Panasonic to Celebrate Two-Year Countdown to London 2012 Olympic Games in Trafalgar Square

July 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

OSAKA, Japan–(Business Wire)–
With exactly ‘Two Years to Go’ until the London 2012 Olympic Games (London
2012), Panasonic Corporation (NYSE:PC)(TOKYO:6752), the Official Worldwide
Olympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category for the London 2012
Olympic Games, announced today that the company will host a one day event called
“Get Ready for London 2012″ in Trafalgar Square on July 27, 2010.

The event highlights include a “3D Future Zone” featuring six special pods that
include Panasonic’s Full HD 3D Plasma Home Theater Systems. The systems allow
visitors to enjoy exciting Olympic Games footage from recent Olympic Games in
high-quality 3D, immersing them in the true-to-life full HD 3D images.

Also, in cooperation with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games
and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), and British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC),
Panasonic will broadcast a live feed of the celebrations being hosted in the
Olympic Park, East London on its big screen in Trafalgar Square. By receiving
the BBC News channel live feed, Panasonic’s 60m2 LED screen in the square, will
give people an opportunity to be a part of this milestone day in the countdown
to London 2012.

Panasonic will host various events and attractions from 11:00 to 20:00 on July
27 in Trafalgar Square, including a live broadcast of the London 2012 tour of
the Olympic Park from 14:15-15:00.

A media event will be held from 18:00-18:30 on the same day. Dignitaries on hand
will include LOCOG CEO Paul Deighton, Team GB Olympic Gold medalist Tim Brabants
and Team GB Olympic Silver medalist Keri-Anne Payne.

For more details and webcast, please visit http://live2012.panasonic.co.uk/

Broadcast quality audio and video available for download at

http://www.thenewsmarket.com/panasonic

Official Worldwide Olympic Partner

Panasonic is proud to support the Olympic movement – aimed at promoting world
peace through sports – as the Official Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Audio
and Visual Equipment category for more than 20 years since The Olympic Partner
(TOP) Program commenced at the Calgary Olympic Winter Games in 1988. Under the
slogan of “Sharing the Passion,” Panasonic contributes to the success of the
Olympic Games through its technology. In 2007 Panasonic renewed the partnership
with the International Olympic Committee through to the 2016 Olympic Games in
Rio de Janeiro.
For more information, visit http://panasonic.net/olympic/

Panasonic Corporation
Yoko Nakamizu, +81-(0)6-6937-7114
olympicpress@gg.jp.panasonic.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

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Soccer-World-Cup plays key role in South Africa rebrand: Jordaan

July 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 10 (Reuters) – The World Cup has played a key role in the rebranding of the country and forging unity among South Africans, 2010 World Cup chief executive Danny Jordaan said on Saturday.

In a media briefing in Sandton on the impact of the World Cup, Jordaan said the organising committee had five objectives which have enabled the country to be rebranded positively, leave a sense of pride and achieve social cohesion among black and white South Africans.

“(We have achieved the) rebranding of the country. People look at South Africa with new eyes and new understanding and now embrace people of this country,” Jordaan said.

He told a news conference the objective of nation building and social cohesion were achieved by soccer’s biggest tournament as black and whites celebrated the tournament side by side at fan parks and stadiums.

“It was a moment of special unity,” he said.

Jordaan, who hopes that the World Cup will have a powerful impact in bringing the races together in a country where they are still often divided, said South African people have felt a sense of pride and have walked tall during the tournament.

He said this was an incredible benefit after they were told for many years that they were inferior.

World Cup organisers also hoped that the tournament would increase tourism and strengthen the investment case for South Africa.

Jordaan said the World Cup has created 115,000 jobs for the poor and has provided them with skills that they could use in expected future infrastructure investment in the country.

South Africa estimates tourism will add 10 billion rand ($1.32 billion) to the economy, almost 10 times what the hosts spent on marketing in the past four years.

Overall, the hosts spent about 40 billion rand on the one-month event but Jordaan said the social benefits were far greater than the investment.

“What we cannot quantify is the generation of pride in South Africa as a nation, the unity, the sharing of a single vision,” Jordaan said, adding that these must be mobilised to address social ills facing the country such as health, education and poverty.

(Editing by Jon Bramley)

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In two days, Games tickets worth Rs 80 lakh sold

June 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, June 5 — In just two days since the sale began, tickets worth more than Rs 80 lakh were sold for 19th edition of the Commonwealth Games to be held from October 3 to 14 in the Capital. On day one, 1700 tickets worth Rs 20 lakh were sold.

