2010 Commonwealth Games thread (for updates!)

[Suncity]

Possible site for Games Village?

[kronik]

Delhi for major infrastructure overhaul before 2010

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) Seven five-star hotels, three bus terminals and 25 flyovers are part of the infrastructure that would come up in the capital ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2010, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said Tuesday.

'The Games Villages would be developed to accommodate around 8,500 sports persons and officials,' she added.

The chief minister was addressing a conference organised by the PHDCCI on 'Preparing for the Commonwealth Games 2010: Opportunities & Role for Business'.

She said the success of the game would depend on effective coordination between all concerned agencies as multiplicity of authorities in the capital city could work as a speed-breaker.

Delhi Transport and Tourism Development Board (DTTDC) chairman Sanat Kaul said that his department would construct a number of tourist centres on the build-operate-and-transfer basis. 'We would like to help in installing attractive signages to present a better picture of the city,' he said.

The principal secretary of power, Rakesh Mehta said that the power demand during Commonwealth Games would be around 5,000-6,000 MW for which a power plant of 2,000 MW capacity was being commissioned in Chhattisgarh.

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Aiyar pleas more pvt investment for CWG

Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today called for an increased participation by the private sector in the funding of 2010 Commonwealth Games, saying a substantial role from the corporates was necessary to help Delhi match the standards of Manchester and Melbourne Games.

He said that at present, private expenditure towards the 2010 Games was estimated at around Rs 3,000 crore but the government would like the share to go higher.

"Out of a total expenditure of USD 130 million for Manchester, the British government provided only USD 37 million.

Keeping that ratio in mind, the government should not be spending more than Rs 2,000 crore towards preparation for the 2010 Games," he said.

"To be at a level comparable to the Manchester Games, we need to raise an amount that is six-seven times their expenditure in current rupee terms and the private sector has to be an equal partner in this regard," Aiyar said.

He divided the income accruing from the Games under the heads of TV rights, sponsorship, ticket-ing, licencing, concession and accommodation.

"Sponsorship can fetch Rs 1,000 crore at the most as one is not sure how much money can be generated under this head," Aiyar said.

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‘We build stadiums but don’t use them’

Union sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar seems to be fed up with the state of affairs in his ministry. At a seminar organised by PHDCCI on ‘Opportunities and Role for business for 2010 Commonwealth Games’ here on Tuesday, Aiyar expressed his shock at the wasteful expenditure on building stadiums and the crores of rupees which are subsequently spent on maintaining them when the facilities are hardly utilised.

After his scathing attack earlier on the government’s grandiose budget for the beautification of Delhi to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Aiyar minced no words in slamming this other component of wasteful expenditure. “The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and National Stadiums are like ancient monuments. We build them but don’t use them,” said Aiyar with his characteristic caustic wit.

While the message was loud and clear, it is the sports ministry which is in charge of sanctioning the funds for the annual maintenance of the three major stadiums which were built to host the 1982 Asian Games. The stadiums are being looked after by the Sports Authority of India (an autonomous body under the sports ministry).

Aiyar also pointed out that India will have to spending seven times more than Manchester (which hosted the 2002 CWG) to match the standard.

Dear Mr. Aiyar, if you really want to change things, please take a look into the scams that are India's sports associations and the BCCI. Bring professionalism into these institutes and trust me, half of our sports problems will solve themselves.

[IndiansUnite]

Via HT Delhi epaper Aug4 06.
Had to print screen it..

[Fusionist]

Its a good idea to get the membrane roofs. Hopefully they won't roll back the plans

[Suncity]

The JN Stadium looks good.

And as far as Mr Aiyar is concerned - it is sad that he realizes today what the the aam janata realized decades back about India's sports authorities.

Get rid of politicians from sports bodies and free them from regionalism and cronyism.

[Cov Boy]

The venues look fab.

[kronik]

now thats what i'm talking aboot.

Go Delhi.

