Commonwealth Games president frustrated by Construction Delays

Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell has expressed frustration that two major venues for the 2010 games will miss construction deadlines.

All venues for the games in New Delhi are supposed to be completed by March 31, but the games' co-ordination commission recently said the venues for athletics and swimming will not be ready until June.

Fennell said on Saturday that he had been assured the projects would be completed on time. He stressed that "there can be no further delays."

The games that feature 71 nations and territories of the old British empire are scheduled for Oct. 3-14.

Source: Google.com

Common Wealth Games will be a Success:M S Gill

NEW DELHI: Even as sports minister M S Gill on Wednesday insisted that the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next year would be a success, he stated that India, which he described as a poor country, should not be making any bid to host Olympics in the near future.

Responding to a calling attention motion in Rajya Sabha, Gill said India staging Commonwealth Games successfully would not in any way imply that it was in a position to host Olympics in 2020.

Gill's `reality check' has come as a dampener for those advocating India's case for the 2020 Olympics. "I don't think India should be thinking about Olympics. Look at the poverty of this country and its urban problems,'' he said.

"There is a certain class of us who want these great events because it's good entertainment. China spent Rs 50 billion on its Olympic Games. Think if you are in a position to spend like that,'' he added.

Gill made the remarks in response to Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan's assertion that India could host Olympics if it managed to stage Commonwealth Games successfully. Coming down heavily on the "lack of preparedness'', she said India could end up making a mockery of itself. "It's too obvious we are here to laugh at ourselves and make a mockery of the whole show. By now, we should have started our practice drills. But with a government of assessments, reports and then action I think we are in big trouble," she said.

"I really feel sorry for the (sports) minister because you have the baby on your lap but no nurse,'' she added.

Gill, however, assured that everything was in order. "The stadia will be completed in time. The government is investing substantial amount of money for the upgradation of various stadia to be used for the Games,'' he said.

"These stadia will become state-of-the-art venues of international standards. The government of India and the organising committee are fully committed to completing all preparations for the Games in good time,'' he added.

Source: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Commonwealth Games Pride of India: PM

NEW DELHI: Calling it a matter of pride for the nation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said his government would spare no effort to ensure that the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be hosted here are successfully conducted.

"The government is fully aware that national prestige is at stake, and it would provide complete support to the Organising Committee," Manmohan Singh said during a meeting with Commonwealth Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, according to a statement issued by the committee.

The meeting was significant as it was held in the wake of serious concerns raised by Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Michael Fennell over India's ability to host the games, which are scheduled to begin Oct 3, 2010. Several Games-related projects are behind the schedule, according to media reports.

Fennel has also sought an appointment with the prime minister during the CGF General Assembly meeting here next month.

Kalmadi assured the prime minister that the Organising Committee has capable people and they are working round the clock to ensure that the games go well.

"I never had doubts about the government's commitment to the conduct of the Commonwealth Games, and I came away very satisfied with the meeting today," said Kalmadi.

CGF chief Angry over Commonwealth Games Preparations

Expressing serious concerns over the Suresh Kalmadi-led organising committee’s ability to deliver a successful Commonwealth Games, CGF president Mike Fennell has sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s intervention to expedite preparations for the 2010 event in the Capital.

In a letter to the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CWOGC), a furious Fennell has asked Kalmadi to arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Singh next month.

“Our main concern relates to the capacity of the Organising Committee to deliver operationally. Preparations for the Games are significantly behind, so much so that the Commonwealth Games Federation is extremely worried about the Organising Committee’s ability to deliver the games to any comparable standard to that of the last two editions of the Games in Manchester and Melbourne,” Fennell wrote in the letter, a copy of which is with The Indian Express.

Fennell said that the vast majority of functional areas were considerably behind schedule and that an overhaul in the management culture and operation of the organising committee was needed, else the Games “will fail from an operational perspective”.

“The procurement processes within the committee are stagnant and the lack of empowerment of functional area management is retarding progress.

“With only a year to run until the Games, I feel I must personally brief the Prime Minister of India on the lack of preparations and to seek his input in developing an appropriate recovery plan. I have asked the Chairman of the Organising Committee to facilitate such a meeting on my return to Delhi in early October for our General Assembly.

