Ellen Fullerton has her eyes on Delhi Commonwealth Games trials

TEENAGE flyer Ellen Fullerton isn't too worried whether she shimmers or stumbles at the Queensland State Championships, which start today, because she has eyes only for March's national championships which double as the Commonwealth Games trials in Sydney.

The Pro-Ma Miami marvel, who debuted at the World Championships in Rome earlier this year, is part of coach Denis Cotterell's 20-plus pod of competitors heading to the Brisbane Aquatic Centre at Chandler for the annual showdown which brings together over 2000 competitors across open and age group swimmers.

But the 17-year-old couldn't be more relaxed as she prepares to tackle a daunting program which will take in the 200m and 400m freestyle, the 200m and 400m individual medleys, not to mention the 4x100m medley and 4x100 freestyle relays.

"I'm really just viewing the meet as great practice going into the trials in March," explained Fullerton, whose program places her on a possible collision course with her idol and look-alike, triple Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice.

"For me, and a lot of the swimmers it's about qualifying for the Commonwealth Games. It would be a massive thrill to make the Australian team again."

The state titles are the last Australian meet before the full polyurethane suits are banned. During the week Fullerton posed in Sydney for the new compliant Speedo suits with Dolphins teammates Emily Seebohm, Leisel Jones, Libby Trickett, Bronte Barratt, Eamon Sullivan and Andrew Lauterstein.

She gets to try out her new suit tomorrow, and is confident it will keep her in the fast lane for a spot in the Australian squad for October's Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

The Miami contingent also includes Fullerton's close friend Katie Goldman who will go head-to-head with her in the 200m and 400m freestyle.

Jade Neilsen will swim the 100m and 200m freestyle while Amy Levings will churn up the lanes in the 200m and 400m butterfly, medley and freestyle.

Coordination commission starts evaluating Commonwealth Games work

The Coordination Commission (CoCom) of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has begun the process of evaluating Delhi's preparations for the 2010 Games.

CoCom chairman Austin Sealy, who has visited some of the venues in the last couple of days, said he has started taking stock of the situation.

"All I can say is that the process has started. It is too early to speak to the media," he told IANS.

The seven-member CoCom will be briefed by different agencies on the current status of work and the Organising Committee (OC) will make a presentation on operational matters.

CoCom member Michael Hopper said he and Sealy visited the Games village and the Indira Gandhi Stadium Friday.

Hopper said that Sealy has visited some more venues Saturday.

"There is a noticeable progress in work after the whole issue came into the limelight. But we will get a clear picture when the OC and various agencies make their presentations," Hooper said.

The three-day exercise beginning Monday will critically review of the progress of work.

"There are a wide range of issues related to completion of venues and on the operations that will be discussed during the CoCom meeting. We will analyse everything," Hooper said.

Interestingly, Sports Minister M. S. Gill has himself gone around some of the venues to get a first hand knowledge of the works in progress.

The CoCom will take a couple of weeks to table its report to the Commonwealth Games Federation executive board. But before that, they will also give their inputs to CGF chief Michael Fennell, who will arrive next week.

A decision will also be taken on setting up of an independent review panel to monitor the monthly progress of the work for the Games, a move that was rejected by the Organising Committee.

NTPC to be official partner for Commonwealth Games

The NTPC will be the official Power Partner for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the biggest sports extravaganza to be organised in the sub-continent.

An MoU to this effect was signed between the NTPC and the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee in the presence of Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Minister of State for Power Bharatsinh Solanki here last evening.

The MoU was signed by MP and Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi and NTPC CMD R S Sharma. Secretary (Power) H S Brahma and senior officials from the Ministry, Commonwealth Secretariat and the NTPC were also present on the occasion.

Later speaking on the occasion, Mr Kalmadi said, ''We are very happy to get on board the NTPC as the official power partner for the CWG 2010.

The Games offers a great opportunity for Indian businesses to explore and develop new growth opportunities and to establish a strong connect with people spread across diverse geographies.'' Mr Kalmadi said, ''The Commonwealth Games have undoubtedly asserted India's global presence and brought to the forefront the country's emergence as a sporting, political and economic giant.'' Echoing similar views, Mr Sharma said, ''NTPC's vision to be a world class integrated power major and power India's growth, matches with that of Commonwealth Games. This association shall provide the NTPC brand a platform for visibility across the country and the globe. NTPC's association with the Games will help in enhancing positive brand values of youth, vitality, health and achievement.'' The NTPC will market its leadership position through the use of the Games marks and imagery. This recognition will allow NTPC to enjoy marketing rights, advertising, promotion and recognition to connect with all its customers around the country.

