Commonwealth Games

Delhi could have great games: CGF Delegates

The Commonwealth Games Federation officials are optimistic that Delhi is on its way to hold “great” Games in 2010 as they inspected the venues of the next edition for the second successive day.

The delegates visited the shooting range in Tughlaqabad, Shooting range in Jamia Milia complex, the Rugby 7s facility in Delhi University and Siri Fort Complex where the badminton event is scheduled to take place.

The organising committee through a press release claimed that the visiting officials were impressed with the pace of the work. Australia’s Don Stockins, who has attended eight Games, was impressed with the preparations.

“So far it’s good. The block that we visited in the Games Village was good; if all end up like that it will be great. Delhi will be a great host and it is a very pretty city,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.

Jamaican Olympic Association Vice-President Donald Anderson said there should be no doubts that Delhi would be ready in time to host the XIX Commonwealth Games next year.

“I am optimistic as the signs I have seen are highly encouraging. Delhi is a great city and I expect to come again next year during the Commonwealth Games,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Meanwhile, CGF Medical and Doping Commission Chairman M Jegathesan said after a meeting of the Commission that they hope to collect and test 1500 samples during the Games. “This will be the biggest number in a Commonwealth Games. We visited the recently-WADA accredited National Doping Testing Laboratory and came away very satisfied that it can handle the demands,” Jegathesan, a sprinter himself, said.

Earlier in the day Lalit Bhanot, Secretary General of the Organising Committee, had emphasised that all the projects would be completed in time and there was no cause for concern. Bhanot said that a workshop was organised for the delegates. “The representatives were given an idea about the preparations and other logistical aspects such as air travel and transportation,” he said.

Tags: CommonWealth Games 2010, delhi