Task force to find solution to Delhi's traffic

A special task force constituted to examine all aspects of city's traffic situation today brainstormed on how to improve vehicular movement in the national capital ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

The task force was formed by the city government as per direction of the High Court to explore the ways of reducing traffic congestion in the city.

The task force, comprising transport experts and officials of MCD, DDA, Delhi Police, at a meeting with Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta, deliberated on various options to improve traffic flow in the city.

Various agencies related to transport sector like Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transmit System Ltd and RITES gave presentation in the meeting on ways to improve the traffic in the city.

The High Court in its order on February 10 had said the Task force will review all aspects pertaining to traffic flow and review all existing policies and regulatory measures.

GREEN Talkatora stadium inaugrated

Delhi’s Chief Minister Smt. Shiela Dikshit inaugurated the Talkatora sporting complex on Wednesday. Talkatora Stadium complex will be an environmentalist’s delight. Constructed with recycled building material, fly ash and heat reflective glass, the dome-shaped stadium is a perfect green zone.

The complex encloses the stadium and a facility block. The stadium has been connected to the block through a tunnel which will be used by athletes during the Games.

Talkatora, which is the venue for the boxing competition, and the stadium will accommodate 2,700 spectators and has a parking capacity for 500 cars.

Smt. Dikshit said efforts are on to make the Games a memorable event so that Delhi can host bigger sporting events in the future.

Elaborating on various infrastructure development projects, She said the city must seize the opportunity to present itself as "a major destination for international sporting events".

The Delhi government has undertaken several key infrastructure development projects as part of its preparation for the Games.

Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi Organising Committee Chairman Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, said India could now bid for the Olympics. "All Games-related projects will be completed as per their deadlines." Kalmadi said.

New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) chairman Parimal Rai while elaborating on the state-of-the-art facilities being provided at Talkatora Stadium said the complex had been upgraded with acoustic ceiling, score boards, sports lighting etc.

Speaking on the facility block, Rai said: "it is a multi-purpose air-conditioned building which has been constructed in accordance to the green building concept. Heat reflective glass has been used for the facade of this block. Rain water harvesting provisions as well as dual knob flushing system have been included in the design concept."

During the Commonwealth Games, each floor of the facility-block will be used for a specific purpose. For instance, the ground floor of the block will have athlete cubicles, medical office warm-up area and athlete lounge. The first floor will have a doping-control office, federation office, and technical official lounge, committee room, meeting room and changing rooms, among other facilities.

Around 104 CCTV cameras will be fitted on the periphery walls of the stadium. Natural resources and habitat have been integrated into the overall design of this stadium.

Delhi schools to close during Commonwealth Games

All government schools in the national capital will remain closed during the Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi from October 3 to 14, chief minister Sheila Dikshit said on Monday.

Announcing the decision after a Cabinet meeting, she said the holiday period during Dusshera has been rescheduled so that students could enjoy the mega sporting event.

"We have made adjustments in the holiday period around Dusshera (October 17) to keep the schools closed during the Commonwealth Games," Dikshit told reporters.

"To make up for the extended holiday period around Dusshera, we have decided to cut down on the summer vacation," she said.

Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said the decision would also help in easing the heavy traffic during the Games period.

"Now the Autumn break will be for 17 days instead of the current nine days while we have decided to cut down on summer vacation by 12 days," Lovely said.

He said the winter vacation will be from December 25 to January 9, 2011.

Lovely said the number of total academic days in the current year will be 217 instead of last year's 215 days.

The decision by Delhi government is non-binding on private schools. They will take decision based on government directive as to close the schools during Commonwealth Games, or not.

CWG impact: Delhi Spas and Gyms to get ratings

To ensure better standards in the wellness services, gymnasiums, spas and other such centres running in the capital will soon be rated on the basis of their quality ahead of 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The National Accreditation Board For Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), a constituent board of Quality Council of India, has started the process of bringing fitness centres under the grading system.

According to NABH, all gymnasiums, spas, skincare centres, cosmetic care centres, fitness centres and immunisation centres are eligible to get accreditation.

"All wellness centres can fill application form and our specially constituted committee subjected to satisfactory inspection of the facility will give them a certificate of quality services." said Girdhar J Gyani, Secretary General, Quality Council of India.

He said with the lack of any guidelines and standards in the field and mushrooming of unorganised players, accreditation of wellness centres will be a guiding light for the industry in improving the quality of care provided to the general public.

The accreditation programme in Delhi is expected to be completed before the Commonwealth Games.