The NTPC would add about 1500 MW from its Dadri and Jhajjar projects which are slated to be ready by the Commonwealth Games deadline.

The NTPC-Dadri presently generates 840 MW of power through coal and 817 MW through gas. With the additional 980 MW coal capacity, the installed capacity of the station would rise to 2637 MW.

TV rights fetch Commonwealth Games organisers $60 million

The 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee on Friday said they have earned $60 million -- $20 million more than expected -- as revenue from television rights.

Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi said on Friday they had targeted $40 million from selling television rights, but they have already managed $60 million.

"We have crossed our target and we are going to touch $60 million by selling television rights. We have struck a good deal with broadcasters in Australia and Britain by sorting out the timing of the disciplines which are popular in these countries," Kalmadi said.

"CWG is going to be a revenue-neutral event. We have taken $2.6 billion from the government and we will be in a position to repay the amount. We will raise the money through sponsorship, TV rights, merchandising and ticket sales."

Hero Honda will be the presenting partner during the Indian leg of the Queen's Baton Relay.

"We are delighted to have Hero Honda as a partner for CWG. It is an excellent platform to reach out to national and international audiences. I hope more Indian companies will come forward to participate in the spectacle," said Kalmadi.

Pawan Munjal, CEO of Hero Honda, said: "The company is committed to promoting sports in the country. I am hopeful that the Games will inspire an entire generation and leave a lasting legacy for the country."

'Scott Harrison' gym can spark Commonwealth Games gold rush

IN unveiling the Scott Harrison School of Boxing, Peter Harrison has revealed his belief that the new state-of-the-art facility, named after his former world champion son, will inspire Scotland to a record-breaking haul of five gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Harrison, recognised as one of the best boxing coaches Scotland has produced, is adamant having the name of his controversial offspring on the door of the new £300,000 gym in the east end of Glasgow will inspire rather than repel a new generation of fighting talent as "boys will want to punch the same bag that a champion has punched."

Harrison's son Scott – under his father's tutelage – won the WBO world featherweight championship in 2002 but has seen both his professional and personal life unravel in recent years as he struggles to cope with depression and alcohol addiction, leading to spells behind bars, including the 30-month sentence he is currently serving in Spain.

Despite this, his talents in the ring were seldom in doubt and Harrison Snr hopes to welcome a raft of similarly skilled young talent to his gym in order to launch a home-based assault on the medal tables come 2014. His Glasgow Phoenix Amateur Boxing Club, which has been and will continue to be based in the city's east end, has built up a great reputation, and, as someone who has boxed for Scotland in the Commonwealth Games himself – in Edinburgh in 1970 – he believes that these new premises, located in Glasgow's French Street, will allow Scotland to target as many as five gold medals at the Glasgow Games.

Harrison said: "My job as development coach is to help produce and train talent for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and this move will be a massive step forward. People think this is just a gym, but it's not until they go into it that they realise what it will actually do. The group I'm concentrating on will be eligible for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and that's the people I'm trying to produce training camps for and get prepared. I honestly believe we're talking about five gold medals in 2014, which we've never won before."

Speaking about how the gym will be open to members of the public from all walks of life and break down accessibility barriers for people who have disabilities, he added: "I don't think the people involved in making this club happen, like Gateway and Glasgow City Council realise just what they've done, they've actually created a gym that's open to everybody. We've got facilities for women, men, and people in wheelchairs. There's nothing to stop people who are in wheelchairs from coming to the gym and punching a bag."

These new facilities will also boast the only 20ft ring in Scotland, and the former Commonwealth Games quarter-finalist said that will be of a great advantage.

"A good thing for the amateur boxers who are competing just now is that we're going to have a 20ft ring – that's the only ring that size in Scotland. The biggest problem Scottish boxers have got is they box in a 16ft ring, 18ft if they're lucky, and then they go abroad to box in international tournaments and they're in 20ft rings. It's a big difference. You need facilities, and our boxers will have these and benefit from it," said Harrison.