“The response is overwhelming. We hope to reach our target very fast,” a Commonwealth Games (CWG) organising committee spokesperson said. He, however, could not specify the number of tickets sold so far. The organising committee expect to sell 17 lakh tickets generating Rs 60-70crore.

Tickets can be bought from seven branches of Central Bank of India, five Hero Honda showrooms and from the Commonwealth Games (CWG) website. Ticket are priced from Rs 50 to Rs 1,000, but prices for the opening ceremony have been kept between Rs 1,000 and Rs 50,000 and for the closing, from Rs 750 to Rs 50,000.

An added advantage for those queueing up to purchase tickets is that each ticket holder would be entitled for free travel in the Delhi Metro and DTC buses to reach and return from the venue on the day of the event.

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Commonwealth Games tickets launched online

June 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, June 4 (ANI): Suresh Kalmadi, the Chairman of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC), on Friday launched the sale of online tickets for the Commonwealth Games.

Kalmadi issued the first ticket to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Tejinder Khanna.
Addressing media persons, Kalmadi said the tickets are priced reasonably to encourage more and more participation of people in the event.

“The tickets are reasonably priced. Rupees 50 is the minimum ticket. Any ticket holder can go free by public transportation. And, I am grateful to the government of Delhi for having waved aside entertainment tax. No entertainment tax on this ticket, that is why we could have the prices so low,” Kalmadi added.

Kalmadi said he was confident that the sports loving people will contribute to the successful delivery of the Games that is being held in Asia for only the second time and in India for the first time.

He hoped the games organizing committee would witness a huge turnout of spectators during the games.

The tickets will be available in four different slabs and will range from Rs. 50 to Rs. 1000 for all sporting events. While the tickets for the inaugural and closing ceremony to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi are priced between Rs. 750 to Rs. 50,000.

The tickets will be available at more than 50 outlets of Central Bank of India and Hero Honda showrooms. (ANI)

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Shera plays host, eases anxieties of applicants

May 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 28 — Students who went to collect the application forms on day one of the Delhi University’s admission form sale at the Faculty of Arts centre were in for a surprise as they were greeted by Shera – the mascot of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2010. As part of the promotion of the CWG, the organising committee will conduct a quiz competition based on the commonwealth games and the mascot, Shera, will try to lighten the atmosphere through out the form sale period, May 28 to June 11, said CWG officials.

“We want to relieve the students of the pressure they are under and create a friendly atmosphere. Simultaneously, we also want to create awareness about Shera and the games.

Though most students of Delhi know about the games, those outside Delhi are not really aware of it so we are trying to familiarise them,” said an Assistant Project Officer of the organising committee. Students took a break from the form-filling process and participated in the quiz contest.

Questions such as “When and when were the first CWG held?” and “What are the two colours of CWG?” were answered by students. One lucky student would be awarded each day with a goodie bag.

Aimed at humouring the students, Shera, entertained some of them as they posed and clicked pictures with the mascot of the CWG. But some of them were not amused at all.

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Kalmadi now wants road tax cut, Govt says it’s fed up

May 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

After getting freebies of all kinds, the Organising Committee (OC) is now asking for exemption for their sponsors as well. In a new memorandum sent to the Delhi government, Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi has asked for VAT and road tax exemption for over 200 cars that they will get as sponsorship.

The OC has been holding dialogue with Maruti, Tata and Mahindra to get these cars. However, nothing has been finalised as yet. To make the deal more lucrative for them, the OC is asking for waiver on VAT while purchasing the cars and exemptions on road tax while registering it. This will cost the Delhi government nearly Rs 38 crore, said a senior finance official.

“Kalmadi has submitted a memorandum to us. Games organisers have pressed for such waivers quite regularly, claiming that it is our responsibility as the host state. Frankly, we are fed up of it now,” said a senior government official.

Kalmadi has also reminded the government of his pending request for waiving off 12.5 per cent VAT on all purchases made for the Games. They have also requested the government to provide food to volunteers during the fortnight of the Games.

The Delhi government is levying a flurry of taxes on Delhi residents to raise the Rs 1,300 crore more revenue required to fund the Games preparations. The government has also given close to Rs 250 crore as exemptions. Waiving luxury tax on hotels where participants will stay will alone cost the exchequer close to Rs 33 crore.

