All Set for Commonwealth Games
The Indian authorities claim that they have made all necessary arrangement for the biggest sporting spectacle of the year the common wealth games that are set to be staged in the capital of New Delhi.
In an official ceremony S Jaipal Reddy, India's federal Minister of Urban Development handed over the R K Khanna Tennis complex at the national capital to Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.
The organisers would be responsible for conducting the tennis events at the venue, during the games that are set to attract thousands of athletes from all over the world.
While accepting the key, Kalmadi lamented the fact that the national media was unduly condemning the efforts made by the Delhi government for hosting the Commonwealth Games.
He called the claims were illogical, as all the development work that has gone in place for the games is set to do a lot of good to the city in the longer run, besides meaning better infrastructure for the national capital.
"Lots of criticism of course, I wish one could focus on the new airport which is done, which is almost the best in the world. I wish people focus on the metro, which has started from the airport right up to the Games Village via Connaught Place. These are the things happening”.
The government added that the budget allocated for the development of the games is going to help bring prosperity to the national capital.
One of the major projects that have been noticed by the people of the city is the development of low floor buses for city, which the organizers claim that this was not just for the duration of the games.
The government claims that the games are going to leave a lasting legacy for the residents of the Delhiites, and it is meant for the citizens of Delhi.
According to Suresh Kalmadi who is the chairman of the games organizing committee, the event will take the city five to ten years ahead of times.
The tennis facility has been built in an area of 11,500 square meters, and possesses a total of 14 courts including a centre court and six match courts.
"The progress is now becoming fairly satisfactory and I think we are going well, maybe 15-20 days this way or that but I think all the venues are coming up what we now need to do is to do the rest, the venues are coming up; Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is opening day after tomorrow, 28th or so. So, I think we have lot of time," said Shiela Dikshit, chief of Delhi.
The centre piece of attraction would be the centre court which has a capacity of 5,000 spectators while the number one court has a 1000-seater gallery with updated facilities.
"No, it will be well before time. We are creating the world-class facilities. Certain loose cents are always tied up. Certain minor mishaps take place like for example recently we had heavy rains, some false ceiling came down. So, such things do happen but we have no problem at all," were the claims of a confident S Jaipal Reddy, federal Minister of Urban Development.
The Games are expected to bring big financial rewards for the second most populate country in the world.
The organisers of the games are expecting a huge inflow of tourists in New Delhi, besides some 10,000 athletes from 71 teams representing 54 Commonwealth member states.
The event that will last a total of 12 days is the biggest sporting event in almost three decades in the country, which hosted the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.
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