2010 Commonwealth Games

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19th Commonwealth Games
Host city	Delhi, India
Nations participating	71 Commonwealth Teams
Athletes participating	TBA
Events	17 disciplines
Opening ceremony	October 3, 2010
Closing ceremony	October 14, 2010
Officially opened by	Unknown
Queen's Baton Final Runner	TBA
Main Stadium	Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Motto	"COME OUT AND PLAY"

The 2010 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in Delhi, India, the capital of India, between October 3 and October 14, 2010. With a population of over 15 million, Delhi is one of the largest cities in the world. This will be the largest multi-sport event conducted to date in Delhi, which has previously hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi, the second-largest stadium in the world.^[1]

This is the first time the Commonwealth Games will have been held in India, which will be only the third developing country to host the event (after Jamaica in 1966 and Malaysia in 1998). This is only the second time the event have been held in Asia (after 1998).

In January 2005, the Commonwealth Games Federation vice-president Randhir Singh expressed concern that Delhi was behind schedule in forming an organising committee. On 18 January 2008, however, the Commonwealth Games Federation expressed its approval of Delhi's progress.^[2]

Contents 1 Selection Process 2 Logo 3 Preparation 3.1 Infrastructure 3.2 Games Village 3.3 Security 3.4 Tourism 3.5 Environment 3.6 Other preparation 4 Participating Nations 5 Sports 6 Calendar 7 Venues 7.1 Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 8 References 9 External links 9.1 Official websites 9.2 Other websites

[edit] Selection Process

In Montego Bay, Jamaica on November 13, 2003, the Commonwealth Games Federation voted on the location of the 2010 Games. In a 46 to 22 vote by the CGF General Assembly, Delhi defeated the Canadian city of Hamilton and won the right to host the 2010 Games. India's Sports Minister will head the apex committee for conducting the games while the Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi will head the organising committee. The Games will be held from the 3rd to 14 October 2010.

[edit] Logo

The logo for the 2010 Commonwealth Games was revealed on 6 January 2008 at an event taking place at the India Gate. The logo is inspired by the Ashoka Chakra, a symbol of freedom, unity, and power. Its spiraling upwards symbolizes India's rise as a global power and its transition from tradition to modernity. The colours symbolize India's vibrant and diverse culture and people, and each part of the logo symbolizes India welcoming the 71 Commonwealth nations and territories.^[3]

[edit] Preparation

[edit] Infrastructure

See also: Transport in Delhi

As a world-class city, New Delhi already has many elements of modern infrastructure in place such as mass transportation, pollution checks, and new highways. However, to prepare the city for the influx of people that will occur during the 2010 games, the Indian government is pouring an estimated $17.5 billion into the city for it to be ready in time for the 2010 games. This money will be used to give the entire city a facelift, including the construction of new roads, overall city modernisation, an increase in public transport, the construction of new power plants, water utility services, the Games Village, city beautification, better connectivity, traffic management, parking, security and health services.etc.

Delhi has also proposed a four-lane, 2.2 km underground stretch from Ring Road to Lodhi, linking the Games Village to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and reducing traveling time for athletes traveling between the Village and the Stadium by six minutes. In response to concerns over the large number of trains that pass by the Delhi metropolitan region daily, construction of road under-bridges and over-bridges along railway lines has been started.^[4]

To expand road infrastructure, flyovers, cloverleaf flyovers, and bridges have been planned to provide connectivity to the Games Village, to sports venues, to hospitals, and for intra-city connectivity. Road-widening projects have been under process, with an emphasis being placed on expanding national highways. To improve traffic flow on existing road, plans are underway to make both the inner and outer Ring roads signal free.^[5]

To support its commitment to mass transportation, nine corridors have been identified and are being constructed as High Capacity Bus Systems (for example, one from Ambedkar Nagar to Red Fort). Six of these corridors are expected to be operational in 2008.^[6] Additionally, the Delhi Mass Rapid Transit System (Delhi Metro) will be expanded to accommodate more people and boost the use of public transportation during the 2010 games. By then it will have the second longest network in the world and later the longest, which will be more than 420 km.^[7] To achieve this exponential increase in the network's length, the Delhi Metro has deployed 14 tunnel boring machines (TBMs). The Delhi Metro reports that no country in Asia has ever put to work so many TBMs at the same time.^[8]