As well as the achievements he has made through coaching, Harrison also had an illustrious career as a boxer, and credits his roots and family for his interest in the sport. He said: "I first got involved in boxing when my grandfather gave me a pair of boxing gloves when I was very young. This got me interested in the sport because it meant that I could spar with people and it just grew from there.

My first amateur club was the Glasgow Transport Club and I started there when I was 15 years old. I stayed there for a couple of years and that's where I spent most of my early boxing life."

From there, his love for boxing grew and he participated in the 1970 Commonwealth Games, getting to the quarter-finals and also took part in the European Championships before that. Despite this success, the one thing that sticks out in his mind is the loss in the Commonwealth Games, because it was in Edinburgh and he was tipped to win gold. Remembering the devastating feeling of defeat, he said: "After the Commonwealth Games, it took me a long time to get over losing and this was made worse because I didn't fight for a few months after it."

When Harrison eventually hung up his gloves, he was approached by a British coach and asked to help promote the sport in schools and youth clubs, and that's when he realised that he wanted to assist youngsters in achieving their potential.

He stated: "I love boxing and there's something in a coach that wants to connect people and coach the best. I had a successful amateur club from 1970-1980 and produced good boxers. I started training Tommy Gilmour's fighters such as Stevie Boyle, British lightweight champion, and a few other champions. I also trained Paul Weir – world light-flyweight champion – and took him to two world titles. In 1992-1993 I started training my son, Scott."

Despite his long association with boxing, Harrison is not content to step back from the ring at the moment because he thrives on training people. He said: "I train everybody. I'm probably recognised as the most successful trainer in the history of Scottish boxing; no other trainer has trained as many boxers for title fights as I have and been successful. I train children at schools, everybody, that's the way a trainer should be."

Hero Honda signs MoU to be official partner for 2010 Commonwealth Games

Hero Honda, country's leading motorcycle manufacturer, on Friday joined hands with the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 (OC CWG Delhi 2010) to be its official partner for the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in the national capital.

Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman of Organising Committee and Pawan Munjal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hero Honda, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a formal event held in the national capital.

Addressing the media, Kalmadi termed Hero Honda's initiative as laudable, prompting other corporate and private entities to follow suit.

"I am very happy to take Hero Honda on board because with your associating with us, branding with us. I think it will be encouraging for all the private sector to join us for the Games," Suresh Kalmadi said.

Apart from Hero Honda, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), the state-owned largest power generating company, has also signed an agreement with the Games Committee.

Pawan Munjal said it is only natural for Hero Honda to be an active partner in the Games, as it has been actively promoting various disciplines of sports such as cricket, golf and hockey.

"It is only natural that Hero Honda should partner Commonwealth Games 2010 in keeping with our very long term commitment for the promotion of sports across various disciplines across India," Munjal said.

The Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi will be India's first major international sports event after the 1982 Asian Games.

The Games will be held between October 3 and 14 next year, and will be staged in India for the first time and in Asia for the second time.

Significant changes in CWG progress: Hooper

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief executive Mike Hooper said on Thursday there have been “significant changes” in the Delhi Games preparations, which were criticised for being behind schedule as recently as October.

The observation comes as a boost for the Organising Committee (OC) ahead of a crucial three-day Coordination Commission Meeting (COCOM), which begins here on Monday to further review the pace of work.

“During the course of the meeting, we will review the progress across a range of function areas. It’s a long process,” Hooper told The Indian Express. “There have been changes, quite significant changes, since October. We will review all that and submit our detailed report to CGF president Mike Fennell.”

Barely two months ago, after the federation's General Assembly meeting in Delhi, Fennell had slammed the Organising Committee (OC) for Games preparations and announced setting up an Independent Technical Review Committee to monitor the progress. The panel, comprising foreign experts, was earlier said to come into effect post Christmas, but the CGF now appears non-committal about it.

‘Fennell to decide’

“There will be discussions about the panel during COCOM, as to when it will start functioning,” said Hooper, adding that only Mike Fennell, who will be in Delhi for the meeting, would decide on the future course of action.

Meanwhile, the Coordination Commission, chaired by Austin Sealy of Barbados, will have seven members, including Hooper, and the OC says it is better prepared this time around.

“We are confident the commission will return satisfied with the progress we have made in the last six months. We have done a lot since the last COCOM in May,” said OC vice-chairman Randhir Singh.

The last time the commission had visited, it had feared in its report that the Games might fail from an operational perspective should there be not change in the functioning of the Organising Committee.