Commonwealth Organization Concerns in India
With only a couple of months to go for the start of the greatest sporting festival in India in 28 years, concerns about the state of the stadiums and infrastructure continue to be a major concern for the organizers of the game.
The reports on these issues have been circulating in the Indian media, who claim that the infrastructure for the games is not ready, despite the claims of the government and local authorities at the venue of the event, which is the Indian capital city New Delhi.
The deadline for handing over of the facilities is approaching fast and so are the concerns. Several members of the opposing parties are not letting go of the opportunity of taking a swipe at the local and federal government for not taking proper steps and failing to ensure that the development program finishes on time.
They call it a failure of the federal government, calling them inadequate to meet the deadlines.
At the forefront of the accusations is India's former sports minister and lawmaker of the ruling Congress party Mani Shankar Aiyer.
Aiyer claims, the government gave prominent commonwealth nations hundreds thousands of dollars each in an effort to lure them to participate in the games.
"What else were you expecting? To bring the games we gave, every commonwealth nation Olympic association, one-lakh dollars. We gave it to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Britain, did they need this money”, roared Aiyer as he vouched his displeasure at the process that brought the games to India.
The leader expressed his delight at the latest spell of rains that have hit the capital, as he feels that would enable agricultural production in the country and disrupt the preparations for the game.
"Well I'm delighted that it's raining because it'll enable agricultural production in India to increase. I'm also delighted that it's raining because this is going to cause difficulty for the commonwealth games federation or whatever you call it. Basically I'll be unhappy if the games were successful because then they'll start bringing in the Asian Games and the Olympic games and all this”.
The former minister added that he was greatly perturbed as to how things have shaped up for the games, adding that instead of using money to give sports facilities a boost, the sum was being used in creating a great pomp and show.
The host nation set to organize a mega sporting affair after a long time is expecting a huge inflow of tourists at the venue for the Games.
On the other hand some 10,000 athletes from 71 teams representing 54 Commonwealth member states are going to converge for participating in various disciplines that will be taking place during the duration of the Games.
The 12-day sporting extravaganza, which is the biggest outside events like the summer and winter Olympic Games are going to be an acid test for the organizing abilities of the second most populated nation in the world.
The governments is keen on making a good impression in front of the athletes and fans, and ensure them that the country is a capable host that can easily conduct top sporting events without many security or organizational hazards.
If the Games are pulled of successfully India can hope to bid for Olympics, and staging them with-in the next two decades.
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