“The Government of India has committed significant resources towards the operational delivery of the Games (Rs1620 crores) and it would be irresponsible and negligent of the Federation not to share its concerns openly with the Government. I am looking forward to some urgent actions in order to bring about the successful celebration of the Games in 2010,” he wrote.

During his visit in July, Fennell had praised the organisers and said that he was satisfied with the progress. However, he said those comments did not portray the real picture.

“Whilst my public comments generally and in particular during my previous visit in July have consistently taken the position that from a public standpoint I have been supportive and positive, but the reality is that the Federation has consistently expressed serious concerns to the organising committee on preparations for the Games,” he said.

With regard to this, Fennell cited a CGF Coordination Commission report, which predicted partial failure of the Games.

“Given it is 27 years since India hosted an international multi-sport event, why is there such a reluctance to recruit experience from overseas?” the commission report asked.

It further added: “The Coordination Commission is of the view that the Games’ failure in part is now likely should the CGF not intervene... It is reasonable to further conclude that the current situation poses a serious risk to the Commonwealth Games in 2010, the Commonwealth Games brand and the image of the CGF.”

The CGF president said that the report was issued to the organising committee’s executive board, but there was no formal response from them.

“The only way to address matters going forward is to openly share information and concerns both amongst ourselves as Board Members and with our key stakeholders,” the letter said.

While Kalmadi was not available for comments, organising committee treasurer AK Mattoo described Fennell’s remarks as “unfortunate”.

“I’m shocked to hear about his (Fennell) observation on the committee. We are doing our best and I am confident we’ll host a successful Games. Delays to happen, but criticising is not going to get you anywhere,” Mattoo told The Indian Express.

“Having said that, I am confident that we’ll sit together and resolve the issue soon .”

Source: indianexpress.com

Union Minister MS Gill visits Commonwealth Games sites

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports MS Gill on Monday visited stadiums in the national capital to have a comprehensive review of the construction progress for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Gill visited Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Dr. Shyma Prasad Mukherjee Aquatics Complex and Talkatora Indoor Stadium, where construction is under process to host Hockey, Swimming and Boxing events.

Gill was accompanied by officials of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Sports Authority of India, New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and representatives of Organising Committee, who made presentations to the minister, and briefed him about the progress made as on date of various tasks being undertaken.

“Every human effort is being put in to deliver the sporting facilities well before time,” Gill said while talking to reporters after visiting the sites.

The minister informed that Dr. Shyma Prasad Mukherjee Aquatics Complex would be ready well before the time for holding the test events in April, he said the project has a very complex engineering design and its being executed with the advice of several international consultants.

Gill also complimented the engineers and workers for building such complex engineering facilities and emphasised the need to take adequate safety precautions while executing the complex engineering project.

Meanwhile, at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, where Hockey events will be hosted, Gill said that he was impressed with the progress and plenty of work has been completed, and also said the CPWD officials have assured him that the stadium will be completed by the end of the year.

About the Talkatora Indoor Stadium for Boxing events, the NDMC officials briefed him about various facilities coming up in the stadium and assured him that the stadium will be completed by November this year.

Tourism Industry Ready to take Benefits from Commonwealth Games

Tourism minister Kumari Selja today said that the tourism industry needed to gear up to reap the benefits as over 1 lakh foreigners who are expected to throng the capital during the Commonwealth Games next year.

Speaking on the sidelines of a workshop on World Class Tourism Infrastructure in New Delhi, held at Hotel Ashok today, the minister said that the mega sport event offered a great opportunity to showcase the country by providing the best facilities to tourists.

She added that the provision of comfort and safety, excellent accommodation facilities and greater connectivity should be worked upon in detail in view of the extravaganza.

With a view to facilitate neighbouring states to leverage the business opportunity the minister proposed a single window tax system on Golden Triangle tour route – Jaipur-Delhi-Agra to the transport ministry for the convenience of visitors.

The one-day workshop was held to develop world class tourism infrastructure in consultation with architects, engineering organisations, consultants and tourism managers.

The workshop recorded participation of the heads of the engineering departments of the implementing agencies in the states and union territories, officers from the tourism ministry and experts from agencies including INTACH, CPWD, RITES, NBCC, HUDCO and ITDC.