HC’s 5 directivesThe Delhi High Court on Wednesday drafted a five-point directive for the state for the benefit of Commonwealth Games workers. * Make “all possible” efforts to register maximum number of workers * Provide identity cards * Labour department to monitor issuance of passbooks * Provide education to as many children of the workers as possible * Assure medical facilities along with all other benefits

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CWG timing row: ABC denies wrongdoing

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Monday said it holds only the radio rights of the 2010 Commonwealth Games and never asked for a change in the timing of the event’s opening ceremony.

Timing of the opening ceremony became a bone of contention between the Organising Committee (OC) and the creative group which had conceived it. OC said its 2008 deal with the Australian broadcaster makes a 5.30 pm start imperative but the creative group insisted on a 7.30 om start, saying darkness was required for maximum effect since the ceremony involved laser show and pyrotechnics.

ABC on Monday said in a statement that neither it holds the TV rights for the Games in Australia, nor did it seek a 5.30 pm start for the ceremony.

“The Australian Broadcasting Corporation does not own the Australian Television Rights for the Games. The ABC owns the Radio Rights only. We have never asked the Games organisers to change the starting time of the Opening Ceremony,” ABC Director of Communications, Michael Millett said in a statement.

The TV broadcasters for the Commonwealth Games are Network Ten and Foxtel.

Millett said ABC was looking forward to catering sizeable Australian listeners with inputs from the October 3-14 Games.

“The ABC very much looks forward to bringing all the excitement of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi to a huge Australian audience,” he said.

The row over the opening ceremony timing was finally solved on Saturday in a Group of Ministers meeting where they agreed to a 7 pm start.

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Sky, sea, sand and snow, the Queen’s Baton will do it all

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

From sky-diving above Agra, travelling in a submarine off Mumbai, taking an Army tank in Gwalior to trotting on horseback with the Presidential bodyguards, the Queen’s Baton will use every mode of transport possible during its 100-day journey across India beginning June 25.

The baton will cross into India from Pakistan via the Wagah border, where it will be received by Olympic champions Abhinav Bindra, Sushil Kumar and Vijender Singh. For the next 100 days, travelling from Punjab, it will be go to all four corners of India — from Nathula Pass and Tawang in the far east to Leh in the north, Jaisalmer in the West and even the islands of Lakshdweep and Andaman and Nicobar — before finally entering Delhi on September 20.

The planning for the event started two years in advance. A team from the Organising Committee has already visited the entire route twice. “We have divided India into four sectors and have a dedicated team for each. From February 8 our teams moved on the entire route which the baton will take. They repeated the trip from May 3,” said Queen’s Baton Relay additional director general Lt Gen Raj Kadyan. The baton will travel in India in a convoy of 26 vehicles with 88 core crew members.

In Chhattishgarh and Andhra Pradesh, because of Naxalite activity, the states have asked the OC not to take the baton by road. The baton will now stop by only in the capitals, Raipur and Hyderabad respectively.

A long relay340Total number of days240Days in international leg of relay1,90,000 km Total distance travelled20,000 kmDistance in India

Bharat DarshanKASHMIR:The baton will go to Jammu, Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. It will be at the Kargil Army base only for a few hours and talks are on to allow the baton to take a shikhara rideGanga:The baton will take a boat from Allahabad to VaranasiINDEPENDENCE DAY: The baton will celebrate Independence day in HyderabadKERALA: The baton will celebrate OnamTAMIL NADU: The baton with visits the famous temples of Madurai and RameshwaramAGRA: An Air Force sky-diver will jump off a plane with the batonMUMBAI: The baton will take a submarine, a first in the history of the Commonwealth GamesGWALIOR: The baton will board an Indian Army tankSOUTH: The baton will mount an elephantJAIPUR: The baton will take a camel rideDELHI: The baton will gallop with the Presidential Guards.The hi-tech baton* Soil from different parts of India has been used to make the outer covering of the baton* The Queen’s message has been engraved on to an 18 carat gold leaf symbolising the Indian patras. This message will be read during the opening ceremony.* The baton has the ability to capture image and sounds* It is fitted with GPS which has accuracy of 10 metres* It has LEDs which can emit the colour of the flag of the country it is travelling to

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Games opening ceremony to begin at 7 pm, says GoM

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Group of Ministers chaired by Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy has decided that the Commonwealth Games will start at 7 pm. The creative group, which conceived the ceremony, had initially planned a 7.30 pm start since the laser show and pyrotechnics would require darkness.

