5000 NCC cadets to volunteer for CWG

Five thousand NCC Cadets will help organise the forthcoming Commonwealth Games and selection process for this has already been completed and training for this purpose will start very soon, according to Director General NCC Lt Gen RK Karwal here today.

Addressing a news conference coinciding with the NCC Republic Day Camp 2010, Lt. General Karwal said that the NCC Delhi Directorate will start the Yamuna Pollution Awareness Campaign next month.

The earlier Ganga Pollution Awareness Campaign, organised from Haridwar to Bihar, was a huge success, he added. t. General Karwal said that the Defence Ministry has approved a proposal to hire services of Ex-Servicemen to meet the shortage of Army officers in the NCC.

The Finance Ministry is examining the proposal at present, he added. It may be noted that the Government has approved raising the strength of NCC cadets from the present 13 lakhs to 15 lakhs.

Lt General Karwal said that the Ministry of Defence has also approved a proposal to raise the ratio of Girl cadets from present 23 percent to 33 percent.

He said that the number of cadets deputed under the Youth Exchange Programme will be doubled to 200 from next year.

The Vice President Mohd Hamid Ansari inaugurated the annual Republic Day Camp on Saturday. There are 1,950 cadets, both Boys and Girls, participating in the month-long camp.

Delhi to go festive during Commonwealth Games

Delhi will showcase India's diverse culture, music, dance and theatre in a carnival atmosphere with plenty of food thrown in during the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games. 8000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and nearly 100,000 visitors are expected to throng the metropolis during the event.

"The Commonwealth Games are coinciding with the festival season and we are planning to hold lot of programs. It will be a gala time with fun and frolic for the visitors as well as Delhiites," Rina Ray, Delhi's secretary for art and culture.

There will be a devotional music festival at Talkatora stadium, sufi music Jahan-e-Khusrau at Humayun's Tomb, folk dances at Roshanara Park and classical music at Kamani auditorium. Then there are theatre festivals at different locations, some out in the open. For the emerging artistes, Central Park in Connaught Place is the stage, while there will be something or other going on daily at Dilli Haat (INA market and Pitampura). The union culture ministry has also lined up several programmes. The presence of film stars will be an added attraction.

Social organisations and NGOs will be involved in providing entertainment for the poor.

"We are in the process of tying up with various NGOs so that no category of people is left out. We don't want it to be an elitist event. We want everyone to be part of the celebrations attached to the Games. We are trying to reach out to people in resettlement colonies," she added.

Most of the programs in Delhi during Commonwealth Games will be open to all, but there will be designated places for visitors with accreditation.

Delhi government wants private sector participation in as many programs as possible so that promotional activities get a fillip. Malls around the city will also be encouraged to come up with their own programs.

Ray said the blueprint of the programmes is more or less ready and work on various projects will start soon.

Tax holiday for Hotels hosting Commonwealth Games's guests

The Delhi government Monday granted exemption from payment of luxury tax to hotels providing accommodation to delegates and technical experts during the Commonwealth Games this year.

After a cabinet meeting here, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said it is estimated that the amount of exemption in luxury tax will be around Rs. 300 million.

The exemption will be provided for a month (from Sep 16 to Oct 16) on hotel accommodation booked by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee for delegates from the Commonwealth Games Federation, member countries of the Commonwealth Games Associations, technical experts of International Sports Federations and broadcasting/media right holders for the games.

Dikshit said the decision has been taken as per the 'Host City Contract' which says that the host city will use all reasonable endeavours to minimise the imposition of taxes on the import of supply and equipment required by the Commonwealth Games Federation, Commonwealth Games Associations, and accredited representatives.

'The taxes mean all taxes - duties of the host country, the host state and host city. The organising committee will have to provide a detailed list of delegates/technical experts,' she said.

Usain Bolt not to run at Commonwealth Games

Usain Bolt will not be running at the Commonwealth Games, his manager Ricky Simms confirmed on Wednesday.

"I can 100 per cent confirm that Usain will not be running at the Commonwealth Games," Simms informed after the sprint champion’s name figured in the preliminary list of athletes submitted to the Commonwealth Games organisers by the Jamaican Olympic Association.

"Maybe this list was sent in some time ago," Simms added. "The Commonwealth Games is not on Usain’s schedule for this year."

Simms in fact, echoed what Bolt’s coach Glen Mills had said last week. Bolt had himself expressed doubts over his Commonwealth Games participation.

If finding Bolt’s name on the Jamaican list had raised the Games’ organisers’ hopes, Simms had a stern message for them.

"I do not understand why the CWG official cannot just accept his decision and stop putting out more stories in the press. They should focus on the athletes who are coming to India," Simms said through email.

Bolt might not be able to come to India as a guest either, if invited. "I don’t think Usain would want to come to India as a guest. He is scheduled to resume training after a 4-6 week break at that time," Simms said.