Delhi CWG 2010 (3-14Oct): 9 Australian athelets caught doping

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Sound proof rail corridor near C'Wealth games village

New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) In order to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for athletes participating in the Commonwealth Games, Railways have given their nod for covering rail tracks running close to the upcoming games village here with sound proof material.

The 1.1 km-long sound proof corridor will ensure that athletes are not disturbed by the passing trains and have a comfortable stay in the games village.

"When completed, it will be one its kind sound proof railway corridor in the country," a senior Railway Ministry official said.

The construction work will be carried out by Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which had approached the railways with the idea, he said.

DDA Officials said it will take about three months to construct the corridor. The cost of raising the corridor is being worked out.

 

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Fennell meets Gill to discuss CWG preparations

New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) Amid mounting concerns about the tardy pace of preparations for next year's Commonwealth Games, CGF chief Mike Fennell today met Sports Minister M S Gill to discuss the progress of work.

Fennell, who arrived in the Capital last night to attend a Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly meet on October 12, is understood to have discussed the "areas of concern" with the minister.

The minister briefed Fennell on various projects related to the October 3 to 14 mega-event.

The meeting comes barely a day after Gill's meeting with the Prime Minister in which Manmohan Singh took stock of the ongoing projects in an hour-long meet also attended by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia among others.

 

[zolpidam]

I hope we will do it best.

 

[RPK]

Good news

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CGF delegation impressed with Games Village: OC

New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) The visiting Commonwealth Games delegation has given a thumbs-up to the under-construction Games Village, the organisers claimed here today.

According to an Organising Committee statement, the CGF Secretary General Louise Martin and her colleagues in the delegation were highly impressed with the Games Village and hoped the athletes would enjoy the facility spread over 27 acres to house 8000 sportspersons in its 4,000 bedrooms.

"Absolutely fantastic. The athletes will enjoy," Martin wrote in the Guest Book at the Games Village.

Craig Hunter, a delegate from England, was also impressed with the Village, where the delegates were taken to Tower 9 and shown a set of furnished apartments.

"This is a wonderful Games Village and we look forward to stay (here) in 2010," he wrote.

The delegates also visited the Thyagraj Sports Complex and appeared to be satisfied with the progress.

 

[Quickgun Murugan]

I hope they invest huge amount in Common wealth games and make it a Grand success. 2020 Olympics should be ours!

 

[Pintu]

Games village draws applause - Delhi - City - The Times of India

Games village draws applause
TNN 9 October 2009, 12:12am IST

NEW DELHI: India probably isn't doing all that badly on the Commonwealth Games front. Though CGF chief Michael Fennell isn't too convinced he recently penned down his apprehensions about Games preparations in a letter to the prime minister , many of the 70-odd delegates who are in the city for an inspection evidently felt otherwise. There were exceptions like Canada, the country which had lost out to Delhi in 2003 when pitching for Games at Hamilton.

The Games Village got a definite thumbs-up and other buildings too were pronounced to be doing okay with the representatives expressing a conviction about projects finally meeting deadlines, thanks to the large manpower. However, it was the logistics, the "software'' of the Games, that raised some concerns, largely because of the delayed submission of the transportation plans. Overall though things were pronounced satisfactory.

The Canadian outburst came with a long list of woes, the most pronounced of which seemed to be India's failure to have done block-booking of seats in airlines to fly in athletes and its reluctance to use overseas manpower for the Games. "There are issues we have about ticketing, accreditation, transportation, sports organisation and communication. There are a wide variety of international experts available in all these fields. We are using them for organising the Winter Games at Vancouver. It is a practice worldwide for host countries to take advantage of this expertise. India is not doing that,'' said Andrew Pipe, the Canadian delegate. On the transportation front, he said: "India had missed the federation's internal deadlines. We came with many questions which have not been answered yet and not getting satisfactory answers can have serious implications.'' Probed on what these deadlines were and which ones were yet to be met, he did not specify.

Not many it seemed had contracted his cynicism. Vivian Gungaram from Mauritius is very clear that the Commonwealth Games Village here is "much better than the one in Melbourne'' and as for transportation, if India managed to put the same system in place as it had done on Thursday morning, it would be "marvellous''. Both he and David Ojong from Cameron agreed that comparing India with Melbourne in terms of preparedness a year ago is not fair because that was three years ago and everything was different, most of all the world's financial situation.

Ojong said: "There is some concern about the buildings meeting deadlines but the kind of manpower you have it is obvious you will do it. Thyagaraj Stadium is in fact unique.'' Thyagaraj is a fully green structure.

Chris Jenkins who had come from Wales confessed that he was "impressed'' with the Village but also said that it is obvious many of the buildings "have missed original deadlines. But that's not so much of a worry as is the operational side of it. We have offered our help and we are very supportive of India. But the operational sides like accreditation, IT infrastructure etc have to be still worked on.''