The CWG organising committee had, however, objected saying it had signed a deal with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation stating the ceremony would begin at 5.30 pm.

This had not gone down well with the creative group. “The two-and-half hour show will be spectacular. We are not giving details but it would be worth watching,” said lyricist Prasoon Joshi, a member of the creative group.

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Fans staying away from FIFA World Cup

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 23 (IANS) With international fans staying away from the FIFA World Cup, local organisers in South Africa have been forced to revise their visitor estimates down from an initial 750,000 to 200,000.

The Guardian said that World Cup is set to be a major financial disappointment for the host nation South Africa, after it became clear that international fans have decided to stay away and their tickets are being sold cheaply to South Africans.

With less than three weeks before the kick-off, June 11, South Africa’s revamped airports and spruced-up cities are staging an impressive show of readiness, but now it seems that there may be half a million fewer than expected in the Rainbow nation.

Airlines, hotels and guesthouses have slashed their prices and April 15 hundreds of thousands of cut-price match tickets went on sale in South Africa, in a bid to fill 3.2 million seats at 64 matches.

South Africa’s organising committee chairman Danny Jordaan ruled out reports that the country’s crime rate – 50 murders a day – had forced the international fans to stay away.

‘When I went to London in March, the only problem people kept mentioning was the recession. The global recession has played a part in the low sales of tickets, but I also think fans are influenced by whether their country has a chance. I think we will see an influx for the last 16 matches. When you have big teams going into the quarter-finals and semi-finals, fans just cannot keep away,’ Jordaan was quoted as saying by the daily.

He blamed FIFA’s rigid internet-based ticket sales system as a handicap to fans.

Despite the disappointment, Jordaan feels that the event will be a long-term asset.

‘The new infrastructure, like the roads, the airport expansion programmes and the investment in telecoms, will be there after the World Cup and will help our economy to grow,’ he said.

The country also remains divided, between those who believe there should be no price tag on the nation-building potential of hosting the World Cup and others who say that the 33 billon rand (three billion pounds) cost of preparing for the competition should have been spent on improving the lives of the poor.

The amount is approximately equal to the loan the World Bank gave South Africa last month to revamp its failing electricity supply system.

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Cultural festival to promote harmony between Assam and Nagaland

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Jorhat (Assam), May 13 (ANI): Keen to promote friendship and harmony between Assam and Nagaland, people from the two states assembled in Assam”s Jorhat District to celebrate a cultural festival.

The two-day festival began on Tuesday and concluded on Wednesday. It was celebrated with a procession at Deberapara village.
“We have organised the programme for strengthening the brotherhood and integration between people of Assam and Nagaland,” said Gautam Gogoi, a member of the organising committee.

The two states have a long-standing border dispute, which often results in many clashes.

“We always want to bring the peace between the people living nearby Nagaland border as well as the people of Nagaland,” said Deepak Tanti, Vice President of All Assam Tea Tribe Students” Union (AATTSU), Jorhat unit.

The procession went across the Naga foothills, and also covered many villages in Assam over a distance of six to seven kilometers.

After the procession, tribal dances of Nagaland, Assam”s Bihu dance and Jhumur dances, as well as many dances by the Mising and Deuri tribes, were performed.

The cultural festival was organized by Deberapara Bihu Committee, the All Assam Tea Tribe Students” Union (AATTSU) and the Deberapara Police Outpost.

The dispute between Assam and Nagaland is said to be the most prominent.

Both states have accused each other of illegally occupying each other”s territories. Assam claims that Nagaland has annexed more than 50,000 hectares of its territory. (ANI)

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Kalmadi guarantees CoCom members of significant development

May 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 3 (ANI): The Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC), Suresh Kalmadi, on Monday assured the members of the Coordination Commission (CoCom) of the Commonwealth Games Federation that significant progress has been made in all areas towards successfully hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The committee would itself witness the considerable progress in all areas since their last visit in December 2009, said Kalmadi in his inaugural address at the opening session of the CoCom meeting here, chaired by its President Austin Sealy.

“A lot of progress has taken place since the previous CoCom visit. The city of Delhi will be ahead by 10 years in terms of modern state of the art infrastructure and stadiums,” said Kalmadi.

“I am thankful for all the support and guidance that CoCom has extended to our team and their pledge to continue to support the organising committee in successful organisation of Delhi Games,” he added.

