Will the Commonwealth Games 2010 leave New Delhi?

WITH HARDLY two years to go for the Commonwealth Games 2010, doubts have arisen as to whether the Games would move to some other location since the work is not progressing satisfactorily as per the Committee. The four-yearly Games featuring 71 teams from the Commonwealth countries are due to be held in the Indian capital of New Delhi from October 3 to 14, 2010. 

 

The dispute is regarding the location of the games village. It is to be built on the banks of the river Yamuna, where the construction is likely to destroy the river bed, as claimed by environmentalists. Environmental groups protested and raised the issue with the high court and successfully got a probe setup by the Delhi High Court to investigate. Findings are still on-going.

If the problems regarding the construction of the games village are not resolved on immediate priority and with less than two years left for the games, there might not be enough time to relocate and build the facilities to house the 8,500 athletes and officials so late into the schedule. Even the new cycling velodrome construction is being delayed due to tender issues currently. 

The committee headed by Austin Sealy, the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation co-ordination committee, will undertake another inspection of the venues in March and reassess the situation. However, the Indian Olympic Association president, Suresh Kalmadi is much more optimistic and has assured the media and the Commonwealth Games organising committee that the venues will be completed on time. 

With elections in Delhi on the anvil, there might be apprehensions in the minds of the organising committee that in case there is a change of guard in the administration, many things might get bogged down in still more controversies. That has been our tradition – whenever a new setup comes to power, it tries to undo the deeds of the predecessors. 

It might be recalled that India had held the prestigious Asian Games in 1982 and the capital got the Asiad village apart from a fleet of sleek buses nicknamed as Asiad buses which can even now be seen on selected routes. The administrators of 1982 were tough ones – it was the era of Indira Gandhi and the television switched over to the colour mode to transmit live the games into the living rooms. The Commonwealth Games is a matter of prestige for the country and already the metro rail is a gift that Delhites would appreciate on the occasion. But a lot more has to be done. Since the ho our  of the country is at stake, people should rise above petty party politics and join hands to clear all hurdles.

Most importantly, no one should create impediments just to promote his cause and gain media coverage.

Commonwealth Games, 2010 will test Delhi's strength

N THIS time of economic meltdown and with a jovial mix of hope and fear, the Commonwealth Games, 2010 has not taken a backseat. Delhi, with its open arms, is waiting for the sporting event, which will be held in 2010. This will be the first time when India will host a multi-sport event of such international importance. Sheila Dixit said recently that she is happy that the Games Village work, which is going on without any hurdles.

With Delhi’s heritage of culture diversity and understanding of different sports, we Indians are yet again proud to hold the 19th Commonwealth Games after the Asian Games in 1982. The Games would be a continuous sports event for 11 days from October 3 to 14, 2010. The cross culture intermingling and the sporting spirit of the athletes of 53 countries will make it memorable in the history of sports. The motto of the Games is ‘Humanity, Equality and Destiny’, which means that the event will help strengthening relations between the Commonwealth nations. This will create an atmosphere for economic, social as well as political cooperation between the member nations. With this, democracy, human rights, brotherhood and benevolence, peace and prosperity, unity and good governance will be highlighted. This in turn, is sure to boost the sporting spirit in India and encouragement of other sports other than cricket may leave a positive impact to work upon.

In all this, Delhi will be in limelight and the much talked about bride to welcome her bridegroom. Delhi, consisting of world heritage sites, museums, architecture, cross cultures, culinary delights to gorge upon with modern communication and technology makes it the ideal spot to host the Commonwealth Games. The hospitality of Dilliwallas, the ‘bindas’ attitude its people, who believe in ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, is sure impress the guests.

But the saga of cultural diffusion and amalgam of tradition is not what is going to make the Games special. There are many other eye-catching things. There are different types of programmes and infrastructure development going on. The government is busy making policies and plans to make Delhi a habitable and happening place for the guests.

This entire venture will provide a new look to the capital. For this, sophisticated technology of international standards is being used by the government along with private enterprise to renovate and repair new-grade separators, flyovers, bridges and roads. The DDA with Indian Olympic Association will construct several sports stadiums, swimming pools and other sports amenities. The New Delhi Railway Station is also poised to be upgraded with hotels, malls and other facilities. Airports are also in the agenda. Travel and tourism is being sustainably developed. All the local and minor issues are being looked into. All this will boost employment generation. The Delhi government has also introduced mandatory courses in schools and colleges syllabus like swimming, gymming and athletics.

But everything has its pros and cons. The negative dimensions of this event are many too. The Yamuna is already in a dangerous condition. With all the construction going on the flood plain of Yamuna, it will further choke the highly polluted area and spell danger to the water security of the city. With this factor, the government will also displace millions of people without any rehabilitation policy. Let’s hope the government is active once the Games are over too. We, the citizens should join hands with the government to take up the challenges. We have to work together in order to achieve the common purpose. We have to come forward to remove corruption and deceit and silencing of negative dissent. Is this also not the motto of the Games too?

In the words of the United States’ president, Barack Hussein Obama: “The challenges may be new, but the values, upon which success depends, hard work and honesty, courage and fairplay, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism are old.”