CWG infrastructure is in place: Kalmadi
Facing criticism from various quarters for tardy preparations, besides allegations of corruption, the Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi and Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday expressed confidence about the event being a great success. The assertions came with exactly 30 days to go for the Games and several projects remaining incomplete.
Speaking at a publicity function at Sanskriti School here, Ms Dikshit, who had repeatedly been saying that she was nervous, said that she was very optimistic. “Delhi is shaping up very well. We will have great Games.... It will be better if we get support from you (the media),” said Ms Dikshit. On the issue of dengue, Ms Dikshit said that the civic agencies were taking care of the measures to contain the disease.
Mr Kalmadi said that all the infrastructure is in place. “The sports infrastructure is in place and we are going to have very good Games,” said Mr Kalmadi. He asserted that all the member counties representatives who had come here from abroad have gone back saying that the Games will be good. “The coordination commission of the CWG to had said that everything was good,” he said.
The OC chief also told the students that he wanted to change the mindset of the children, who thought that India was a country only for cricket and more cricket. “We are having an multi-sport event taking place in India after a gap of 28 years... for the first time the Commonwealth Games has come to India. You are aware that India is a land of cricket and more cricket. You have to learn about Olympic sports also. Olympic sport is a global sport.... I want you to change your mindset,” said Mr Kalmadi. He admitted, however, that there were “hitches” but will be overcome. Meanwhile, Union urban development minister S Jaipal Reddy said it is time to get into the celebratory mood in the run up to the CWG.
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