"Initially, we decided to limit rankings to the national capital. But now we have decided to extend this project to all over the country and priority will be given to places which are expected to get maximum visitors during the Commonwealth Games." said Gyani.

The certification will be initially for three years and will be done by the officers of the accredited agencies, to be selected by QCI.

The initiative, officer say, is getting good support from all the gyms and spas owners.

Gyani said "the standards focus on all aspects of service delivery like customer rights and education, infection control practices, trained and experienced staff, infrastructure, environment, safety, statutory and regulatory compliances."

Pla(n)y 'virtual' Commonwealth Games..!!

If the tardiness of the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games 2010 in completing projects for the sporting extravaganza is frustrating you, take a virtual leap and do your bit.

Issues around preparations of Delhi Commonwealth Games (CWG) have caught imagination of gaming industry and now an online game is doing rounds where players can work diligently to finalize arrangements for the games

As preparations for the mega sporting event hit a feverish pitch, an online game has been launched, where players have to build roads, Metro network, hotels and even plan security for the event before the deadline to win.

Online gaming company http://www.koffii.com/ has developed a game 'Delhi Games 2010', where the player has to make the Commonwealth sporting meet a success.

The company is offering gamers a chance to become Suresh Kalmadi and head the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010.

Explaining the concept of the game, Vishwalok Nath, the brain behind the project, said, "In the game, Mike Fennell, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), is shown pulling up Suresh Kalmadi for failing to meet the deadline for Commonwealth Games' preparations. So the gamer becomes Kalmadi and tries to finish the project on time.

The task is to complete all the levels before Fennell to win the game. There are four levels in the game. In the first level, one has to construct roads. In the second level, the player has to finish the Metro network and in the third, hotels have to be readied. In the final level one has to make security arrangements."

And such has been its popularity that within few days of being launched, the gaming site has attracted many virtual gamers. "Most online gamers are excited to play this game as the Commonwealth Games is a prestige point for the nation and everyone wants it to be a success. However, we are also aware Mike Fennell has been questioning the preparations of the game," said Purav, a city-based gamer.

IOA, CWG OC to comply with RTI act

The sports ministry has asked the Indian Olympic Association and 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee to comply with Right to Information Act and immediately appoint Central Public Information Officers and Appellate Authorities.

The IOA and 2010 CWG OC has been sent communications to this effect in pursuance to the Delhi High Court order of January 7, which has declared both entities as Public Authorities under RTI Act of 2005, a release said today.

"Both organisations have further been asked to fulfil various obligations of being a Public Authority as per Section 4 of the Right to Information Act 2005, including maintaining all their records duly catalogued and indexed in a manner so as to facilitate the right to information under this Act and suomoto disclosure/publishing of information pertaining to IOA/OC," the release added.

Commonwealth Games vehicles to be tagged by RFID

TagMaster, a Swedish technology company has got order from Delhi government to tag all vehicles servicing Commonwealth Games to be tagged by RFID solutions.

The RFID solution will ensure tracking OF vehicles around the venues and will provide intelligence to security apparatus regarding movement of participants and event co-ordinators.

TagMaster, the leading producer of advanced RFID solutions for long range identification, has received an order for a Vehicle Access Control in India related to the Commonwealth Games 2010 held in October this year. The installation will control the access of vehicles to and from the arenas and other sites in the Delhi area related to the Commonwealth Games 2010 for security and protection purposes.

TagMaster's Indian distributor Pepperl-Fuchs (India) Pvt. Ltd. will assist in the implementation of this governmentally controlled installation. Standard TagMaster long range readers and ID-tags are used providing true hands free vehicle identification of high reliability. The installation will be used in controlling the authenticity of buses and other vehicles passing in and out of a number of sites in and around New Delhi during the sports event.

TagMaster has already made a number of installations in India. This order is to be regarded, due to both its size, the governmental presence but also the technical demands put forward in this project, as yet another confirmation that TagMaster products are outstanding in the market today” says Bo Tiderman, CEO, TagMaster AB.

Queen's baton reaches Namibia

Namibia was under spotlight on Friday when the Queen’s Baton, to promote the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, arrived in Windhoek.

The Namibian leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) formed part of a worldwide relay which started at Buckingham Palace on March 8, and is scheduled to reach its conclusion on October 3, when the Queen’s Baton will arrive in New Delhi. Queen's message will be read to the athletes during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

In total, the Queen’s Baton will cover a distance of 190,000km over a period of 340 days, making it one of the longest relays in the history of the Commonwealth Games.

