India has made a ‘great effort’ for Games: Beijing-September 29, 2010

India has made a ‘great effort’ for Games: Beijing

HT Correspondent


New Delhi, September 29, 2010

First Published: 00:09 IST(29/9/2010)


Beijing is not getting drawn into the chorus of critical comparisons between the Commonwealth Games and the 2008 Olympics. At a media briefing on Tuesday, a foreign journalist asked what was Beijing’s ‘message’ to New Delhi as the Commonwealth Games faced a slew of problems.

“No matter in which country, to hold such a large-scale international Games event will be quite a challenge,’’ replied foreign ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu. “The government of India has made a great effort to prepare for the Games and I wish it’ll be a successful one.’’ New Delhi had closely studied the Beijing Olympics preparations while planning the Commonwealth Games.

China is already set to put on a better show than the Olympics. A transport and pollution-control facelift is underway in China’s southern Guangzhou to host the 45-nation 16th Asian Games from November 12-27. While Delhi is still scrambling to open venues, Guanghzou's 8,000-apartment athletes village and Asian Games Town that can accommodate 30,000 people was built within two years and handed over to the organising committee this month.

Since mid-July, about 380 Chinese Miss Etiquettes are being trained in smiling, gesturing and English, to present medals at the prize ceremonies.

“Compared to the Beijing Olympic Games, I think the facilities for the athletes for the Asian Games are much better,’’ Yuko Arakida, chairwoman of the Olympic Council of Asia Athletes’ Committee, said earlier this month.