Kalmadi further said Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has showing interest in the build-up to the Games and had organised the meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) to take stock of the entire efforts.

Austin Sealy praised the efforts of Kalmadi and said: “I have toured the venues including the main press centre and broadcasting centre and found them good.”

Earlier in December last year, the seven-member CoCom delegation had reviewed New Delhi”s preparation for the mega event. (ANI)

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Oz Trade Minister’s visit to boost India-Australia links

May 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 3 (ANI): Australia’s Minister for Trade Simon Crean is in India on a weeklong visit to strengthen partnership and lay the groundwork for continued growth in the trade and economic relationship.

Crean visit to India started on May 2 and will last on May 8 during which he will take the Australia-India trade relationship to a new level.

The Australian Trade Minister will discuss the finalisation of the bilateral FTA Feasibility Study in meetings with his counterpart Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma in New Delhi.

India has a population of 1.2 billion, is the world’s largest democracy and is Australia’s fastest growing major trade relationship.

“This will be my third visit to India and comes at a crucial time with booming trade and investment between the two nations and an opportunity for even greater growth. The Government has put India in the front rank of our international partnerships,” Crean said

On Monday Crean will meet with the Chairman of the Organising Committee of the New Delhi Commonwealth Games, Suresh Kalmadi, and will be briefed on preparations for the October 2010 event.

“The Games will be a great event for India and New Delhi and we look forward to Australia sending its largest Commonwealth Games team ever,” he said.

“Part of discussions will be security arrangements for Australians representing Australia at the Games. We are pleased with cooperation so far and these talks will continue with the Games less than six months away.”

Crean’s visit will include the capital New Delhi, the financial centre Mumbai and Hyderabad.

In Delhi, Crean will discuss the FTA feasibility study and meet Indian Ministers from a variety of portfolios to push forward the broad bilateral agenda.

Along with his counterpart Sharma, Crean will address the Confederation of Indian Industry and meet delegates from the Joint Business Council.

He will host a function in honour of the Advance Emerging Leaders India Summit, which is being held in Delhi on 4 May. (ANI)

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Australia, Japan fail to secure top seeding for Asian Cup

April 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

World Cup bound Australia and Japan have failed to secure top seeding at next year’s Asian Cup even though they are the highest ranked teams in the region.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) named host nation Qatar, ranked 97th in the world, as the surprise top seeds while Japan were fifth and Australia sixth ahead of Friday’s draw for the finals.

“We see no reason to follow FIFA rankings,” AFC spokesman Ali Al-Hamdani said on Thursday.

“Seedings for the 2007 event were based on FIFA rankings so as to accommodate Australia, who were making their debut in the competition after moving across from Oceania to Asia. The 2007 system was a one-off to make it fair on other teams following the arrival of Australia.”

With Australia, ranked 19th in the world, now an established force in the continent, the AFC has based the seedings for the Jan. 7-29 event according to results in previous tournaments.

Champions Iraq, who had their international suspension lifted by world soccer’s governing body FIFA last month, 2007 runners-up Saudi Arabia and South Korea make up the rest of the top four seeds.

As a result of the seedings, South Korea could face a showdown with bitter rivals North Korea in the group stages.

The 16 nations will be placed into four pools of four in the draw, which takes place on Friday at Doha’s Aspire Dome — the largest indoor sports facility in the world.

While most teams will be eager to find out which groups they have been drawn in, Qatar organisers face a race against time to fill the stadiums during the state’s largest international sporting event since the 2006 Asian Games, when many seats were empty.

Organisers say they can guarantee full houses at the five designated stadiums, which they hope will strengthen their chances of winning the bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

“Of course, the successful planning of the Asian Cup will have a major bearing on our World Cup bid,” Qatar organising committee chief executive Saud Al Mohannadi told Reuters.

“Preparations are in full swing. We will be targeting both domestic and expat fans. We expect 70 percent of fans to be expats based and working in the region.”

Fears have been raised that Doha’s expensive hotel rates could put off travelling fans.

But Mohannadi said special accommodation rates and packages together with relaxed visa rules and ticketing — which will be announced after the World Cup in South Africa in June — would make the tournament affordable.

The groups will be drawn from four pots:

Pot 1 – Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, South Korea

Pot 2 – Japan, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan

Pot 3 – China, UAE, Bahrain, Jordan

Pot 4 – Syria, Kuwait, India, North Korea

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar

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India promises safe, secure and splendid Games to Australia

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, Apr.19 (ANI): India has promised Australia a safe, secure and splendid Commonwealth Games.

