as well as members of the training squad in Stellenbosch, should be at their peak in 2016 when sevens makes its debut at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“That’s six years from now. These guys will be between 25 and 27 years old by the time the Olympics take place – hard and experienced.

“We’ve worked very hard over the last fortnight,” Treu said.

“With the new players in the side it was important they gel and feel comfortable with the structures. They all had good tournaments in Argentina (Mar del Plata) and Sri Lanka (Asian Invitation) and the ability is there.

“One must remember, however, that this is a big step up and the rigorous training the past few weeks was partly to prepare the younger guys for the tougher and longer schedule of the IRB Series.”

Need to work hard to complete CWG projects in time: Dikshit

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday acknowledged that it will be "difficult" to complete all projects related to the Sheila Dikshit Commonwealth Games 2010 in the coming eight months.

Nevertheless, she expressed hope that the administration will be able to finish the work in time.

"It will be difficult to complete the CWG works in the next eight months and we need to work hard. But I believe we will complete the work smoothly," she said inaugurating the Ludlow Castle Wrestling Training Venue at a school near Civil Lines, the first Games venue to have been completed.

She also cautioned officials against giving excuses for delay in completing the projects.

"Drought, heavy rainfall, no rain - all these excuses will not work for us now. Before September 3, we have to complete all works related to the Games," she said at the function, which was also attended by Delhi ministers Arvinder Singh Lovely and Raj Kumar Chauhan.

"This is the first building to be completed for CWG. Today, We have completed the first phase of the Games. All credit goes to the PWD and education departments," she said.

She also used the opportunity to reach out to the students, whose participation, she believes, will be very important in hosting the Games successfully.

"I want to tell the children that we will need about 50,000 volunteers for the Games and our education department will soon start selecting volunteers. Besides, we need 10,000 students for opening and closing ceremonies," she said at the presence of IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi.

Kalmadi said the infrastructure for Commonwealth Games will be helpful in the future for those who want to take up Olympic sports.

"Cricket is more popular in the country and these facilities will help in encouraging those taking up Olympic sports," he said.