Suresh Kalmadi says India is ahead in countdown for Commonwealth Games

October 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. M S Gill on Monday said he will ask the government to release more funds for the Commonwealth Games.

October 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The countdown for the Commonwealth Games, to be hosted by India in 2010, is marked by the unveiling of a Commonwealth clock. The 12-day event, which starts from October 3, 2010, at the 75,000-capacity Jawaharal Nehru Stadium in the heart of New Delhi, will be India's first major international sports event after the 1982 Asian Games.

September 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Premier of Victoria John Brumby called on Suresh Kalmadi, the Chairman of Organising Committee of Commonwealth Games 2010 here on Saturday. Brumby during his visit met the organising committee officials and reviewed the progress of various stadiums and infrastructure projects coming up for the Commonwealth Games.

September 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Chairman of 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) Suresh Kalmadi Friday said the various sub-committees will have to work towards a succcesful conduct of the Games. We have to go in full speed to ensure the Commonwealth Games next year are the best, Kalmadi told chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of the 23 sub-committees formed to help conduct the Games.

September 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Calling it a matter of pride for the nation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said his government would spare no effort to ensure that the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be hosted here are successfully conducted. "The government is fully aware that national prestige is at stake, and it would provide complete support to the Organising Committee," Manmohan Singh said during a meeting with Commonwealth Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, according to a statement issued by the committee.

September 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The organising committee of Commonwealth Games 2010 on Tuesday joined hands with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry as partner to effectively use Commonwealth Games' platform to facilitate deeper economic and trade relationships amongst the Commonwealth fraternity. This coming together of a national sports body and a national business chamber is expected to galvanize the sports and the business communities into spearheading and spreading the culture of sports.

September 16th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Indian Olympic Association (IOC) President Suresh Kalmadi on Wednesday expressed confidence about the Commonwealth Games being held successfully in 2010. Addressing a press conference here, Kalmadi, who is the Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Commitee, said: "Sports Minister M S Gill, Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit are working as a team to deliver a great Game." "We have hired many international experts to ensure there are no slip-ups," he added.

September 16th, 2009 NEW DELHI - As if taking a cue from the Indian government, chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising committee Suresh Kalmadi Wednesday announced his own austerity drive by cancelling two important functions in connection with the 2010 Games. Kalmadi, a Congress member of Parliament, told reporters at his first full-fledged news conference at the new headquarters of the organising committee that a musical show by Oscar-winning music director A.R.

September 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Sports Minister M.S. Gill Tuesday met Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi and secretary general Randhir Singh separately in the backdrop of the Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell expressing scepticism over India's ability to host the 2010 Games.

September 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday rebutted criticism of her government's efforts on preparations for the Commonwealth Games to be held in the national capitalext year. Reacting to Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Mike Fennell's concerns about the organizing committee's ability to deliver, Dikshit said that she had not received or read Fennell's letter to Suresh Kalmadi, but was confident that the games preparations are going as per schedule.

September 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A four-month old Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report seems to have alarmed Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Michael Fennell so much that he shot off a letter to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to seek the intervention of the Prime Minister in the organization of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. A top official of the organising committee told IANS that the CAG report had details of last year's preparation but development work including construction of venues and organisation have improved rapidly in the last few month.

September 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - A day after Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief Michael Fennell aired scepticism over India's ability to host the 2010 Games, Organising Committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi said he is confident of a successful hosting. Fennell, concerned about the slow progress of the projects for the 2010 Games scheduled to be held Oct 3-14, has sought an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to apprise him of the situation.

June 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The organising committee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games launched a green games initiative on World Environment day here Friday. Jasmine saplings on behalf of 71 participating nations were planted in the "Commonwealth Garden of 71".

June 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - With 486 days left for the Commonwealth Games, India Thursday named three hotels that will play host to top VIPs who would be in the national capital. The three hotels - Hotel Ashok, Samrat and Janpath, all under the India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd, a government of India undertaking - would also fill the need for hotel rooms in the capital.

May 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - For Sports Minister M.S. Gill, Thursday was not his first day in office but a continuation after a brief vacation.