‘India committed to organising successful Commonwealth Games’

October 27th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee has asked all National Sports Federations (NSFs) in India to renew their contracts with foreign coaches well in time to avoid discontinuity. The committee met 17 NSFs, of the disciplines that would feature in next year's Games, and advised them to ensure that no foreign coach departs midway that might affect the athletes' preparations.

October 24th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Union Sports Minister M S Gill on Saturday played down the recent tiff between 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi and Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief Michael Fennel, saying that there is no problem of concern between them. "I have talked to Kalmadi and Fennel, and there is no problem or disagreement between the two," Gill said.

October 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Union Sports Minister M S Gill on Monday said that the tiff between the Delhi Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi and Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) CEO Mike Hooper should have been averted. "Whatever has happened is not right and shouldn't have happened.

October 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Commonwealth Games Chief Executive Officer Mike Hooper Thursday vehemently refuted the charges levelled by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi of being an "impediment" in the preparation of the 2010 Games, saying they are "unwanted, unfair and unjust." In a move that could incense the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the Organising Committee (OC) of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games Thursday recommended the "repatriation" of Hooper, who is based in Delhi for two years now. Hooper told IANS that he deplore Kalmadi's comments but remains committed to the work entrusted by CGF of seeing a successful organisation of the Games here.

October 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Sports minister M.S. Gill said Monday that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has taken special interest in the 2010 Commonwealth Games and holds meetings regularly to ensure the success of the mega event that will be held here next year Oct 3-14.

October 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Mike Fennell, the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), has expressed satisfaction with the Indian government's assurances of support to ensure a successful holding of the event. Addressing delegates during a cultural function hosted by the Organising Committee at historic Qutub Minar here on Sunday, Fennell said: He said, "We have come here amidst many reports about Delhi's preparedness, which are not quite accurate, but Sport Minister Gill has given us all the assurance that all the resources that are necessary to ensure the successful celebrations of the Games in 2010, will be provided by the government." Earlier, Fennell had complained about the lack of preparations in New Delhi, and had written to the organisers expressing his concern at the organisers' reluctance to hire foreign experts and the tardy progress of work.

October 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Secretary general of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Lalit Bhanot said Thursday that India will support Fiji's membership to be retained for the 2010 Games here. "India is supporting Fiji's membership.

October 7th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Officials of member countries of the Commonwealth Games Federation (GGF) here for the General Assembly sounded optimistic about India successfully hosting the 2010 Games. A section of the CGF feels the apprehensions raised by chairman Mike Fennel are valid while others are of the view that some concerns are unfounded since the event is still 12 months away.

October 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Air India on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Commonwealth Organising Committee for being the official carrier of the Commonwealth Games 2010. The 2010 Commonwealth Games will be held between 3 and 14 of October in New Delhi, and will be India's first major international sports event after the 1982 Asian 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 the Australian state of Victoria John Brumby Saturday said that he was very impressed with the architecture of the infrastructure coming up for the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG), scheduled to take place in the Indian capital next year. During a visit to the headquarters of the Organising Committee of the 2010 CWG here, he said he had not forgotten the cultural show Delhi had put up at the closing ceremony of the Melbourne Games in 2006.

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 - 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 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.