Prime Minister Nahas Angula received the Queen’s Baton from Namibia’s WBA world champion Paulus “The Hitman” Moses on Friday morning, at his office in parliament where he proceeded to read a message on behalf of President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

“The baton’s journey symbolises the harmony and shared ideals of the Commonwealth nations, and will provide an opportunity for the entire Commonwealth to share in the excitement of the 19th Commonwealth Games,” he said.

“With the baton’s exposure through interactive internet technologies and the media attention it will generate, the Namibian leg of the relay has the potential to be watched by millions of people from all over the world. Therefore, our involvement in this exciting event provides us with the opportunity to showcase our country to the rest of the world,” he added.

Pohamba expressed the hope that the arrival of the Queen’s Baton would be a major source of inspiration and encouragement for Namibia’s athletes, as they intensify their training in preparation for the Games.

“I wish to reassure all our athletes that they have the support of the Namibian government in the upcoming New Delhi Games and I encourage all Namibians to rally behind the Namibian team to New Delhi and render them the necessary support to ensure their successful participation in the Games,” he added.

Pohamba also called on Namibia’s coaches and officials to continue preparing so that Namibia could send a strong team in order to bring home ‘many medals.’

Angula then handed the baton over to India’s High Commissioner to Namibia, Tsewang Topden, ‘as a token of our appreciation for the wonderful hospitality that our team will receive in that beautiful country.’

Topden, in turn, handed the baton over to former Namibian athlete, Agnes Samaria, who won a bronze medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, before the relay continued.

The baton was also received by the mayor of Windhoek, Matthew Shikongo at the Municipality headquarters, after which it winded its way down Independence Avenue in the city centre. Athletes from various sporting codes such as cycling, wrestling, hockey and swimming, as well as representatives of the Namibia National Olympic Committee, the Namibia School Sport Union, Special Olympics Namibia and the City Police all participated in the relay before it eventually reached the UN Plaza in Katutura.

Delhi Commonwealth Games schedule

Hockey WC gets tax waiver

After giving tax breaks to Commonwealth Games, Delhi government has decided to waive off taxes for the Hockey World Cup to be held from February 28- March 13 at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

The government has decided to waive off all revenue collected as entertainment and luxury tax from the organisers of the tournament. This will cost the government exchequer Rs 6 crore.

Hockey India representatives had met Delhi Chief Secretary, Rakesh Mehta, earlier this month demanding waiver of entertainment tax on tickets and luxury tax on hotel rooms to be booked for delegates.

Earlier this month, the Delhi cabinet had waived off luxury tax to the tune of Rs 30 crore on hotel rooms booked by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee for athletes, delegates, sport physicians and international mediapersons.

Postal services @ Commonwealth Games venues

Department of Post has proposed to set-up fully computerized post-offices at various venues identified for Commonwealth Games to provide services to the large number of tourist that are expected to turn-up during the event.

"We have written letter to the games authority for space to set-up completely computerized temporary post offices during common wealth games and are waiting for their reply," said a senior officer from Department of Post who did not want to be named.

The department has identified six spots where these post offices can be set-up. These slots include venues at Commonwealth Games village and three officially approved hotels by Commonwealth Games authority namely Ashoka, Samrat and Janpath. DoP has requested 200 to 300 square feet of space for these post offices. The decision on the size and model of IT infrastructure required for these post offices are yet to be worked out.

"We are waiting for consent of the CWG authority. Once we get the permission then we will work out on the infrastructure and support system that will be required for it. We are expecting that the decision on this will be taken in the next 10-15 days," said the official.

DoP will provide all the services that are being provided by its post-offices under Project Arrow, including travel and financial services from Thomas Cook India.

Common Wealth games are scheduled to start from 3rd October 2010 in Delhi.

SA's Elizna quits job to defend Commonwealth Games title

South African discus queen Elizna Naude thinks that she will find it tough to retain her Commonwealth Games title in Delhi in October, and is doing everything she can to defend the title. And to focus more strongly on her athletics, Naude has taken unpaid leave from her job as a teacher.

"To win the Commonwealth Games title I've got to beat the world champion," she said, referring to Australia's Dani Samuels, who finished third at the previous Games in Melbourne 2006.

Naude won with a throw of 61.55m, with Seema Antil of India heaving 60.56m and Samuels 59.44m.

"I was lucky because my main rivals didn't throw their best," admitted Naude, who picked up a career-threatening back injury in 2007 that has hampered her performances since. At the Beijing Olympics she fell far short of her personal best of 64.87m, which would have won gold.

"At this stage I'm the best I've been in three years," said Naude, who will compete in the Yellow Pages series from next month before heading to Europe in May.

"This is my make-or-break year. I'm 31, though that's young for discus."