 

[Rage]

Air force commandos sought for Commonwealth Games

Sunday, 11 Oct, 2009

India's National Security Guard (NSG) commandos stand guard at a ceremony.
Heavy presence of security is to be expected when the Commonwealth Games
start next year in New Delhi. -Photo by Reuters


NEW DELHI: India's Home Ministry has proposed using air force commandos for surveillance during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, Press Trust of India said on Sunday.

PTI reported that the Home Ministry had sought at least seven helicopters carrying air force commandos for security during the biggest multiple-sport event to be staged in India since the 1982 Asian Games.

Commandos on helicopters would be part of New Delhi's multilayered security network for the games.

‘We hope the IAF helicopters will be available to us,’ PTI quoted an unnamed Home Ministry official as saying.

The report said the helicopters would be stationed at key locations in the capital and would be deployed whenever security agencies required them.

Last month, India's Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said there was no specific terror threat to the Commonwealth Games.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games are scheduled for Oct. 3-14.

Organizers are expecting nearly 8,000 athletes and officials for the games, which are also likely to be attended by nearly 30 heads of states.

The Commonwealth Games feature 71 nations and territories that were part of linked to the former British Empire.


DAWN.COM | Sport | Air force commandos sought for Commonwealth Games

 

[Sridhar]

IAF commandos may guard Delhi during CWG

BY : PTI

IAF helicopters carrying combat commandos armed with snipers and assault rifles are likely to be roped in to keep a hawk-eye vigil over Delhi during the next year’s Commonwealth Games.
The Home Ministry has approached the Defence Ministry to provide at least seven to eight helicopters for surveillance of the Delhi sky during the fortnight-long sporting event which will be attended by 8,000 athletes, 1,00,000 spectators and nearly 30 heads of states.
“We hope that the IAF helicopters will be available to us on time,” a Home Ministry official said.
A request to the Defence Ministry has been sent as the Home Ministry choppers, which are with the BSF, have been made available to the Naxal-affected states.
The helicopters will be stationed at key locations in the capital and will be deployed whenever the security agencies feel it necessary.


IAF commandos may guard Delhi during CWG IDRW.ORG

 

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Adverse reports on CWG not accurate: Fennell

New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell says many of the reports on Delhi's tardy preparations for the 2010 Games are "not quite accurate" and the government of India is paying full attention to hosting the event successfully.

"We are coming here in the midst of many adverse reports about Delhi, reports that are not quite accurate," Fennell, who has been quite critical in his assessment of Delhi's preparedness in the past, said while inaugurating the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly here in Indian national capital New Delhi.

"But one conflicting fact is that attention is being paid by the government of India through (Sports) Minister M S Gill, who has given qualified assurance that all the resources that are necessary to ensure the successful celebration of the Games in 2010 will be provided by the government," he added.

 

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Delhi government seeks more central funds for CWG

New Delhi, Oct 12(PTI) Racing against time to complete all the projects linked to next year's Commonwealth Games, Delhi Government has sought additional funds from the Centre to expedite work related to the mega sporting event.

"We have sought additional funds (from the Centre) as cost of several projects have escalated," Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit told reporters.

The Chief Minister, however, did not reveal how much money her government has sought from the Centre.

"We are hopeful of getting additional funds as we were told that there will be no shortage of money for any project related to the event," she said.

Officials said the city Government's revenue collection fell by over Rs 400 crore in the first four months of the current fiscal, prompting it to make a request to the Centre for additional funds.

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

India pass CWG test, delegates happy with preparations​

New Delhi: The entire country, especially the CWG 2010 officials, heaved a sigh of relief as Commonwealth Games Federation Chief Mike Fennel declared that the games are in good hands. Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Fennel said that a great deal has been discussed about the successful preparations of the games. He said: “A great deal has been discussed and achieved over the last few days”. He also praised Delhi as a ‘wonderful host’. Suresh Kalmadi, president of Indian Olympic Association also exuded confidence that India will successfully host the event. He also informed that work is in full swing at the games sites.

Link

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/327826_CGF-decides-to-form-independent-monitoring-panel

CGF decides to form independent monitoring panel

STAFF WRITER 19:31 HRS IST

New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) Wary of further slippages in the capital's preparations, the Commonwealth Games Federation today decided to form an independent monitoring panel for the 2010 edition of the Games and bluntly reminded the Organising Committee that time was the "biggest enemy".

In a subtle message to the organisers, the CGF President Michael Fennell said that an independent technical panel will monitor the capital's progress so that it meets all the new deadlines, though Delhi could still host a a successful Games next year.

"I have no doubt that the 2010 Games can still be great Games, provided all corrective measures are taken and there is no further slippage," Fennell told reporters here.

He welcomed the decision to get more foreign experts on board but made it clear that the Organising Committee would be strictly monitored in their final year of preparation.

 

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IOA rejects Independent Monitoring Panel

New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association rejected Commonwealth Games Federation's proposal to form an Independent Monitoring Panel for overseeing the 2010 Games preparations.

In a statement released by IOA stated that IOA does not subscribe to the idea mooted by Commonwealth Games Federation to form an Independent Monitoring Panel to overview the 2010 Delhi CWG preparation.

