CWG faces the heat from all corners. India embarrased

Bridge disaster ends a horrendous day

New Delhi: With just 12 days to go for the Commonwealth Games, host India faced the prospect of major international embarrassment Tuesday with both its showpiece structures, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the Games Village, coming under harsh scrutiny, forcing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene once again.

An under-construction foot overbridge near the main venue of the CWG collapsed, injuring 23 labourers, five of them seriously, just as Games officials and several foreign contingents complained that the village was still not fit for accommodation.

In a major blow to the preparations for the mega sporting event, expected to be attended by about 7,000 participants and officials from 71 countries and territories, the foot overbridge linking the Nehru Stadium to the parking lot, collapsed leaving red-faced officials scrambling for an explanation.

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CWG not collapsing, says Delhi CM

NEW DELHI: Under mounting attack over preparations for the Commonwealth Games , particularly after collapse of a foot overbridge near the main venue, DelhiChief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday admitted facing "problems" but rejected the criticism that the event was collapsing.

"I would like you tell very categorically that these minor glitches and hitches do come around....but to make out as the whole thing is collapsing - I am sorry, we do not agree with that," Dikshit told reporters.

"There will be some problems. There are some problems. But they are not insurmountable. If there is any concern or there is any problem, they will be addressed to," she said.

Asking people to remain "positive", she said national pride is involved with the event and every effort is being made to make it a success.

"This is not my Games, this is not your Games. This an event of the whole country. We will address all the concerns and drawbacks. There is no reason to worry...we should look at it as an opportunity. Please become positive," she said.

In a major embarrassment for organisers as well as Delhi Government, an under-construction foot overbridge collapsed yesterday outside the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, the main venue of the Commonwealth Games, injuring 27 labourers.

Delhi Government's Public Works Department had given the contract to a private firm to construct the overbridge.

The city government has already blacklisted the company and ordered a probe into the incident.

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CWG: Three Indian swimmers fail in dope test

The Indian CWG squad swimmers Richa Mishra and Jyotsana Pansare along with Amar Muralitharan were tested positive for methylhexaneamine, a stimulant banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2010.

Richa Mishra was selected as the best female swimmer of the 64th National aquatic championship in Jaipur.

Secretary of Indian Swimming Federation, Virender Nanavati, confirmed the development and told the media that both Richa and Jyotsana will be withdrawn from the team if their 'B' samples also turned out to be positive.

"We have been informed by the National Anti-Doping Agency about the three swimmers failing dope tests. Their samples were collected during the National Championships in Jaipur," said Nanavati.

"They can ask for a 'B' sample test but that is their individual decision. We will see what happens after that procedure is completed. If the 'B' samples of Richa and Jyotsana also test positive they will be withdrawn from the team. I can't say whether we will have the replacements," he added.

Richa won three individual gold medals with one meet record during the Nationals and Jyotsana won a gold in the 100m backstroke event in Jaipur.

Earlier on Thursday, Sep 2, three other Indian wrestlers, including one Arjuna award winner, were failed in NADA dope test and national federation suspended them from the CWG squad.

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Chidambaram reviews CWG security

New Delhi: Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday reviewed the security measures for the Commonwealth Games starting October 3.

Top officials including Home Secretary G K Pillai, Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal and senior officials from Intelligence agencies and National Security Guards briefed him about the measures for the mega sporting event.

Dadwal is understood to have given a presentation on deployment of security personnel, traffic management and contingency plan for emergency.

A four-tier security apparatus with Army back-up will be put in place during the Games. However, so far there is no specific threat to the Games.

Over 10,000 athletes from 71 countries and 500,000 spectators are expected at the Games.

According to the security plan, athletes, officials and guests can visit the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium only by bus and no VIPs, except the heads of state, will be allowed to take their cars in. Parking arrangement has been made for 150 buses at the stadium.

Each of the 13 competition venues for the Commonwealth Games will have a tight security ring and special arrangements will be made to transport the athletes to and from the Games Village. Helicopters carrying commando snipers will keep an eye on the convoy.

This is aimed to prevent incidents like the attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore in March 2009.

To ensure fleet security, each of the 574 vehicles to be used for ferrying athletes across the city will have to undergo mandatory anti-sabotage clearance every morning before athletes board them.

Besides, after the takeover of all venues and the Village, security agencies will start their work for erecting metal barriers, tyre busters, CCTV and metal detectors and conduct anti-sabotage drills.

"The security will be similar to that in Parliament," an official said.

Mock security drill will be held by security agencies and electronic bar codes will be provided to authorised cars and buses.