Commonwealth Games 2010: 2cr Central Fund for Each State

Working towards Vision-2022 to achieve required manpower of 2 lakh to run the hotel and tourism industry, the Union Ministry of Tourism has instructed all states and union territories to train additional youths in their universities, ITIs and engineering and technology colleges. Meanwhile, the ministry would provide a central funding of Rs 2 crore to each state to meet the target of 45,000 trained human resources in the country before the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Presently, there are just 12,000 trained people in the industry.

Disclosing this information to TOI, CITCO general manager (tourism), AK Malhotra said, ‘The Ministry of Tourism has taken a big leap towards enhancing manpower skill in hospitality sector across the country.’

He continued, ‘Keeping in view the upcoming big event of Commonwealth Games and to bridge the huge shortfall of trained manpower in the industry, the ministry has decided to allot training of streams like food and beverages, food production, catering, front office and house-keeping to additional institutes in the states\union territories like universities, industrial training institutes and engineering\technology colleges. Stress would be given to institutes having required infrastructure in their respective premises.’

Malhotra further revealed that this move termed as ‘multi-root access’ to raise manpower in alternate institutes, affiliated with All India Colleges and Technical Institutes, would offer an excellent opportunity to unskilled youngsters to make a vocation in the sector.

Referring to the present hotel management institutes that churn out more and more professionals in the managerial categories, Malhotra said, ‘As need is to enhance the number in service class categories, the ministry is paying more attention and offering many incentive-based special training programmes to raise staff in this sector,’ stressing, ‘we need to do that on a war-footing as the 2010 Games are fast approaching.’

Elaborating more on this job-oriented training programme, Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management principal Naveen Kumar Nanchahal revealed that the entire programme has been started to lend support to the drop-outs from middle, matric and plus-two classes.

‘Besides providing financial assistance to the tune of Rs 1500 and Rs 2000 to these students, we would also provide them with uniforms and free books. Later, they would be absorbed in jobs with the help of these institutes,’ told Nanchahal.

Stating that the response to the programme at the institute has been tremendous, he informed, ‘We would be starting the first batch of courses in food production and food and beverages on August 17.’

Moving onto the Vision-2022, Nanchahal said majority of jobs are going to be in service sector. ‘Presently, against the yearly target of producing 2 lakh manpower in the industry, we are able to produce only 12,000,’ urging, ‘We will have to produce much more to meet the challenge of upcoming 2010 Commonwealth Games.’

Source: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi Venues

Most awaiting Commonwealth Games will be held on Delhi in six different venue, which are given below:

1. Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex
2. Indira Gandhi Sports Complex
3. Yamuna Sports Complex
4. Siri Fort Sports Complex
6. MDC National Stadium Complex
7. Talkatora Garden Complex

The Ceremonies will be held at Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex. Given below the games which will be played in different sport complex.

a) Ceremonies, Athletics, Lawn Bowls, Weightlifting - Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex
b) Gymnastics, Cycling, Wrestling - Indira Gandhi Sports Complex
c) Table Tennis, Archery (Qualify Rounds) - Yamuna Sports Complex
d) Squash, Badminton - Siri Fort Sports Complex
e) Hockey, Archery Finals - MDC National Stadium Complex
f) Boxing , Swimming - Talkatora Garden Complex

Sports Ministry may need more for 2010 Games

Sports Minister M S Gill has a reason to be cheerful after the Union Budget as he now sees his Ministry richer by Rs 3073 crore.

But the question is that how much of this amount will be actually spent on sports activity.

• Rs 2264 crore is earmarked just for the Commonwealth Games

• Rs 271 crore goes to youth affairs

• Youth and sports schemes in the Northeast are worth about Rs 95 crore

So, the actual money for sports works out to something near Rs 440 crore from which Rs 176 crore will go to the Sports Authority of India. Finally, what is left is Rs 264 crore.

The Government at the moment is not looking beyond the Commonwealth Games but what about other multi-discipline games. The Asian Games which are far more prestigious will be held a month after the Delhi Games and they seem to be low on the priority list.

“Even for training for the Asian Games money should come,” says President Indian Olympic Association Suresh Kalmadi.

Source: ibnlive.in.com