Delhi – the national capital of India, is proudly hosting the Commonwealth Games 2010. The city won the rights to host the events by defeating competing nations like Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This is gong to be the 3rd major sporting event in the Delhi, others being the successful Asian Games in the year 1951 & 1982. India still being a developing nation needed such events to show its importance and growing economic power to the world.
This is the second time that the Commonwealth games are going to be held in Asia. The other developing countries that got the opportunity to host the Commonwealth games are Jamaica and Malaysia – in 1966 and 1998 respectively. Success in Commonwealth Games 2010 would increase India's chances of hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Delhi's Preparation for the Commonwealth Games 2010
The mega event will be headed by the Sports Ministry of country, while the president of the Indian Olympic Association, Mr. Suresh Kalmadi will head the games organizing committee. Although, the dates for the games have not been fixed as yet, however it is understood that the games would be held in the month of October / November.
The games organizing committee exposed the advertising campaign on March 26, 2006, i.e. immediately after the flag for the games were transferred from the Mayor of Melbourne to the Delhi Mayor. Great thoughts were put in about the inclusion of games, such as - cricket in the event but BCCI's disapproval to hosting 20-20 matches negated the chance of cricket in Commonwealth Games. The triathlon looks to be excluded from the event due of the lack of proper swimming stage. The games committee is constructing many new stadiums for the event to be held in 2010.
Apart from the basic infrastructure required to host the games in the city, Government is planning for a complete renovation of the city plan 2010. The proposals have been approved and the work is going on those lines with great strength. The renovation projects include a total facelift to the city with improved transportation system, such as metro and AC buses, new roads, new hotels, flyovers, new power plants, among others. According to estimates, the total budget or the cost of gearing up the city for the mega event would be somewhere around $17.5 billion. Development works are in progress in and around the city so that the city so as to make ready with the entire necessary infrastructure before the start of Commonwealth Games in 2010.
A special Commonwealth Games village is being designed and constructed in the center of city near I.P Estate and the Akshardham Tample. The Games Village is being build on a 40 acres land and the place is expected to accommodate somewhere 8,500 athletes and officials. The old / existing venues are being renovated with new features and facilities On the other hand; new venues are being developed in the Games Village.
Games
Some of the important games that are going to be played in the 2010 Commonwealth Games are - Gymnastics, Aquatics, Rugby 7s, Bowls, Athletics, Hockey, Table Tennis, Boxing, Badminton, Cycling, EAD Events, Shooting, Squash, Netball, and Weightlifting.
Stadiums & Venues -
The stadiums and sports venues where the games would be held are:
- Jawahar Lala Nehru Stadium
- Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium complex
- Siri Fort Sports Complex
- Tyagaraj Sports Complex
- Maj. Dhyan Chand National Stadium
- Talkatora Indoor Stadium
- Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range
- Yamuna Sports Complex
- Delhi University
New stadiums are under construction in the Commonwealth Games village where other sporting events are scheduled to take place. Some of the games are expected to be played in a sporting venue of Noida.
