Commonwealth Games security delegation to visit India

IANS
Tuesday, January 06, 2009

New Delhi, Jan 6 (IANS) A Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) security delegation will visit India to review the situation after the Mumbai terror attacks and will advise the organising committee on necessary steps for the safety of the players.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi said steps are being taken to ensure fool proof security arrangement for the 2010 Delhi Games.

"Security is always a matter of concern. During the Youth Commonwealth Games we took proper steps and in Delhi we will take additional steps. We are in talk with the Home Ministry and the Lieutenant Governor is meeting experts from Israel. We are procuring all required equipment to ensure 100 per cent safety. We can't afford to lower our guard in these times," he said.

Kalmadi said the Commonwealth Games' budget will be increased due to the global financial crisis.

"The budget for the Games will be increased slightly considering the escalating prices of raw material used in construction. The prices of steel and cement are currently high and we have to take that into consideration," said Kalmadi after inspecting the construction work at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Kalmadi, chairman of the organising committee, said they will have to meet the international standard at any cost.

"We can't compromise on the standard of facilities for the Games," he said.

On the timely construction of the venues, he said: "Work is going in full swing. We have completed 30 per cent of the work, so we are on target. Most of the infrastructure will be ready by December this year and by March 2010 the test events will start."

"The warm up area is getting ready, the sitting area in the Nehru Stadium will accommodate 60,000 spectators as the upper tier is also coming up. I am very happy with the way things are going," Kalmadi said.

He also said that there were some problems with the construction of the cycling velodrome but that has been sorted out.

"There were concerns about the cycling track as the International Cycling Union (UCI) wanted a closed and indoor arrangement and we have acceded to it, so now there is no problem," he added.


Indo-Asian News Service