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Rafa

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  15. Delhi 2010

    in Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games

    Posted

    India need 'miracle' to host Games - report

    4 hours ago

    NEW DELHI (AFP) — India are so behind schedule that it will take a "miracle" for New Delhi to host the Commonwealth Games in 2010, a leading newspaper claimed on Wednesday.

    Budgets are skyrocketing and the infrastructure is coming up at a snail's pace for the four-yearly Games to be held in the Indian capital from October 3-14 next year, the Hindustan Times said.

    "What is actually needed for it to materialise without us embarrassing ourselves, is a miracle. And even more money," the paper commented in a front-page story.

    "What we face is a race against time. The ambitious airport project is facing a cash crunch. Roads and flyovers that were to be completed by 2008 have hit a dead-end.

    "The venues are officially 40 percent complete, but walk by them and all you can see is a mess."

    The paper added that a contractor had yet to be found to construct a flyover near the Games village, and work on the elevated corridor connecting the village to the main stadium had barely begun.

    "And even if it all somehow works out, there's that other big question. How on earth will we pay for the Games?" the paper asked.

    Government figures estimate an expenditure of 1.5 billion dollars, up from the original budget of 800 million dollars, on sprucing up New Delhi with new infrastructure and stadia.

    The Hindustan Times took a swipe at Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi for suggesting that money earned through such means as sponsorship and TV rights will be returned to the government.

    "It's a promise the government might hold him to and it's also one he might find difficult to keep," the paper said. "Even before the global economic downturn happened, sponsors were wary.

    "Now, it's much worse."

    The economic slowdown has already forced the Games Village builder to ask for a bailout from the government, the paper reported.

    The newspaper feared that New Delhi may face the same fate as Montreal, which passed on the expenditure incurred for the 1976 Olympics to the city's tax-payers.

    "At this point, in election year, no government will talk of levying any cess (extra tax) in future for the Games," it said.

    "But history has shown us it is a very real possibility that we, the taxpayers, might well foot the bill for India's biggest show."

    Kalmadi said last month he was confident New Delhi would host a successful Games which will feature some 8,500 athletes from 71 teams drawn from the Commonwealth.

    "Most of the infrastructure would be ready by December," he said. "From March 2010 onwards, we hope to have test events."

    The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has raised concern over the slow pace of work, which has already forced the world badminton championships in August this year to be shifted to Hyderabad.

    New Delhi is the second Asian city to be awarded the Commonwealth Games after the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur hosted the 1998 edition.

    Reports from Australia last month said Melbourne, hosts of the 2006 Games, were willing to step in if New Delhi was unable to organise the Games.

    New Delhi has hosted the Asian Games twice in 1951 and 1982.

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