To further support air travel, the Indira Gandhi International Airport is being modernized, expanded, and upgraded. By the 2010 games, a new terminal (Terminal 3) will have been constructed, with the capability to cater to more than 35 million passengers a year. Terminal 3 will be a two tier building, with the bottom floor being the arrivals area, and the top being a departures area. This terminal will have over 130 check in counters, 55 aerobridges, 30 parking bays, 72 immigration counters, 15 X-ray screening areas, duty free shops, and much more. The airport will also have a new runway to cater more than 75 plus flights an hour; the runway will be more than 4400 meters long and one of Asia's longest. The entire airport will be connected to the city via a 6 lane highway (National Highway 8) and the Delhi Metro.^[9]

To prepare for the energy-usage spike during the Games and to provide additional power to Delhi, the government is undertaking a large power-production initiative to increase power production to 7,000 MW (from the current 4,500 MW). To achieve this goal, the government plans to streamline the power distribution process, direct additional energy to Delhi, and construct new power plants. In fact, the government has promised that by 2010, Delhi will have a surplus of power.^[10]

[edit] Games Village

A new, modern Games Village is being built by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) along the east bank of the Yamuna River at a cost of USD 230.7 million. The Games Village will be spread over an area of 63.5 hectare (158.4 acre) and is situated near renowned monuments and landmarks such as the Bahai'i Temple, Humayun’s Tomb, and Akshardham Temple. The Delhi Games Village will be a low rise medium development with a possible capacity for 8,500 athletes and officials.^[11] On February 22, 2008, a senior official of the DDA announced that the Games Village would be completed by December 2009.^[12]

[edit] Security

In preparation for the Games and to promote security at major tourist destinations, Indian states will be deploying a force of "tourist police" far before the Games begin. These tourism police are regular state police forces, but will be trained to handle tourist-related aspects. A number of states have already implemented this program; other states are expected to emulate this model within the end of the year.^[13]

[edit] Tourism

India is expected to use the Games to provide a major boost to tourism in India. According to official estimates, two million foreign tourists and 3.5 million domestic tourists are likely to arrive in Delhi in 2010 as a result of the Games.^[14] To prepare for this influx, the government is providing tax incentives for hotel rooms to be constructed in India, with a focus on tourist regions. Additionally, the government has extended a five-year tax rebate to the tourism industry to promote growth.^[15]

[edit] Environment

India has declared itself committed to preventing environmental degradation due to the Games. To meet this goal, Delhi is providing a large upgrade to its mass transportation system by expanding the size of the Metro network and increasing public bus capabilities. Additionally, Delhi has equipped its Metro stations with rainwater harvesting infrastructure, to be stored in tanks located in each station. It is equipping 1,600 out of 2,500 shelters with solar panels, so the bus shelters will be illuminated with solar power, and will equip over 1,000 shelters with water harvesting facilities.^[16]

Controversy arose with regards to the Games Village, the construction of which citizens claimed was harming the banks of the Yamuna River. To address these concerns, the Indian government formed a monitoring committee to oversee the ecological aspects of the construction of the Games Village. It first invited Nobel prize winner and chairman of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) R.K. Pachauri to head the committee; Pachauri, however, recommended that a non-profit group be partnered with the committee for greater effectiveness.^[17]

The government has also authorized Rs.250 million ($6 million) to clean up and improve sanitation around tourist areas, among other activities.^[18]

[edit] Other preparation

In addition to physical preparation, India and Delhi will be offering a myriad of amenities to all athletes. These include traditional Commonwealth Games services, such as free accommodation for all athletes, a modern, comfortable Games Village, cutting-edge health facilities, security, a pollution-free environment, entertainment for non-competition times, transportation, and other, unique amenities as well. Delhi will also be offering all athletes a free trip to the famed Taj Mahal and will provide a reserved lane for participants on selected highways.^[19]

The Delhi High Court is also set to implement a series of "mobile courts" to be dispatched throughout Delhi to relocate migrant beggars from Delhi streets. The mobile courts would consider each beggar on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the beggar should be sent back to his/her state of residence, or be permitted to remain in government-shelters.^[20]

In preparation for a rush of English-speaking tourists for the Games, the Delhi government is implementing a program to teach English to low-income individuals who will have a high-frequency of contact with tourists. This subset includes city cab drivers, waiters, gatemen, and service staff. Over the past two years, the city has successfully taught 2,000 drivers English, and is continuing the program to reach as many as possible before the Games. The city plans to teach 1,000 people English per month, and hopes to reach everyone necessary by March 2009. In addition to Delhi, the Indian Government plans to expand the program to teach people in local tourist destinations, including Agra and Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, Bhopal and Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, Gaya in Bihar and Puri in Orissa.^[21]

[edit] Participating Nations

There are currently 71 nations planning to host teams at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. In alphabetical order, these nations are:

Anguilla  Antigua and Barbuda  Australia  Bahamas  Bangladesh  Barbados  Belize  Bermuda  Botswana  British Virgin Islands  Brunei  Cameroon  Canada  Cayman Islands  Cook Islands  Cyprus  Dominica  England

Falkland Islands  Fiji  Gambia  Ghana  Gibraltar  Grenada  Guernsey  Guyana  India  Isle of Man  Jamaica  Jersey  Kenya  Kiribati  Lesotho  Malawi  Malaysia  Maldives

Malta  Mauritius  Montserrat  Mozambique  Namibia  Nauru  New Zealand  Nigeria  Niue  Norfolk Island  Northern Ireland  Pakistan  Papua New Guinea  Saint Helena  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Saint Lucia  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  Samoa

Scotland  Seychelles  Sierra Leone  Singapore  Solomon Islands  South Africa  Sri Lanka  Swaziland  Tanzania  Tonga  Trinidad and Tobago  Turks and Caicos Islands  Tuvalu  Uganda  Vanuatu  Wales  Zambia

[edit] Sports

There are 17 disciplines planned for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Aquatics Archery Athletics Badminton Boxing Cycling

Gymnastics Hockey Lawn Bowls Netball Rugby 7s Shooting

Squash Table Tennis Tennis Weightlifting Wrestling

The triathlon appears likely to be excluded from these games as there is no suitable location for the swimming stage. The organisers have also proposed removing basketball, but want to include archery, tennis, and billiards and snooker for men. Cricket, although in strong demand, may not make a come-back as the Board of Control for Cricket in India were not keen on a Twenty20 tournament, but the organisers did not want a one day tournament.^[22]

[edit] Calendar

The official calendar for the 2010 Commonwealth Games is as follows:^[23]

●

Opening ceremony

●

Event competitions

●

Closing ceremony

October	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Venue
Ceremonies	●											●	Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Aquatics		●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●		SPM Swimming Pool Complex
Archery													I. G. Indoor Stadium Complex & India Gate / Red Fort
Athletics				●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●		Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Badminton		●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●		Siri Fort Sports Complex
Boxing		●	●	●	●	●	●	●	R	●			Talkatora Indoor Stadium
Cycling		●	●	●	●		●				●		I. G. Indoor Stadium Complex
Gymnastics		●	●	●	R	●	●		●	●	●		I. G. Indoor Stadium Complex
Hockey		●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●		Maj. Dhyan Chand National Stadium
Lawn Bowls		●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●			Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Netball		●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●		Tyagaraj Sports Complex
Rugby 7s			●	●									Delhi University
Shooting		T	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●		Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range
Squash		●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●		Siri Fort Sports Complex
Table Tennis		●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●		Yamuna Sports Complex
Tennis													R K Tennis Complex
Weightlifting			●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●			Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Wrestling			●	●	●	●							I. G. Indoor Stadium Complex
October	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Venue

[edit] Venues

Existing and new stadia will be used to house the following sports: Archery, Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Elite Athletes with a Disability (EAD) Events, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby 7s, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling. Specific venues for 2010 games^[24] in Delhi are following:

• Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium - Opening and Closing ceremonies, Athletics, Lawn bowls, Weightlifting
• Dhyan Chand National Stadium - Hockey
• Indira Gandhi Arena - Archery, Cycling, Gymnastics, Wrestling
• Delhi University sports complex - Rugby 7s
• Tyagaraj Sports Complex - Netball
• Siri Fort Sports Complex - Badminton, Squash
• Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range - Shooting
• Talkatora Stadium - Boxing
• SPM Swimming Pool Complex - Aquatics
• RK Khanna Tennis Complex - Tennis
• Yamuna Sports Complex - Table tennis

[edit] Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Main article: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi

The opening and closing ceremonies, athletics, lawn bowls, and weightlifting will take place at the massive Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi, which with a capacity of 130,000 people is the second-largest stadium in the world.^[25] The stadium will be renovated and improved in time for the games.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] Official websites

• Official homepage of 2010 Commonwealth Games
• 2010 Commonwealth Games at the CGF

[edit] Other websites

• Commonwealth Games 2010 News
• Booking and Tour Information
• CWG2010 Information
• Commonwealth Games 2010 fan site

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