The Hindu : Hamilton a tough competitor for Delhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 07, 2003

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

Hamilton a tough competitor for Delhi

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI AUG. 6. The four-day evaluation of New Delhi's capacity to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games has brought into focus a new aspect _ whether India would be able to cope up with the ever-growing magnitude of such multi-sport events.

``We are looking at the issue of giganticism of Commonwealth Games. Manchester (in 2002) has already raised the standards and the next is Melbourne (2006). So if the Games grow at this pace then it would be difficult for the smaller countries to organise such games,'' said the Commonwealth Games Federation's (CGF) chief executive officer, Mr. Michael Hooper.

Mr. Hooper, who is also the member of the CGF's Bid Evaluation Committee hinted at pruning the number of disciplines and events to keep under check the Games from becoming a too costly affair.

``Some of the sports or disciplines will have to go out. We don't like to see just four to five participants competing for a medal,'' Mr. Hooper said of the Manchester Games but refused to name the sport.

``Rather I would like to see the games being organised in Africa, but for that we will have to make the games compact,'' he said.

Mr. Hooper was speaking to the media after the Bid Evaluation Committee completed its four-day tour of Delhi to assess whether Indian capital has enough infrastructure and capacity to host such a big event.

``It is tremendous that we have two quality bids. Some of the venues here do meet international standards but all need to be refurbished. Also, many venues will have to be built for the successful staging of the Games,'' he said.

New Delhi is locked in a straight-contest with Hamilton (Canada) to be the host city for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The vote is set for November 13, in Kingston (Jamaica).

``You (New Delhi) are having a tough competition from Hamilton,'' Mr. Hooper reminded.

The chairman of the committee, Mr. Richard McColgan said if Delhi does get the nod, then it would be a big challenge for India to develop the city and its infrastructure to international standards.

``If you work hard then you could bring about economic, social and environmental benefits to the city,'' Mr. McColgan said.

The president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, earlier invited the entire CGF Executive Committee to witness the opening ceremony and the hosting of the Afro-Asian Games, which are to be held in Hyderabad from October 24 to November 1.

On Tuesday night, the Minister of State for Sports, Mr. Vijay Goel, hosted a dinner for the delegates and handed over a `flame of hope' to Mr. McColgan to express Delhi's readiness to host the Games.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport