Delhi 2010

[cormiermax]

THESE VENUES ARE FAR BETTER THAN ANY USED IN THE CWG TILL DATE - U BET ME ON THAT - AND THIS TIME UM GONNA KICK UR A**!

They look pretty dated and shabby to me...

[LuigiVercotti]

Well aside from demonstrating how proficient the organisers are at floating huge balloons over a rain soaked stadium, here's some Indian news reportage about the village (with attendant mosquito breeding swamps and detritus):

And this was only 8 hours ago (approx 2am AET)

[cormiermax]

For me that's the final nail in the coffin, The games are still a few weeks away but I am 98.9% sure they will be a total disaster. I cant see India getting any major global events for a very long time.

[Rafa]

I don't think the Games will be a disaster.

[Ikarus360]

Well, the games are not going to be very well organized compared to other editions for sure, thats something that cannot be avoided, but probably we wont see such a bad games (not that i'm saying the media is completly lying but they are also creating a very bad hype surrounding it, even more bad hype than in Athens 2004) but we're probably going to hear complains of athletes and officials on their developement

[micheal_warren]

Well aside from demonstrating how proficient the organisers are at floating huge balloons over a rain soaked stadium, here's some Indian news reportage about the village (with attendant mosquito breeding swamps and detritus):

And this was only 8 hours ago (approx 2am AET)

We had a report in new zealand about the lawn bowls stadium where half of the indian team had come down with dengue fever because is is beeding in the gutters within the stadium...

[Ikarus360]

The Village has been finally opened today for the athletes.

[Rob2012]

So long as it's internally complete and everything's working, I think they're right in saying they may well have outdone Beijing with their village. A little bit of credit where it's due I think.

[Ikarus360]

Ok, things are starting to get in shape now, it seems..

[4seasonscentre]

The Village has been finally opened today for the athletes.

I hope that's not a load-bearing poster

That table seems too narrow to hold a tray on each side.

[Sir Rols]

Well, they seem to have the other ancillary services ready to cope as well:

Escort services network on sites to score big at Commonwealth Games

While sex is not an official Commonwealth sport, it will be in demand with thousands of visitors from over 70 countries pouring into the capital. And escort services in and around Gurgaon are trying every trick in the book to score in the pleasure business.

Many of them are using social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter to cash in on the Games fever.

Social networking sites are the best way to connect with clients. The escorts services in Gurgaon are focussing on foreign visitors, said an executive working at a Gurgaon-based escort firm.

Business has been really good. The past two months have seen a surge in the bookings, he added.

The Indian Association of Tour Operators, an umbrella body of over 1,500 hotels, tour operators and lifestyle services providers, had asked the Tourism Ministry to keep a check on such activities.

Because of this, escort services are working discreetly, using Facebook and similar sites to target customers, said a senior police official.

A host of NGOs and tour operators are coordinating with the police to keep tabs on such activities during the Games.

Sex workers are expected to cash in on the Games. Prostitutes from different foreign countries masquerading as tourists will book short tours to India during this time," said Ruchira Gupta, whose NGO Apne Aap is working with the Gurgaon police to monitor these activities.

The NGO has drafted an online awareness campaign. "A large number of women are being procured from Bihar, Chattisgarh and other parts of the country for prostitution in Delhi during the Games. Our organization has been demanding strict action against traffickers, said Gupta.The petition has been signed by 414 people across the globe.

Ashley Judd (American actress) too has signed and supported the petition. Our target is to have 1,000 signatures, and then it will be submitted to President Pratibha Patil, said Gupta.

Escort services, however, deny any forced prostitution. The girls who work in escort services are mostly foreigners. Indian girls in escort services are educated and modern in outlook. They know what they are doing. We use no force, said the proprietor of an escort service.

All the foreign women stay in well-appointed apartments located in Delhi and Gurgaon. They are driven to the clients' location as per demand, said another executive

He added: We can provide foreign escort at short notice, say, 30 minutes.

Times Of India

[LuigiVercotti]

Well nice to see something positive emerging finally from the Delay 2011 CGs however the village appears no better than others (certainly looks like the athlete's rooms and dining facilities are of a lesser standard than those in Sydney). Also not hard to notice there are still problems with stagnant and surface water.

As for the sex workers Rols you might recall there was a similar story surrounding Sydney and the filles de jour converging on the Olympics for a supposed boost in business. I also suspect there were similar stories with at least Athens and Beijing. Been going on since the days when the populi Romani hung around the Flavian Ampitheatre looking to hook up with feminae nocti after gladitorial games

[Aditya Madhusudan]

GAMES VILLAGE SET BENCHMARK FOR LONDON 2012

Games Village has set benchmark for London 2012′

Games Village set benchmark for London 2012

Thursday, September 16, 2010 7:47:15 PM by IANS

New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) England’s Chef de mission Craig Hunter’s comments on the Games Village will be music to the ears of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi and his team.

Organisers have been claiming that some of the facilities for the New Delhi Games will be as good as what the world watched in awe at Beijing.

Hunter seems to endorse the Organising Committee’s view and went a step further in saying the Games Village is far better than the accommodation provided at the Beijing Olympics and it will be a challenge for London, the hosts of 2012 Olympics, to match it.

“It is spectacular,” Hunter told a few journalists on the day of the soft opening of the Village.

“You should be proud of what you have got. Every Games Village has progressed and this sets a new standard. This Village is better than the Beijing Olympics. You have given us a challenge for the London 2012,” said Hunter, who arrived here four days ago to see the facilities and do the spadework before the athletes arrive Sep 23.

“The apartments are spacious and well furnished. They are of high quality. The surroundings are lush green and beautiful. I have seen other Games villages where there were one bathroom for four athletes. Here two athletes share one bathroom. Also, to have such a training facility at the Village itself is amazing. It will be a comfortable stay at the Village.”

“I have been coming here in last 18 months and I have seen the Village grow. There are bits and pieces to be done, but that happens before the start of every Games. We are here in advance to check out everything before the athletes arrive.”

Hunter also said some of the venues for the Games are world class.

Hunter downplayed the security fears and said the Organising Committee is making all efforts to look into their concerns.

England, Wales, New Zealand and Scotland have gone in for a joint assessment of security in Delhi, but Hunter said it was nothing unusual.

“Security is an integral part of every Games and it is no different here. This has been there since the 1972 Munich Olympic disaster. It is part of the preparation.”

“We have had meetings with the Organising Committee on every aspect of the Games Village, on security, health care, accommodation. They gave us a patient hearing and we have got the right assurances.”

“There are still some issues. There have been numbers of cases of dengue fever, and we have asked for fogging at the Village every evening. There are also some operational challenges, but I am sure that these things will be looked into. Everything is in good shape.”

England will be the second largest contingent after Australia with around 525 athletes and team officials participating.

“We are bringing 371 athletes and it is one of the largest contingents England have sent overseas.”

Asked about the pullout by some athletes, he said: “There has been no pullout due to security and any other reason. The athletes who are not coming here is because of the packed international calendar and injuries. It has been a long season.”

“But we do have some Olympic and World Champions coming to Delhi. Also, there are some talented youngsters in the squad. We are using this as a preparation for London 2012.”

Double Olympic champion swimmer Rebecca Adlington and Beijing Olympics silver medallist triple jumper Phillips Idowu are some of the star England athletes who will be seen in action in Delhi.

The Village has 4,000 bedrooms spread across 34 towers, with four million square feet of constructed area. The apartments ranging from two to five bedroom units (1,400 sq ft to 3,500 sq ft) will house more than 7,000 athletes and officials.

[Scotguy]

Glasgow 2014 website of the Handover section

http://www.glasgow2014.com/delhi_handover.aspx

I like the storybook

[Scotguy]

The handover ceremony will involve hero pipers, leading the cast into the stadium. A Gaelic chant song and a mass cheorographed dance routine

[Lachie]

Just because they can present a village doesn't mean the organising hasn't been a shambles. Bravo India, you delivered accomodation. Bravvvvvvoooooo.

[baron-pierreIV]

Of course, all these athletes and visitors to Delhi 2010 will also bring home the 'superbug' with them. Thanks, India and the CWG!!

[Arush Mittal]

Health Minster satisfied with Games sites

Delhi Health Minister Prof. Kiran Walia has said that the medical infrastructure that has to be provided as part of the Commonwealth Games is all complete and set to welcome the participants next month.

The Minister made the announcement after conducting a visit and inspection of all the practicing and competition venues of the Commonwealth Games on Thursday.

A polyclinic with ten observation beds at the Games Village for duration of the Games round-the-clock has also been provided. ``First-aid post for spectators at the Games venues and at Pragati Maidan has also been set up. Upgradation of facilities at select Delhi Government hospitals has been ensured and all requisite health infrastructure, facilities with the medical staff has been provided at the venues well before the target date to meet the requirement of the delegates and athletes both at the practicing and competition venues,’’ said the Minister.

Prof. Walia also expressed satisfaction over the arrangement and preparedness of the Delhi Government for this mega event. ``All the requisite medicines and necessary equipments have been provided at the medical centres,’’ added the Minister.

Prof. Walia also reviewed the preparedness and functioning of the medical health centres at the Games venues and ascertained how they will function during the event. ``G.B. Pant Hospital, RML Hospital, JPN Apex Trauma Centre at AIIMS and Sports Injuries Centre and Safdarjung Hospital have been designated to take care of the medical needs of athletes, team officials, technical delegates and others. All these hospitals are ready in all respect to cater the needs of the sports persons, athletes and delegates. These hospitals are having secure wards, emergency areas, ICU beds and 30 beds to the requirements of the athlete,’’ said the Minister.

She added that the Commonwealth Games Cell is functional round the clock and the Ministry is working at ensuring that all the 42 medical centres, designated hospitals, upgraded hospitals and first aid posts at the venues are fully prepared to meet any eventuality.

The Minister along with the National Disaster Response Force officers inspected the Commonwealth Games Village to ensure that dengue control measures were being implemented properly.

``Hundred members of the National Disaster Response Force with 30 boats have been instructed to spray mosquito repellent for destroying the mosquito breeding in the bushes and forest within the water-bodies surroundings Games Village and other venues. The task force is keeping a vigil on the situation and is ensuring that mosquito breeding will be checked,’’ she added.

[LuigiVercotti]

Games Village 'very good' but needs clean up: NZ top official

WELLINGTON: New Zealand Commonwealth Games Chef de Mission Dave Currie has given the Games Village in New Delhi the thumbs up but wants the block where the country's athletes will be put up to be cleaned up.

Currie, here to check the progress, has reported back to New Zealand Olympic Committee that facilities in Tower 32, the residential block in the Village where the team will be housed, were good, but it was not clean enough.

"Aspects of the village are very good. The athlete recreational and training areas are outstanding and the dining hall is of a very high standard," Currie was quoted as saying by 'New Zealand Herald'.

"In saying that, however, our tower needs a good clean before we can operationalise it," he said.

The safety of the athletes has been NZOC's top priority and Currie said security measures around the perimeter of the Games Village appeared robust.

Currie was working with officials from Wales, England, Canada and Australian teams. His focus was on the Games Village while other officials checked the progress on venues.

"I've been told that the venues appear to be operational and in pretty good shape," Currie said.

He said the mosquito-enticing pools of water at venues is a major cause for concern with the mega event scheduled to start in less than a fortnight.

"The unseasonably late monsoons mean there are still pools of water around and this is a focus for organisers. There is still some preparation work needed to be done on the main stadium," he said.

Weightlifting coach Richard Dryden said that as long "as the platform is solid and the training room is expansive" they could work anywhere.

"It might take until the last-minute, but it will happen," Dryden said of Delhi's readiness.

[cormiermax]

I noticed the village looked dirty in the pictures, hopefully they clean it up.

[adrianme17]

well i for one (and despite whatever has gone on) wish india and delhi well. it is sad that their games is going to be marred by this disorgnisation/**** ups / corruption. i am however disgusted by some of the triumphant reporting of all things wrong and everything that could have been done better. god i could go on about the injustice of it all - on every level - but sadly some of us here are happy to see india fail and also the commonwealth games fail.

[Arush Mittal]

‘World’s largest’ bus depot now in city, courtesy DTC

Thanks to the Commonwealth Games (CWG), the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) may soon find its name in the Guinness Book of Records. DTC's Millennium Park Bus Depot, which will provide buses to athletes, delegates and mediapersons during the 10-day sporting extravaganza, has come up as the

world's largest depot for buses.

Spread over a sprawling 60-acre-plot, along the western banks of the Yamuna, the parking can accommodate 1,000 buses at any given point in time.

The Millennium Park depot has overtaken the Central Bus Station, located in Tel Aviv (Israel), which is spread over 57 acres and can accommodate 800 buses.

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit inaugurated the Millennium Park bus parking facility and logistics centre on Friday.

Constructed by the Public Works Department (PWD), the Rs. 61-crore bus depot was built in less than a year.

"We got the approval for this parking in four phases, starting September 2009. The last approval came in April 2010. We have spent Rs. 3 crore from the sanctioned amount on construction of this facility," Delhi PWD minister Rajkumar Chauhan said.

The bus depot has five bus parking-cum-scanning centres, eight washing pits, four huge water tanks for washing buses, two separate tanks for fire reserve and drinking water, seven dormitories, where 500 persons can stay and two CNG filling stations.

Delhi police have also set up a cargo scanner and command centre especially for the Commonwealth Games.

"This depot will provide 600 buses during the Games for athletes and delegates. After the Games, it will be used as a normal DTC bus depot," Delhi transport minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said.

___________________________________________________________________________________

350 modern cameras, 2700 personnel, DD all geared up for CWG

NEW DELHI: For the first time in the history of Commonwealth Games, Doordarshan is providing 'high definition' coverage to its viewers and is all geared up with more than 350 ultra modern cameras and well-trained crew members who will be covering the events on road, by air and under water.

"We are fully geared up. For the first time in the history of CWG the coverage will be on high definition. We will have our presence at 18 places that includes 16 venues plus two road events. More than 350 cameras will be installed for this purpose. The coverage will be on road, by air and under water," Director General of DD Aruna Sharma said.

"For Aquatics events, we will have under water cameras. Opening, closing ceremonies and road events will be covered by helicopter and special moving cameras will be installed for some events. In short it will be altogether a delightful experience."

She said that for this type of coverage DD neither had the experience nor the equipment, so they tied up with a British entity SIS live.

"SIS is responsible for the production and coverage. They bought all the modern equipment here. We also chose the opportunity to train our 300 staffers for handling sports coverage in HD. We divided those sports wise and trained accordingly. They have done all the test events and mock games on their own," she said.

DD also has made arrangements for non HD telecast. "For maximum number of viewers, who don't have the mechanism to watch it on HD, we would step it down. We have the SD format which is also far more superior of that we normally see," she said.

Elaborating on the telecast, Sharma said four DD channels plus one new channel DD HD will telecast the games almost round the clock.

"DD-HD will telecast CWG 2010 in High Definition format. DD sports will be virtually converted into CWG channel with round the clock transmission of the games. DD National will feature telecast of the finals of different events. DD Urdu and Bharti will telecast selective events. National channel will also produce half an hour highlights everyday exclusively on India's performance," she said.

When asked about the commentary team, she said legendary athletes will be there in the team. Stalwarts like PT Usha and Milkha Singh will be invited for discussions.

DD, as rights holding broadcaster, has made arrangements to deploy more than 600 personnel for the production and telecast of the Games.