She and her athletic colleagues have been in camp at the high-performance centre in Pretoria, the first of its kind since Athletics SA's leadership was suspended by the national Olympic body late last year.

Naude is relishing the opportunity of returning to battle.

"I need to defend my title. I didn't sleep the night when I won the Commonwealth Games title in 2006. It's an awesome feeling."

"I've got a DVD of five of my throws and the medal presentation, and whenever I feel down I play it."

Central Bank of India to sell Commonwealth Games tickets

Central Bank of India (CBI), the ‘Official Banking Partner’ for the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2010 will sell the tickets for Delhi Commonwealth Games.

The bank’s network in India would be used for sale of tickets and merchandise in the run up to and during the games that start on October 3.

It can use intellectual property of the Organising Committee and all bank accounts should be opened with Central Bank. The bank will have one of its branches in CWG headquarters,” Organising Committee CWG Chairman Suresh Kalmadi said.

The sale of tickets for Commonwealth Games 2010 will open in May and will be available on the internet as well. A comprehensive website will let you study availability, rates, events and venues at leisure before making a choice.

India gets much needed vote of confidence from Oz

An Australian official says next year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi have the potential to become the best ever, praising the progress the organizing committee has made in the past several months.

Perry Crosswhite, the Australian Commonwealth Games Association chief executive officer, told News Ltd. newspapers on Friday that India had made strong progress recently after early preparations on venues were stalled by disorganization.

"The jury is still out but given the rapid progress that the organizers are making, the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi have the potential to be the best games ever," Crosswhite said.

"We have had concerns on occasions this year in regards to the organizing committee's ability to meet deadlines and requirements. However as 2009 draws to a close I am buoyed by the progress shown in the last couple of months."

Crosswhite, a member of the Delhi 2010 coordination commission, said a number of specialists have been added to the committee.

"After meeting with the CGF (Commonwealth Games Federation) in October, organizers have appointed a number of international experts ... they all have significant experience in major games such as the Sydney Olympics and Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

"It's also pleasing to see that the Indian government has become more involved. They fully understand that the games need to be a success for their country, their people and their standing on the international stage."

Crosswhite's comments came at the completion of a three-day meeting in Delhi, and after a warning to games officials to maintain their efforts.

On Wednesday, Austin Sealy, chairman of the CGF coordination commission, said progress in infrastructure for the games should not disguise ongoing concerns about slow preparations and lapsed deadlines.

Sealy also visited all competition venues before issuing a statement.

"There has been noticeable progress over the last two months, however, with effectively only nine months remaining, the intensity must continue, and in fact, works must be further accelerated," Sealy said.

"We urge the construction agencies to ensure that no further delays are encountered as this will place the OC (Organizing Committee) in a difficult position and compromise final preparations and games readiness."

India will host the event from Oct. 3-14 next year, featuring 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth.

CGF president Michael Fennell was scheduled to visit New Delhi on Friday for meetings with Organizing Committee members to discuss concerns raised by the commission

CISF starts dog breeding center in Delhi

In view of the rising demand for sniffer dogs at airports and Delhi Metro and for the Commonwealth Games, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Tuesday launched its own dog breeding and training centre.

CISF Director General N.R. Das inaugurated the breeding and training ground in Ghaziabad close to Delhi.

"The initiative has been taken to cater to the increased demands of sniffer dogs at bomb disposal squads at various airports all across the country, Delhi Metro and for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi," said CISF spokesman Rohit Katiyar.

"Initially training will be given to 18 dogs by our men with the help of experts from the sister paramilitary organizations. We have procured best pedigreed pups of Labrador and Cocker Spaniel breeds and they would be trained for eight months before being deployed," he added.

The CISF has become the second paramilitary force after Border Security Force (BSF) to have a training centre for dogs. The force is deployed at all airports, Delhi Metro stations and establishments, and public undertaking units in the country.

Delhi govt: Finish work or be blacklisted

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday threatened that Delhi government would blacklist contractors who fail to complete Commonwealth Games projects on time. This comes two days after Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell expressed disappointment over delays reported in the completion in some Games venues.

While Fennell had on Saturday referred to delays in the construction of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which is also the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies, and the SPM swimming pool complex, Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi claimed that the onus of completing projects lies with the respective agencies involved, besides the state government.

“We cannot afford to let down our nation and are committed to making the Games a grand success,” Diskhit told officers from the Delhi government during today’s annual meet. “The government will not listen to any excuses for delay in completion of projects; contractors responsible for these delays will be blacklisted, apart from other contractual actions (being taken) against them.”

