India angry as Queen to miss Commonwealth games

Britain's new "enhanced partnership" with India got off to a rocky start today as Delhi reacted angrily to a decision by the Queen not to attend the Commonwealth Games this autumn.

After breathlessly reporting that Indo-Anglo relations had topped the foreign policy part of the Queen's speech, India's media gave the decision to send Prince Charles instead front-page treatment. "Royal Snub", read one headline. Noting that the monarch, 84, has attended every games except the 1966 Kingston event, papers quoted organizers and athletes angered by the decision.

The Mail Today quoted Joaquim Carvalho, India's hockey coach, as saying: "If [the Queen] can go to other places that she could certainly have come to Delhi." While the sprinter and hurdler PT Usha said the decision was "doubly sad".

A spokesman for Buckingham palace attributed the Queen's decision to "the volume of engagements, coupled with other overseas commitments".

The Commonwealth Games is the biggest such event to be staged in India since the Asian Games in 1982. With more than 70 countries competing and hundreds of thousands of spectators expected, it is seen as the local equivalent of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the moment when India demonstrates its new economic, cultural and organizational power.

Delhi has seen hundreds of millions of pounds lavished on sporting facilities, roads, flyovers, car parks, road bridges and the laborious replacement – by hand – of miles of stone pavements. Thousands of the city's notoriously rude rickshaw drivers have received lessons in civility and the English language. Slums along key routes, such as that from the airport into the city center, have been cleared or hidden by hoardings. Many monuments that had fallen into disrepair have been restored, while a vast new airport terminal has been built specifically for the event and the capital's metro extended. The total cost of the event is estimated to be about £4bn.

The sense of disappointment over the Queen's decision is palpable. "What can we say? At least Prince Charles will be present. We will make the necessary arrangements," said Sheila Dikshit, Delhi's chief minister. Organizers of the games said that they were OK with the decision.

India has a complex relationship with its former colonial overlords. Local commentators revel in the contrast between India's annual economic growth of 7-10% and the flagging economies of the west.

But perceived slights from British politicians can provoke heated reactions, as the former foreign secretary David Milliband found out when his manner with local counterparts and his comments about disputed Kashmir caused disquiet last year.

According to UK sources the new government in London is hoping that the "deep and historical ties" between Britain and India will help it make the most of India's strategic importance. The details of how that might work in practice is unclear.

The Indian post office has prepared a special set of stamps to celebrate the arrival of Queen's baton – the equivalent of the Olympic torch – from Pakistan on 25 June 25 after a 100,000-mile global relay.

Source: Guardian.co.uk

Commonwealth Games: World-class wrestling stadium inaugurated

The wrestling stadium at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex that will used for the Commonwealth Games was inaugurated by Sports Minister M.S. Gill here Sunday.

The new stadium has a capacity of 6,932 people and a built-up area of 22,350 square metre.

Gill called the venue one of the best for wrestling in the country.

'It is a world-class venue and one of the best wrestling centers in the country. Everyone has worked hard and ensured that the stadium has the best of modern facilities,' said Gill.

'With the other venues also nearing completion, we are confident of delivering the best games ever. Now it it is the turn of the wrestlers to perform and win medals for the country.'

Gill said the sports ministry, along with the Indian Olympic Association, will hold national-level school competitions regularly at these venues after the Games

Apart from wrestling, the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex will also hold cycling and gymnasium events.

Source: Sify.com

New Delhi prepare for Commonwealth games 2010

The Commonwealth Games is a world class Sports meet, held after every 4 years. The recent Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Australia from 15 – 26 March 2006 and next will be hosted in New Delhi, India, 2010. The Commonwealth Games is a multinational, multi-sport event. Held every four years, it involves the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations. Attendance at the Commonwealth Games is typically around 5,000 athletes

The logo for the 2010 Commonwealth Games was revealed on 6 January 2008 at an event taking place at the India Gate. The logo is inspired by the Ashoka Chakra, a symbol of freedom, unity, and power. Its spiraling upwards symbolizes India’s rise as a global power and its transition from tradition to modernity. The colours symbolize India’s vibrant and diverse culture and people, and each part of the logo symbolizes India welcoming the 71 Commonwealth nations and territories to take part in the 17 sports events.

