The Hindu : Sport : We are on track for 2010 CG: Suresh Kalmadi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 21, 2007
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We are on track for 2010 CG: Suresh Kalmadi

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Commonwealth Games, Suresh Kalmadi, on Tuesday claimed that everything was in place for the completion of the infrastructure facilities for the Games in 2010 and there was “nothing to get worried about.”

Mr. Kalmadi was speaking at a function at which he and the Organising Committee Chairman of the 2012 London Olympics, Sebastian Coe, signed a document related to mutual assistance between the two cities and committees. “We are on track,” said Mr. Kalmadi said and informed that at a recent meeting of the Commonwealth Games Federation in Colombo, the house had expressed its happiness at the “progress made so far” towards organising the 2010 Games.

Construction started

He said just because a structure was not visible it should not be construed that work was behind schedule. At several venues construction activity had begun and others would join soon, he said. He added that all facilities would be handed over to the organising committee by December 31, 2009.

Coe said that the details of the agreement and the areas of co-operation were yet to be worked out, but suggested that one of the areas could be coaching and the other tourism. He said both committees faced big challenges in successfully organising the games, but the bigger challenge was to engage young people in pursuit of sports.

Trips to local schools

The two-time Olympic champion in 1500 metres, who in his career set eight outdoor world records, said that the highlight of his visit had been his trips to the local schools and interaction with several budding athletes at the schools as well as at the Nehru Stadium here on Monday.

“I hope the next few years will unearth the next generation of Sriram Singhs and Anju Bobby Georges and you will continue to find role models,” said Coe.

“The two city governments and organising committees will seek to add value to the overall planning and delivery of key city services, operations and functional areas by sharing experience and best practice,” stated the agreement signed by Mr. Kalmadi and Coe.

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