Suresh Kalmadi, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi, made the pledge as the Queen”s Baton Relay arrived in Australia as part of a tour of all 71 Commonwealth countries leading up to the XIX Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi in October this year.

In a message to the people of Australia, Kalmadi said: “India is on the verge of creating sporting history. In the 60 years of our independence, this is the first time we are hosting the Commonwealth Games, so it is very special and proud moment for all of us.”

“Hosting a sporting event of the magnitude of the Commonwealth Games is a matter of international prestige and pride. India is heralded as one of the next economic superpowers of the world and the Games will be another opportunity to project the nation on the world stage,” he added.

“Delhi too, as the host city, will get the chance to exhibit a new image for itself – that of a world class city with international standards,” he said further.

Kalmadi further added, “Security is of paramount importance and will not be compromised under any circumstances. A full proof security system is in place and the just concluded test events served a dual purpose, not only were the facilities tested for compliance to international standards, but it was a trial run for the security agencies in the country.”

“Some of the visiting sportspersons have gone on record praising the facilities and security arrangements. This is a testimony to the efforts in place,” he said.

The honour of carrying the baton on its first leg on Australian soil at Parramatta in western Sydney went to wheelchair athlete Kristy Pond. Later Commonwealth Games road cycling champion, Natalie Bates took the baton to Parramatta wharf where it was put on board a ferry bound for the Sydney Opera House.

Mr. T S Darbari, Joint Director General, Organising Committee, Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi who is leading the Indian delegation to Australia coinciding with the business meet to be held with the Australian business community under the aegis of Commonwealth Games Business Community, said on the occasion: “India is a warm and hospitable country and is on the verge of creating sporting history. I welcome you all to visit us during the XIX Commonwealth Games and get a first hand experience of our wonderful country. It is our endeavor to provide safe, secure and splendid games and we are confident of its success.” (ANI)

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Centre allots Rs 687.06 crore for Commonwealth Games venue overlays

March 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 19 (ANI): Union Cabinet on Friday approved a proposal from the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry for providing a budget of Rs.687.06 crore for overlays, on the plan side of the Ministry to be provided to the Commonwealth Games.

Organising Committee.

The proposal is being made in the context of the decision of the Government to organise the Commonwealth Games – 2010 in Delhi and its assurance that all facilities and infrastructure will be provided as per the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and international norms and keeping in view the bench marks set by Melbourne Commonwealth Games 2006 and Beijing Olympics 2008.

Overlays are temporary fittings, fixtures and equipment which are required to make the competition, training and non-competition venues operationally ready for the games.

The installation of these high end items of overlays will set high standards for technological excellence and capacity enhancement not only in the sphere of sports but also for the organisation and management of mega international and national events.

In the upcoming XIX Commonwealth Games at Delhi around 8000 sportspersons from the 71 countries and territories of the Commonwealth are expected to participate.

Around 2000 media persons from across the world, both from the electronic and print will cover the Games. Over 1,00,000 visitors are also expected in Delhi for the Games.

The organizing committee is developing 23 competition venues and 26 training venues are being developed for the 17 sports disciplines.

Apart from the sports venues, a number of non-competition venues are also being developed.

These include the games village, the international broadcasting centre (IBC), the main press centre (MPC), games family hotel, central warehouse and logistics control centre, games operation centre and volunteers operation centre.

The sports and other venues are spread out across the city. (ANI)

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Grand celebrations to mark 200 days ahead of Games

March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, March 16 (IANS) Come Sunday and Delhi will see well-known artists like Satish Gujral paint a 200-foot canvas on the theme of Commonwealth Games at the India Gate lawns to mark the 200 days that are left for the Commonwealth Games in October.

Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the organising committee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Tuesday said: ‘As we get closer to the Games, the sense of anticipation and excitement is growing. We are also more and more confident that we will deliver the best Commonwealth Games ever.’

‘I take this opportunity to renew our commitment to producing successful Games,’ he said.

The festivities Sunday will include art and culture events that will make for a fun-filled day for the capital’s residents. Along with artists, eminent sports personalities will also paint the canvas in an effort to attract people’s attention and get them more involved.

Talking about the completion of various incomplete projects, Kalmadi said: ‘We have set our own deadlines in planning and in getting together teams of personnel to ensure that we will meet our objective of delivering a world class event that all participants will enjoy.’