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Commonwealth Games Players to get a taste of Kerala’s massage treatment

With an aim to give foreign visitors a taste of famous Kerala massage during the Commonwealth Games, Delhi’s health department had approached Kerala government a couple of months ago for assistance to select masseurs who could be trained in massages that could be used to give relief to tired or injured athletes. Kerala Government, advertised for masseurs & 150 candidates were chosen & trained for games duties.

A team of 150 masseurs trained in therapeutic Kerala ayurvedic massage will cater to around 8,000 sportspersons during the Commonwealth Games. The masseurs, most of whom are either ayurvedic massage therapists or ayurvedic doctors from Kerala, have been selected by the director of Medical Education Ayurveda and principal of Ayurveda Medical College of Trivandrum. They will be now trained in sports injuries by a Pune-based specialist in August.

S Bhattacharjee, director of Delhi Health Services, said the Organizing Committee would need around 120 masseurs while the rest would be kept on standby.

The masseurs will be divided in various teams and will be stationed at the Commonwealth Games Village and event venues. After reaching the capital 10 days before the Games, the masseurs will stay in a hostel facility in Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital complex.

Health minister Kiran Walia said research has shown that masseurs of Indian system of medicine like ayurveda are among the best in the world. She claimed that masseurs specializing in sports-related massages were an important component of the health arrangements for the Games.

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Four from AP in athletics squad

New Delhi, Aug. 31: Four athletes from Andhra Pradesh — S. Geetha, Abdul Najib Qureshi, K. Mrudula and Ch Shanti — made it to the 90-member Commonwealth Games Indian squad that was announced on Tuesday.

Geetha and Abdul Najib Qureshi will compete in the 100 metres, 200m as well as the 4x100m events while Shanthi will turn up for the 100m and 4x100m races. Mrudula has been picked for the 400m and 4x400m events.

Hyderabad’s Ramesh Kumar has been named as the coach for the women’s team.

The squad, which has 46 men and 44 women, will compete in 45 out of the 46 track and field events. No athlete has been named for pole vault event. The athletes for 20km walk will be announced later.

“It’s the biggest Indian athletics squad for the Commonwealth Games. We are the host country and are expecting the highest number of medals this time,” AFI officiating secretary Ravinder Chaudhry said.

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It'll be our best-ever show in CWG: Coach Bahadur

Padma Shri Bahadur Singh,the chief coach of indian athletics team for commonwealth games2010, one of the best shot putters India has ever produced and a veteran of five Asian Games, is perhaps the busiest man at the Netaji Subas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) in Patiala where the Indian athletes are training for the CWG.

Talk about the Delhi Games and Bahadur's eyes will light up with excitement. "It will be our best-ever show," he told TOI with confidence. "We won just two silver medals at the last Games but this time it will be a totally different story."

According to the coach, the host country will be a medal contender in at least 10 events. "If you look at the track events in the women's section, we have got a chance in the 400m hurdles, 800m, 3,000m steeplechase and 10,000m."

The coach expects great things from youngsters like Tintu Luka and Mayookha Johny. "Tintu has got the capacity to excel at the world level but needs to work more on her endurance. She may not win a medal but she will definitely produce a good performance," said Bahadur. Analysing Mayookha's chances, he said: "She got a better chance in long jump. In triple jump, she will better the national record for sure."

Bahadur said the women's discus throw would see fierce competition between Melbourne silver medallist Seema Antil, in-form Krishna Poonia and Harwant Kaur. "All three are capable of winning medals," Bahadur, who personally trains Seema, felt. Among the men, the chief coach is floored by the improvement shown by Pankaj Dimri who clocked 1:46.26 in men's 800m at the inter-state meet in Patiala.

"That was a stunning performance. Not even Sriram (Singh) or Charles (Borromeo) could clock this time," he said. "I'm also confident about the performance of Om Prakash in men's shot put, Vikas Gowda in men's discus and Renjith Maheswary in men's triple jump."

Asked about the contribution of foreign coaches, Bahadur Singh said their contribution was vital for the sport. "Earlier, we never did this well. All these improvements in standards came only after their arrival. For example, in middle and long distance and walking we have done well with the help of foreigners."

The coach revealed that the plan was to let the athletes' peak at the right time. "We've deliberately kept the qualifying standards a bit low so that our athletes didn't have to reach their peak to qualify for the Games."

