Countdown began for Commonwealth Games 2010

A year-long countdown began on Saturday for the 19th Commonwealth Games, the biggest sporting extravaganza hosted by India, that the govt says will showcase its abilities even as critics say the preparations are not up to the mark and may fall short of international expectations. The 12-day event will open 3rd Oct, 2010 at the 75,000-capacity Jawaharal Nehru Stadium in the heart of New Delhi. Over 5,000 athletes from 53 countries that were once part of the British empire will compete in 17 disciplines. The event is the biggest India will host since the Asian Games in 1982 that saw 4,595 athletes from 33 nations take part in 21 events. Amid hiccups and criticism, the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee of India is confident that the grand show will go like clockwork. "Let me tell you that 80 percent of the work at all the venues will be completed before 31st December, except cycling and rugby venues where work started a bit late. But those two will also be completed in time for the competition," Committee Secretary General Lalit Bhanot said.
Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, for whom the games are a matter of personal prestige, admits to spending sleepless nights but is equally sure that the event will go off without a hitch. "We will be ready on time," she has declared. But the going hasn't been exactly smooth. Last month, Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennel shot off an angry letter to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chief Suresh Kalmadi demanding a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure that work on various projects was expedited. "With only a year to run until the games, I feel I must personally brief the prime minister on the lack of preparations and to seek his input in developing an appropriate recovery plan," Fennel said. Fennel's outburst has spurred the Indian authorities to pledge that all the facilities will be ready on time. Security is a major issue but the home ministry has ruled out any threat to the Games. "To the best of our knowledge, there is no specific threat to the Commonwealth Games," Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said. India has briefed security professionals and representatives from 26 Commonwealth countries including Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Kenya, Nigeria and Singapore about security and traffic related arrangements to be put in place during the games. The delegations were also shown around the venues of the games.

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