A special kite flying festival will also organised on the day.

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Snow baseball championship held in Gulmarg

March 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Gulmarg, Mar. 16 (ANI): Young and enthusiastic baseball players participated in a snow baseball championship held in picturesque Gulmarg from March 13 to March 15.

Gulmarg experiences heavy snowfall during winter and remains covered with snow for about six months, offering an excellent playground for winter sports, including snow Rugby and skiing.

The snow baseball championship was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Baseball Association (JKBA) in collaboration with Amateur Baseball Federation of India (ABFI), New Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council (JKSSC).

Six teams of the state including men and women participants took part in the triangular snow baseball championship, held at an altitude of 8500 feet.

This action-packed sport, requiring a lot of courage and determination from the participants fascinated the local youth, who expressed hope that snow baseball would be taken to the national and international level.

“We are feeling really good and want teams from other states also to come and play here. We hope that the sport (snow baseball) is taken to the national and international level also,” said Zulifkar Ali, a participant.

Excited participants were hopeful of round the year activity in the game.

“The championship has started this year and we are hopeful it would go a long way. This year we saw that we can play baseball on snow also and it would be good if we can play next year also as students are showing keen interest,” said Rehana, a girl participant.

Fida Hussian, member of the organising committee, said that the sport would give a fillip to the already booming tourism sector of the state.

“This is quite beneficial for our economy, which will boost winter tourism and tourists from many countries are interested to visit places where it snows. Besides, a new sports culture would also be evolved that in snow apart from skiing, there are other sports also, which can be played,” said Hussain. (ANI)

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Fennel, Chefs de Mission monitor Commonwealth Games preparations

March 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 10 (ANI): Commonwealth Games Federation President Michael Fennel on Wednesday visited the Games Village along with the Chefs de Mission of Commonwealth Games to monitor the preparations for the forthcoming event.

The Chefs de Mission of 71 participating nations, are in New Delhi to attend a seminar from March 8-12 about the security arrangements and other preparations for the Games.

Commonwealth Games CEO Mike Hooper and Fennel led the delegation to review the current progress.

The Delhi Development Authority, which is a delivery partner of the Commonwealth Games, has taken the charge of developing the state-of-the-art Games Village along the river Yamuna.

As per the report of the Commonwealth Games website, the village is being created at a cost of dollar 230.7 million, which includes the Residential Zone and is spread over an area of 63.5 hectares.

The village is also equipped with training areas for athletics (400 m eight-lane synthetic track and separate area for Throwing Events), swimming (50x25m, kids and leisure pool), weightlifting, wrestling and a fitness center.

The village has 14 blocks, 34 towers and 1,168 air-conditioned flats to comfortably accommodate 8,000 athletes and team officials.

There will be a number of apartments, ranging from two to five bedroom units, each with ensuite facilities. There will be only two occupants per room, which makes it the highest ratio of facilities provided for any Games, as per officials of Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010.

India had earlier come under severe criticism after construction of several venues and facilities for the Games, including the athletes” village, fell behind schedule, that forced the postponement or shifting of many international meets planned as test events. (ANI)

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Commonwealth Games will be the best: Kalmadi

March 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 5 (ANI): The Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games, Suresh Kalmadi, has asserted it will be the best ever sporting event.

Addressing media persons here on Thursday, Kalmadi said: “It will be the best Commonwealth Games ever. There is no doubt about it. Now, all the people, even our biggest critic, the Australian Foreign Minister, has gone back and said that it has got a potential better than Melbourne. So the people who are concerned are very satisfied. But we still have to improve.”

He also announced the collaboration between Commonwealth Games-2010 and Spic Macay, a non-governmental organisation for to reaching out to Indian youth to be a part of the mega event.

Welcoming the helping hand extended by Spic Macay, Kalmadi mentioned that even staunch critics of the preparations for the games have changed their views and appreciated the organisers efforts.

Kalmadi further noted that a series of test events are being conducted, and any flaws, if at all would be rectified.

“We are having test events and that is mostly, at the moment, about the field of play. So we are satisfied with what we are seeing, but we are learning a lot from these test events because when the Commonwealth Games come, it will be perfect. So, we have learnt a lot and we are drawing a lot of lessons from these test events as it should be and implement in the Commonwealth Games,” added Kalmadi.

He also claimed that the Commonwealth Games-2010 would leave behind world-class sporting infrastructure in the country. (ANI)

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