Read more: It'll be our best-ever show in CWG: Coach Bahadur - Interviews - Commonwealth Games - Events & Tournaments - Sports - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/events-tournaments/commonwealth-games/interviews/Itll-be-our-best-ever-show-in-CWG-Coach-Bahadur/articleshow/6465128.cms#ixzz0yIToeRUI

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Indian athletics team for CWG 2010 announced

New Delhi, Aug 31 (IBNS): The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) named a 90-member team on Tuesday for the upcoming Commonwealth Games (CWG), with a hope of producing the best result for the country in the Games.

AFI selected 46 men and 44 women, to compete in 45 track and field events to be held at the Commonwealth Games in October.

In a release, AFI Acting Secretary Ravinder Chaudhry said the performances of the athletes from Apr 2010 to the beginning of Aug when the National inter-State meet was held in Patiala had been considered by the selection panel.

The names of the walkers for the 20km event will be announced later while the relay teams will be selected on Sept 15.

India has won a gold medal (Milkha Singh in 400 yards in 1958), five silver and four bronze medals in track and field competition at the Commonwealth Games.

The team
Men:

100m, 4x100m: Abdul Najib Qureshi, BG Nagaraj, Krishna Kumar Rane, Hemant Kirulkar, Rahamattulla Molla, Shameer Mon, Ritesh Anand, Manikandaraj and S Sathya.

200m: Dharambir and Abdul Najib Qureshi.

400m, 4x400m: Kunhi Mohammad, Vinay Chaudhry, J Premanand, Harpreet Singh, VB Bineesh, Jithin Paul, Bibin Mathew and SK Mortaja.

800m: Pankaj Dimri, P.Francis Sagayaraj and Manjit Singh.

1500m: Sandeep Karan Singh and C Hamza.

5000m: Sunil Singh and Sandeep Batham.

10000m: Sunil Singh.

110m hurdles: Siddhanth Thingalaya.

400m hurdles: Joseph Abraham.

3000m steeplechase: Elam Singh and Ramachandran.
Marathon: Bining L.

Shot put: Om Prakash and Sourabh Vij.

Discus throw: Vikas Gowda.

Javelin throw: Kashi Nath and Samareet Singh.

Hammer throw: Chandrodaya Narayan.

Long jump: Maha Singh, Ankit Sharma and Hari Krishnan M.

Triple jump: Renjith Maheshwari and Amarjit Singh.

High jump: Nikhil Chitrasau and Hari Shanker Roy.

Pole vault: Gajanan Upadhyay.

Decathlon: Bhartinder Singh and P J Vinod.

Women:

100m, 4x100m: S Geetha, HM Jyothi, PK Priya, Sarbani Nanda, Rebecca Jose, Nirupama Sunderraj, Arjina Khatun and Ch Shanthi.

200m: HM Jyothi, S. Geetha

400m, 4x400m: Mandeep Kaur, Jaunu Murmu, Ashwini AC, Sini Jose, Tiana Mary Thomas, Chitra K. Soman, Mridula K, MR Poovamma, Priyanka Panwar and Manjit Kaur.

800m: Tintu Luka and Sinimol Paulose.

1500m: Shushma Devi, Jhuma Khatun and OP Jaisha.

5000m: Kavita Raut, Preeja Sreedharan and Laita Babar.

10000m: Preeja Sreedharan and Kavita Raut.

100m hurdles: G Gayathri.

400m hurdles: Jauna Murmu and Ashwani AC.

3000m steeplechase: OP Jaisha, Sudha Singh and Priyanka Patel.

Marathon: Sukanya Mall Singh.

Discus throw: Krishna Poonia, Harwant Kaur and Seema Antil.

Shot put: Manpreet Kaur.

Javelin throw: Saraswathi S.

Hammer throw: Hardeep Kaur.

Long jump: Mayookha Johny, Prajusha MA and Reshmi Bose.

Triple jump: Mayookha Johny, Prajusha MA and G. Gayathri.

High jump: Kavya Muthanna and Sahana Kumari.

Hepthathon: Promila Aiyappa, Sushmita Singha Roy and Navpreet Kaur.

Coaching staff: Bahadur Singh (Chief Coach), RS Sidhu, Parvir Singh, Renu Kohli, N Ramesh, Virender Punia, Gurdev Singh, Nishad Kumar, MS Dhillon, Jogesh Kumar, YC Saha, JS Bhatia, MA George, Jose Mathew, Kuntal Roy, PT Usha, Yuri Ogorodonik, Nikolai Snesarev, Arnold
Stasuik, Datsuik V, Kravcheko V, Dmytry Vanayakin and Alexander.

Support staff: Kenny Patrick, Elmira Kravchenko, Natalya, Dymytry Buldov, Pawan Kumar Saini, Neol W Dass and Nayak Ashish Kushwaha.

Managers: MK Pathak, Suman Rawat and Mumtaz Khan.