Setting the sports event to be held next October as a priority for the government for the next eight months, Dikshit directed departments such as the PWD, Delhi Jal Board, the power distribution companies (discoms), and the Transport department to take measures to finish projects related to the event. She asked the agencies to work “in tandem” and avoid confusion and duplication of work.

Referring to the civility campaign about courtesy, civic sense and manners, launched by the government recently, Dikshit said: “As host city, we have to work together to make the Games a memorable event, which has provided (the government) an excellent opportunity to take up enormous projects simultaneously.”

Commonwealth Games campaign urges Delhi to improve

Colourful and chirpy - a new campaign that urges Delhiites to have a sense of ownership for the city by keeping it clean and observing traffic rules, among others, has been initiated by the Delhi government in preparation for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

With its messages splashed across bus stops and other public places, the campaign aims to imrpove civic sense in the capital’s residents.

Messages like respecting women, observing traffic rules, not defacing monuments and not spitting in public places are sent across through quick witted and colourful ads. The campaign was started on 12-Dec to ensure that some of the basic civil issues are addressed before 2010 Commonwealth Games.

For instance, one message reads “Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, agar traffic rules follow nahi kiya, to hoga bura haal,” which means you will suffer if traffic rules are not observed.

Harish Arora, the executive creative director of the campaign said: “‘Come on Delhi’ is a clarion call to citizens, telling them that it’s time to improve. It seeks to invoke in civilians a sense of ownership of the city’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, facilities, services and heritage landmarks, ensuring that they use it with care and concern.”

Britain downgrades Commonwealth Games priority

Britain has effectively downgraded next year's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi to a development event after UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee explained that his main focus in 2010 will be on the European Championships in Barcelona, while Britain continues to prepare for 2012 London Olympics.

This may lead to other countries giving option to their atheletes to opt out of the Commonwealth Games.

The qualifying standards for European Championships, due to take place in the Montjuic Stadium, which hosted the 1992 Olympics, will be the same as those used for this year's World Championships in Berlin. British team won two gold medals, two silver and two bronze.

"We are looking for contenders, not pretenders."

The Dutchman claimed the Commonwealth Games, which takes take in New Delhi in October, would provide up-and-coming athletes with the chance to impress. He said: "This year's Commonwealth Games presents an opportunity to athletes just outside UKA's European Championships criteria which will ensure developing athletes are given high quality competition at an international level."

A number of Britain's top athletes, including world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis, have already announced that they will not compete at the Commonwealth Games.

Like many other top competitors, she fears picking up a stomach bug and also believes that the scheduling of the event, which is not due to start until October 3 2010, will cost them valuable time in beginning preparations for the 2011 World Championships, which will be held in Daegu, South Korea, the following August.

Ennis was joined yesterday by Kelly Sotherton, who announced that she would not be defending the heptathlon title she won in Melbourne in 2006 and that she expected to be joined by Phillips Idowu, the world triple jump champion.

But Ennis, Idowu and Sotherton have all already said that the European Championships will be their main priorities in 2010 as they seek their first gold medals in the event.

Archives: December 2009

• 10-12: Hero Honda to partner Commonwealth Games relay 
• 10-12: CWG Impact: Visa on arrival for tourists
• 08-12: IGI Metro line to have GIS security
• 08-12: Commonwealth Games to break-even financially
• 03-12: Gurgaon approves B&B for Commonwealth Games
• 02-12: Rwanda gets Commonwealth membership
• 01-12: Indian Rugby team to participate in Dubai 7s
• 01-12: Fiji to appeal Commonwealth Games ban
• 01-12: Commonwealth Games Impact:Tourism to grow 10%

Click here for list of articles published in November 2009.

Commonwealth reaffirms decision to suspend Fiji

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad and Tobago has stuck to its decision to ban Fijian athletes from competing in next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

The leaders of the 53 nations that make up the Commonwealth - including Australia, Britain, New Zealand and South Africa expressed deep concern at the further deterioration of the situation in Fiji Islands with regard to its adherence to fundamental Commonwealth values, including the abrogation of the Constitution in April 2009, ongoing restrictions on human rights including freedom of speech and assembly, and the interim government's decision to further delay elections until 2014.

Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth on September 1 after self-appointed Fijian leader Frank Bainimarama refused to hold elections by 2010.

The CHOGM leaders "observed that Commonwealth sporting events represent a significant public demonstration of the unity of the Commonwealth as a family of members with a shared commitment to fundamental values. They affirmed that sporting ties under the Commonwealth name are inseparable from the values of the (Commonwealth Games) Association".