Wary of further slippages in the capital's preparations, the Commonwealth Games Federation on October 12 had decided to form an Independent Monitoring Panel for the 2010 edition of the Games and bluntly reminded the Organising Committee that time was the "biggest enemy".

In a subtle message to the organisers, the CGF President Michael Fennell had said that an Independent Technical Panel will monitor the capital's progress so that it meets all the new deadlines, though Delhi could still host a successful Games next year.

"I have no doubt that the 2010 Games can still be great Games, provided all corrective measures are taken and there is no further slippage," Fennell told reporters here.

He welcomed the decision to get more foreign experts on board but made it clear that the Organising Committee would be strictly monitored in their final year of preparation.


"The CGF Executive Board has decided to establish a high-level, independent, technical review panel, that will monitor the progress. This panel will comprise of Chairman and other members who will be experts in their field. They would give us monthly report on in an open, transparent fashion," said Fennell, who has been critical of the capital's tardy preparation.

It was also decided that the Commonwealth Coordination Commission would also maintain its monitoring, he said.

"The Commission will continue its visit and they would come next on December 14 to address all key areas and all operational areas," Fennell said

 

[Quickgun Murugan]

Preparedness of 2010 Games far from satisfactory: Hooper: India Today - Latest Breaking News from India, World, Business, Cricket, Sports, Bollywood.

Miffed by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee removing him from the post of 2010 CWG Chief Executive, Mike Hooper has struck back by declaring that the preparedness of the mega-event was far from satisfactory.

Asked whether he would say Delhi was not well prepared for the Games, Hooper said, "Well, I think it's understatement of the year. I mean it very clearly.

"(CGF chief) Mr Michael Fennell had laid down the concerns of the CGF on Monday at the media conference. He made it clear that at most we are confident by the assurances we have received from the agencies regarding mainly delivery and construction," Hooper said.

Hooper was on Thursday removed by the 2010 CWG OC from the position of the CEO of the mega event with Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi terming the Kiwi of "no use".

The CGF chief Michael Fennell on Friday issued a statement rejecting the Games Organising Committee's decision to remove Hooper.

Hooper said he was not inclined to engage in a public spat but disappointed with the comments of Kalmadi.

"I have no desire to give in to a public spat with Mr Kalmadi. I express disappointment at his comments," he told a news channel.

The CGF chief Executive said instead of a blame game, all the stakeholders should work together towards the job at hand.

 

[Rage]

Fears for India's Commonwealth Games:

BBC NEWS | South Asia | India 'behind schedule' for Games


Witness the pathetic state of our bureaucracy, that nation of procrastinators on whom we cannot count on for anything and that leaves everything to the last.

 

[Rage]

What's going on here? Mike Fennel was the same guy who said India's preparation for the Commonwealth games had been 'far from satisfactory'.


Commonwealth preparation criticism routine: Aus envoy

Published on Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 19:01, Updated on Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 19:22 in Sports section

COMMONWEALTH CONTROVERSY: Fennell had been very critical
of the preparation of the Games last month.


New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Federation is feeling the heat over the Commonwealth Games preparations. The Indian Olympic Association executive board held an emergency meet on Wednesday to discuss the fallout of Commonwealth Games' President Mike Fennell's statements.

Fennell had earlier said that the Games preparation was not up to the mark.

But not everyone is criticising the Games' preparations. Australian Foreign Minsiter Stephen Smith says that criticism is always made in the run up to such big events.

"My observation is that things are on track. I have heard commentary which says that we are worried about the facility being behind schedule. These comments are always made in the run up to any Commonwealth Games or Olympic Games," he said.

After six days of inspecting the venues and the Games Village, Fennell had said that all the members of the CGF after Monday's General Assembly were convinced that the infrastructure would be ready in time for the necessary overlay installations and test events.

However, Fennell also said that there still remained a lot of "areas of concerns", specially at the operational level, and asked Organising Committee (OC) Chairman Suresh Kalmadi to overhaul the procurement process.

"Two years ago, I had told the OC that there was not much time left. With one year to go for the Games, I say time is your enemy, but together we can defeat it and I emphasise we can do it."

"Every single day is critical and every hour vital. It is in the spirit of togetherness that we will move forward hand in hand to the success of the Games," Fennell said at a press conference after the conclusion of the General Assembly.

"CGF will appoint a high-level technical review panel. The panel will comprise of a chairman and other members will be experts of their respective fields. The panel will come and meet every month. It will monitor and assist in the evaluation of all areas that we feel need attention," Fennell said.

"The panel will be empowered to call in other technical experts and to meet Commonwealth Games representatives."

"The panel will establish timeline and report monthly in an open and transparent fashion to all stakeholders, the Prime Minister of India, the government of Delhi, organising Committee and the CGF." he added.

"By having this review board report in the public domain, all involved with the Commonwealth Games can gain confidence that Delhi will be ready by September next year," Fennell had said.


Commonwealth preparation criticism routine: Aus envoy

 

[natarajan]

Hindustan times

 

[natarajan]

Hindustan Times

 

[natarajan]

Indian Express

 

[natarajan]

Hindustan Times