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CWG deadline extended , The new excuse — rain

The spell of rain that has lashed the Capital in the last week has resulted in the extension of deadline for finishing up various technical works linked to the Commonwealth Games. The earlier deadline was August 31. This was decided at the Empowered Group of Ministers on Commonwealth Games on Thursday/

Briefing reporters after the EGoM, Union Sports Secretary Sindhushree Khullar said, "The deadline for all technology-related work has been extended by a few days because of delays caused by rain."
The EGoM also discussed the opening and closing ceremonies and installation of the much-delayed overlays at the event's venues.

The issue of taking adequate steps to control dengue also came up in the meeting.

Because of delay by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to complete the flats in Vasant Kunj — where Games officials were to be accommodated - the GoM has now asked the DDA to look for alternate arrangements.

The Organising Committee on Thursday also cleared Rs 1.75 crore to help the Indian Weightlifting Federation pay a doping fine to the International Weightlifting Federation, enabling national players to participate in the Commonwealth Games.

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PSU pullouts will be made up through private sector: Kalmadi Read more: PSU pullouts will be made up through private sector: Kalmadi - Top Stories -

NEW DELHI: Some of the top PSUs may have pulled out of the Commonwealth Games in the wake of corruption allegations, but Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi is unperturbed, saying he is confident of making up the deficit through the private sector.

Kalmadi said sponsorship deals in most mega events come at a late stage and the OC is expecting to get a lot of sponsors in the coming days.

Asked if he was worried by the pullout of sponsorship money by the PSUs, Kalmadi said, "Some PSUs have withdrawn but we have to make up for it by going for private sponsorship. I am confident we will raise money in excess of target."

"I am sure private sponsorship will come. We have got response from some (private sponsors). We have around 40 days left in the Games and most of sponsorship come in last two three months. So next one month we are going to make a big effort," he said.

Kalmadi said the Games will still turn out to be revenue neutral as the OC expects to meet all the financial targets.

"Our money comes from sponsorship, TV revenue, ticket sales and merchandise. TV revenue, we are expecting to collect 50 million and we have already reached 30 million. Because of all this hullabaloo, advertising for the CWG is in focus and all the TV channels are taking part," he said.

"It is going to be a world class coverage. SIS Live, a wing of the BBC, along with Doordarshan, is doing live telecast and the world will watch. About three billion people are going to watch the Games.

"We have raised around 700 crore money and have got Rs 1000 crore from the government. It is going to be a revenue neutral Games," he added.

Kalmadi said he was responsible for only the conduct of the Games for which the government has given the OC Rs 1600 crore and not for construction delays.

"We are responsible for the 1600 crore we have got. Out of the 1600 crore, Rs 200 crore goes as taxation, 200 crore for rental of the OC building, 100 crore for the salary of the staff, another 100-150 for other things. So actually my budget is just Rs 1000 crore for organising the Games.

"My job is to bring all the people from other countries, look after their catering and stay in India, look after all the 17 sports which are going to happen and they go back in one piece. We have done in a transparent manner. I am responsible for that 1000 crore," he added.

Read more: PSU pullouts will be made up through private sector: Kalmadi - Top Stories - Commonwealth Games - Events & Tournaments - Sports - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/events-tournaments/commonwealth-games/top-stories/PSU-pullouts-will-be-made-up-through-private-sector-Kalmadi/articleshow/6438342.cms#ixzz0xilMDUNj

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CWG misses yet another deadline: Ticket sales

NEW DELHI: Last Friday, the Organizing Committee of the Commonwealth Games had announced with great fanfare that physical ticket sales to the public would commence on August 25.

And so, Pushpender Sharma, a student and an athlete, reached OC headquarters at 9am sharp to buy a ticket. Nine hours later, he still hadn't got one.

"Officials at the OC headquarters sent me to the Central Bank, Parliament street branch. The tickets were not available there either. They told me to come back at 3pm, then I was told to return at six. This is no way to treat people who wish to be a part of the CWG," fumed Sharma. He wasn't the only one complaining.

Officials at various outlets of Central Bank of India and Hero Honda - the OC's official ticketing partners - admitted that many customers turned up in the morning, but had to go back disappointed. Said B S Harilal, assistant general manager at Central Bank of India (Parliament Street), "We kept sending people back through the day. More than 100 people turned up at our branch. We had to inform them that tickets were not available and they would have to return at 3pm. Finally, at 7 pm, we were able to sell tickets."

The scene was repeated across almost all the outlets designated by the OC for ticket sale. TOI, which visited around 10 sites, saw empty counters and disgruntled customers at every site.

