Racing against time

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The countdown has begun, with less than 100 days to go for the Commonwealth Games 2010, the most pertinent question on everyone’s mind is will we make it? Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s statement “No governments, no organisations can bring about the kind of warmth that the people of Delhi would bring” is making people wonder whether this will be a reality, come October.

Pallavi Shrivastava, who works with a private bank, lauds the CM and says, “Sheila Dikshit has done a tremendous job over the years and continues to do so. But in terms of sprucing up the city to make it hospitable for the crowd, I think we are still lagging behind. Almost all the roads are dug up in the capital, and the BRT is in a mess. We are lacking the drive that other countries had. Look at China and the way they motivated their people to host the event. I think everyone should pitch in and I am sure on the civic front, the State government is doing enough, but we are yet to see better hygiene and cleaner roads.”
Pawan Hora, business development head, Wishbox Studio, opines, “I guess the speed at which we are currently going, we would not be able to host the Games the way it was planned. We don’t have the basic infrastructure. The stadiums are not in place, traffic would be such a big problem, especially after Y.S. Dadwal’s comments cautioning the janta to ‘stay at home or face traffic jams’. Rains too will play a spoilsport. However, I believe that even now, if everybody associated with the CWG gives his 100 per cent, we can make it memorable. The world is looking at us and this is India’s big chance to launch itself on the world sports map. It’s now or never. India can take a cue from South Africa, which is hosting the Fifa World Cup this year.”
“I am not sure if we are ready for the CWG or not, but as a citizen it’s our duty to make sure things go well and cooperate with the government,” avers Sankalp Bhatia, a student.
He adds, “It’s a matter of touching hearts of people coming from overseas and this is our chance to showcase that we are no longer a developing country, but developed. We must stop cribbing and start pitching in. If we have a positive attitude we can do our best with or without anything.”
Ankur Talwar, head media relations with a PR firm says, “We are a nation of jugaad... everything happens last-minute and I am sure our government will come up with something. I know work won’t be completed, but the government will somehow manage to put up the right front, and hide all the ugly spots.”
Sports filmmaker and CWG expert Sunil Yash Kalra concludes, “We will almost make it, in fact the paint will still be wet. That’s what I predicted at my book launch four years ago.”

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