"Total crew members will be around 2,700 that includes DD staff, SIS live people and other staff. DD staff will directly be involved in the coverage of Boxing, Wrestling and Weightlifting events." she said.

" Beauty cameras" has been installed at famous tourist destinations of the city like Qutub Minar, Jeevan Bharti (Connaught Place), Red Fort, India Gate and JNL Stadium. The commentary will weave in local flavour. Commentators will be briefed about the places that would be shown so that they can add value to the visuals.

India is hosting the first major mega sports event 28 years after the Asian Games, but DD is confident of providing much improved and delightful broadcast.

"It is true that this is the first ever major multi sports event after the Asian Games 1982 but we have enough experience. We did the CW youth games in 2008 which was an entire in-house exercise. We are sure people will enjoy watching DD this time," Sharma said.

The DG also warned all the channels against the misuse of DD feed.

"We have written to all channels that it will be unfair on their part if they use our feed. According to the media access guidelines through the Organising Committee, they can use 10 seconds feed for news purpose. We will strictly monitor this time." she said.

[LuigiVercotti]

Frankly I think Delhi's CG's are now too dangerous and have come at too great a cost for anyone to attend without having grievous concerns:

Tourist shooting has India on alert

Matt Wade

September 20, 2010

Gunmen have shot two people on a tourist bus near a historic mosque just a week before large numbers of travellers begin to arrive for the Commonwealth Games.

Indian cities were put on high alert after the foreigners were injured in Delhi.

The shooting has raised fears about security for the Commonwealth Games, with large numbers of tourists beginning to arrive within a week.

Attackers on a motorbike fired on the tourists as they got off a bus near the Jama Masjid mosque, a popular tourist site in the area known as Old Delhi.

Ballistic evidence suggested the gunmen opened fire with an automatic pistol. Bullets shattered windows on the bus.

The injured Taiwanese men, Ku Ze-Wei and Chiang Ko, arrived in Delhi on Saturday night and were on a bus tour of the city.

Delhi's Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, said one reportedly had a bullet wound to the stomach and was undergoing surgery. Police said eight to 10 rounds were fired.

The mosque's chief imam told Agence France-Presse one of the two attackers fired randomly from outside one of the main gates of the shrine.

''The two terrorists came on a motorcycle and the man riding pillion first fired randomly at the mosque and then fired in the air and at the people, and then he fired on the bus in which the tourists had come,'' he said. ''The police today proved to be a failure. How can the police protect foreigners when they arrive?''

Dr Dikshit said police were investigating and it was too early to say if the incident was a terrorist attack linked to the Games.

Yesterday's shooting is a fresh blow for Delhi Games organisers who have issued repeated assurances the event, which starts on October 2, will be safe for competitors, spectators and visitors.

The Department of Foreign Affairs last night said the Australian high commission was seeking further information. It restated its warning to Australian tourists to exercise a ''high degree of caution'' in India.

This isn't about India bashing or not wanting the games to be a success...I want to see a sporting festival conducted without deaths and the exploitation of the poor. Now it seems that athletes and their supporters that visit Delhi really are under potential threats to their lives....

[cormiermax]

If I was an athlete there's no way id compete in these games.

[zuvenile]

Wise words coming from someone based in OZ, considering they cant even guarantee the safety of international students based in their country, hell a kid even approached john Howard with a knife back when he was the PM so lets not point fingers at others. As far as incident like todays goes yes it bad but its no worse then glassing, knifing other gang incidents i have heard about in footscray, springvale or many of the other such suburbs in melbourne.

you should no better that at the same time India is hosting the CWG its also hosting your cricket team and they dont seem to be making such a fuss about it. i thought pommies were whingers but now i see aussies and candians are beating them to it.

my advice to all who thinks CWG is just too dangerous to attend is....dont attend, now one is forcing you all to come coz as i rem australian swimmers have already been told they are free to make up their mind. CWG in delhi would be a lot better place to be in without such whingers.