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Semenya heading to Commonwealth Games in India

JOHANNESBURG — Caster Semenya will return to major competition at the Commonwealth Games in India after she was included in South Africa's team on Wednesday.

The country's Olympic committee, SASCOC, selected the 800-meter world champion as one of 32 athletes, swimmers, cyclists and rugby sevens players added to South Africa's initial 115-strong team for the Oct. 3-14 games in Delhi, which was announced last month.

"I'm very happy to see the return of Caster Semenya to duty for South Africa," SASCOC president Gideon Sam said. "We have observed her progress closely since the IAAF cleared her to run and it's good to hear her say that she's focusing all her efforts on the Commonwealths."

Semenya has won all three of her comeback races since she was cleared to run by world athletics body, the IAAF, following an 11-month break because of a gender dispute.

She beat a strong field at the ISTAF meet on her return to Berlin on Sunday to continue her winning return to the sport, although public comments by at least two athletes, questioning Semenya's eligibility, have reignited the debate over the teenager's gender status.

"We are not bothered by those comments," Athletics South Africa acting head Ray Mali told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "We are all excited that she is back in the team. I watched the meet in Berlin on Sunday and was quite happy to see the way she was received by the crowd.

"Caster is back and the world has accepted Caster is back."

Mali added Semenya's preparations for the Commonwealth Games were going very well. She ran 1 minute, 59.90 seconds at the ISTAF meet, the first time she ran under two minutes since her return.

"The fact that she's unbeaten in her three races thus far and has improved her time on each occasion is good news for our medal effort in New Delhi," Sam said.

Semenya will run later this week at the Diamond League final in Brussels and at two meets in Italy in preparation for the Commonwealth Games.

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Now Kalmadi Alleges that Every paisa has been accounted

Now Kalmadi Alleges that Every paisa has been accounted

Refuting the allegations of irregularities in hiring AM Films and AM Cars and Vans for various services during Queen’s Baton relay launch function last October in London, Kalmadi said the documents showed the communication with the high commission on the issue last year but these weren’t made available to the Press.

Choosing to go public in order to project the affairs of the OC as transparent, an angry Kalmadi claimed that ‘‘every pie in the OC has been accounted for’’. He added: ‘‘The fact that the OC has sought a VAT refund of 61,419 pounds from the UK government shows that we have nothing to hide.’’

According to the Times Now report, the alleged irregularities came to light during a scrutiny when OC asked for a VAT refund in March 2010 for payments to AM Films.

Kalmadi said the budget for the launch of the Queen’s Baton 2010 Delhi on October 29 last year was approved by the executive board of the OC and the necessary permissions for incurring the expenditure in foreign currency were taken from Reserve Bank of India. ‘‘All the remittances were made against this clearance and no payments were made after October 30, 2009,’’ he said.

He claimed that the executive board of the OC cleared a budget of Rs 13 crore for the function and only Rs 6 crore was spent. ‘‘We saved money from the function budget,’’ he asserted.

Rebutting the allegation that the OC transfers 25,000 pounds every month to AM Films for costume design, Kalmadi said, ‘‘It is all false and baseless, fabricated, prejudiced, frivolous and vindictive propaganda. These transactions do not exist.’’

‘‘OC appointed Jack Morton Worldwide through a global tender process as the event management company to organize the Queen’s Baton Relay launch ceremony in London. It also appointed South Asia Academy, UK, to organise the cultural programme during the launch,’’ Kalmadi said in his statement. ‘‘AM Cars and Vans a company empanelled by the high commission of India in London was appointed for all the transportation requirements on the rates approved by the high commission,’’ Kalmadi claimed.

His statement said that on October 23 last year, during a meeting chaired by Tim Owen, Westminster City Council, and attended by the officials of Metropolitan Police, London Traffic Control Centre, London Fire Brigade, ambulance services and Buckingham Palace officials, they were told that additional items like mobile video screens, portable toilets, ambulances, barricades etc. had to be placed at the launch site without which the authorities would not allow holding of the programme.

‘The OC agreed to arrange all the items and video screens were procured from AM Films Ltd at 146,868.80 pounds. AM Cars and Vans offered to help through its associate company, AM Films Ltd. Both companies delivered all the requirements to the OC’s satisfaction. The money to AM Films was paid through bank transfer from Delhi with due approvals. The other items like mobile toilets and barricades were got through AM Cars and Vans,’’ Kalmadi said.

Asked why a company was not chosen for these jobs through a tender as is usually done, Kalmadi claimed the OC was asked to arrange for these things at a short notice and there was no time to float a tender.

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