[KB]

Hi everyone,
Has any of these projects actually started (any u/c pics) or just in the planning stages? Also what is the expected number of fans expected to come to india to witness the games( i mean foreigners, non-indians)?

[ramkan]

Amitabh Shukla
New Delhi, August 7, 2006

No stray cattle on Delhi roads. And no taxi drivers who will fleece passengers. These are not utopian visions of the Capital but guidelines for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Government officials prepared the list after holding meetings with the Commonwealth Games Federation, the Indian Olympic Association, Ministry of Sports, the GoM on the Games and trade chambers like the CII, which felt that issues on the street had to be addressed along with contests on the field.

According to a note received by the Delhi government, during the Games, roads should be free of beggars, touts and stray dogs and cattle.

"We don't know how to comply with these directions," said an official in the urban development department. He said the government was yet to figure out how beggars could be stopped from venturing onto the streets and what to do with stray animals.

The note also said that 20,000 English-speaking volunteers were required to act as guides for foreigners who would visit the city. But it will cost a lot, said a senior official, "Unless the people are paid well, they will not come forward as volunteers."

Another note said Delhi would need at least 100 doctors with specialisation in sports medicine and an equal number of physiotherapists for the 8,000 sportspersons who would participate.

"We don't have so many specialists in sports medicine," said the official. The officials have realised that while many of these ideas worked at the Manchester and Melbourne Games, it will be difficult to pull them off in Delhi.

[VaastuShastra]

More likely that would lead to an influx of poor people seeking emplyment.

[kronik]

with so many young college students from Delhi University, JNU, JMI, IGNOU, I really hope some of them step up and volunteer.

As for stray cattle, there are so many groups that claim to be true protectors of Hinduism and rabidly oppose any move to remove the cattle from our streets. I think all the cows and bulls should be moved to their drawing rooms.

[jacques]

Originally Posted by ramkan

According to a note received by the Delhi government, during the Games, roads should be free of beggars, touts and stray dogs and cattle.

But the monkeys stay!

Anyway, if they can pull this off for the CWG, then maybe Delhi can remain like this all time... Wishful thinking, I guess.

[ramkan]

I think the govt should encourage some sort of "certification" for all students who participate as volunteers. They can attract students from all kinds of universities.

Regarding stray cattle, they can be controlled if the govt start imposing fines on owners of these animals starting now. Also they should be pick up all stray dogs and put them somewhere else.

It could be done, as Mr. Chandrababu naidu did in HYD while in power.(the dogs, cows, pigs are back on street now though)

[kashyap3]

thanks to the Congress

arent Delhi's main roads already "cow-free"?

[ramkan]

I think they should build access controlled lanes for Cows, so that the motorists and other pedestrians do not disturb their peace on roads

[VaastuShastra]

Cow specific underpasses would be nice.

[kashyap3]

and we should charge toll to the cows as well lol

its not like the cows have a destination to create access controlled roads or underpasses
they might as well be kept off the main roads through any means

[Cov Boy]

Stray cows should be kept of the streets! Its a matter of health and safety & if Delhi wants a new image it should start with stray cows, dogs, touts & beggars!!

Cows are best kept in farms where they are more useful, cows walking around town centres just creates a hazard and the mess they leave behind as well.

Its time to modernise and move these animals out of the cities.

[Naga_Solidus]

I agree with Cov Boy, however when it comes ot cows living in urban areas, then perhaps cows should be required to be on leashes (and they'll have to use sidewalks).

Of course, farms are where cows belong.

[jacques]

One thing that Indian cities could improve upon is the lack of sidewalks (footpaths) for pedestrians. There will be a road then some dirt and then a building. Whenever it rains this dirt turns into mud and whenever it doesn't - it flies around and makes everything dirty.

Another problem is the issue of open sewers running along the road. I was having a discussion with a Dutch friend of mine a few years back and he told me that even in Western Europe that they had open sewers running along the roads until the 1980s but they covered them up then.