Controversy with New Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010

According to report bulldozers razed the makeshift homes belonging to hundreds of slum inhabitants within New Delhi earlier this year as the Indian government moved to improve the city for the Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010. Officials say the land is for a road and the demolitions are simply part of a master plan to clean up the city and move slum-dwellers to proper housing. But, the government says, there will be no relocation for poor families because they do not meet relocation requirements. Critics say demolishing housing that has been here for years and relocating some residents but not others will hurt many who live on the margins of society.

Preparation for Commonwealth Games 2010

A modern Games Village is being built by the DDA along the east bank of the Yamuna River at a cost of USD 230.7 million. The Games Village will be spread over an area of 63.5 hectare (158.4 acre) and is situated near renowned monument and landmark Akshardham Temple. The Delhi Games 2010 Village will hold a possible capacity for 8,500 athletes and officials. Though there have been many environmental concerns about the Games Village Site, Official of the DDA announced that the Games Village would be completed by December 2009.

Source: Losangelesnewstoday.com

BJP opposes serving of beef during Commonwealth Games

The Delhi Assembly witnessed loud protests from the opposition BJP on Friday as party MLAs objected to the proposed serving of beef during the upcoming Commonwealth Games and took umbrage at Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's remark that they were “communal-minded.''

The matter was raised by Leader of the Opposition V.K. Malhotra through a “discussion under special mention.'' He said Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta had informed the media that beef would be imported for the sporting event and served to athletes and officials.

Stating that many international sporting events were being held in Delhi, Prof. Malhotra said nowhere had the demand been made to serve beef.

He reminded the House that it had passed a law in 1994 prohibiting storage and sale of beef in the capital and demanded that the “law should be implemented in toto.'' He also demanded that the Chief Minister make a statement in the House giving an assurance that beef would not be served during the Games. It was essential that the government prevented any violation of the law, he added.

Later, after a break, the Chief Minister clarified that the Delhi government had no role in this. “The Municipal Corporation of Delhi is required to give permission to the caterer and the Organising Committee has to select the caterer.''

Prof. Malhotra wondered how she could “shy away'' from an issue pertaining to enforcing a legislation passed by the Assembly.

Accusing the BJP members of seeking to gain political mileage, she asked them why they did not approach the MCD, which is ruled by them, instead. “You are raising the issue because you are communal-minded,'' she charged.

This infuriated the BJP members who trooped into the well of the House demanding that she retract her statement. Speaker Yoganand Shastri then adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

Source: thehindu.com

Queensland government to support Commonwealth Games bid

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Queensland's state government will contribute A$11 million ($10.08 million) to the bid to bring the 2018 Commonwealth Games to the Gold Coast, local media reported on Monday. The Gold Coast, about 75 kilometres south of Brisbane, was nominated as the region to bid for the Games in 2008.

"The Games bid is formally made by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association and we will be working in partnership with the Association to launch that bid now into the international arena," Queensland Premier Anna Bligh told the ABC.

"Bids will close now at the end of March so we need to formally make that bid."

Nigeria's capital Abuja is also bidding for the 2018 Games, while New Zealand's largest city Auckland is considering a bid.

The New Zealand Herald newspaper, however, reported the country's government was expected to announce later this week it would not pay their half share of the expected NZ$600 million ($420.8 million) costs involved in staging the Games.

The success of Gold Coast's bid has also been subject to media speculation with Australia also bidding for the soccer World Cup finals in 2018 or 2022 and Australia's federal government has said hosting the World Cup was their priority.

The Australian Commonwealth Games Federation has also said the Commonwealth Games would require substantial federal support.

India's capital New Delhi will host the Games in October, while Scotland's largest city Glasgow will host them in 2014.

The decision on the successful Commonwealth Games bidder will be made in Nov. 2011.