India aims 2nd spot this Commonwealth games
Submitted by Satish Goel on Fri, 10/01/2010 - 08:23
Unlike the past when India has never been higher than fourth position during the Commonwealth Games, this time Chef de Mission Bhubaneswar Kalita has said that they are looking for the top slot. But, in case they fail to do that there is no question India will go below second place,
During the last Commonwealth Games that took place in 2002 and 2006, India finished fourth. She said at a press conference, “We are quiet hopeful about our performance. Our performance will be better than the last time. We are aiming to be second position in the medals tally and we are not going to compromise below third.”
Most of the medals are expected in swimming, archery, boxing, shooting and also squash. Out of all these, India should expect to have close to 8-9 medals in 17 sports disciplines.
During the last games that took place in Melbourne, India won 49 medal. Out of these 22 were gold, 17 silver and the rest were bronze.
The contingent that is going from India's side this time is the largest one that the country has sent during the Commonwealth games.
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Friday, October 1, 2010
Party begins as India sweeps aside the fuss- Matt Wade-October 2, 2010
Party begins as India sweeps aside the fuss -Matt Wade
October 2, 2010
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Commonwealth Games 2010TimesOfIndia.Indiatimes.com
Sports officials are hoping to put their troubles behind them, writes Matt Wade in Delhi.
The organisers of the Delhi Commonwealth Games are banking on an extravaganza combining the glitz of Bollywood with the aura and colour of India's ancient culture to offset the miserable build-up to the event.
The atmosphere of crisis that gripped the city last week when filthy, unfinished rooms were revealed at the Games village, structures at venues collapsed and two tourists were shot at a historic mosque has abated a little. Preparations have been relatively accident-free for several days and thousands of athletes have arrived. The monsoon deluge that hampered organisers' late scramble to get ready has passed and the sun is shining.
Advertisement: Story continues belowIs Delhi ready? Tomorrow night's opening ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, completely rebuilt for the Games, will be the first big test.
The vast Indian cultural palate has given those masterminding the ceremony plenty to work with. Organisers say the ceremony will span 5000 years of history, especially the rich story of Delhi, an ancient city and the national capital.
It is expected that the six-part show will kick off with 1000 drummers beating the rhythms of India. Artists will perform classical Indian music and dance before 1000 yoga experts take the stage. In a segment called the Great Indian Journey, 1500 performers will provide a glimpse of rural life including the colour and movement of village bazaars.
Bollywood will make an inevitable appearance when A.R. Rahman, who wrote the Oscar-winning score for the movie Slumdog Millionaire, performs an anthem he wrote for the Games.
A tunnel, built at vast expense, will allow the 8000 performers to emerge from under the ground in the middle of the stadium. The focal point for much of the action will be an ''aerostat'' helium balloon.
Organisers say performers from each one of India's 28 states will be involved in the ceremony. That includes the disputed state of Kashmir, claimed by Pakistan, and the state of Arunachal Pradesh in the north-east, a large portion of which is claimed by China.
The ceremony has not been without controversy. There has been a push to have the Games declared open by the President, Pratibha Patil, instead of by Prince Charles, who will represent the Queen.
However a statement from Clarence House, the Prince's official residence in London, confirmed this week that he will read out a message from the Queen which ends by ''declaring the Games open''.
In what has been described as a compromise in India, Patil is expected to give a short speech after the prince and say ''let the Games begin''.
The Australian team, with more than 600 members, will be the biggest to march into the stadium, with athletes from 71 other countries and territories participating. But Australia will also be well represented behind the scenes.
''All in all, in the ceremonies team, there's probably about 50 to 60 Aussies here,'' Andrew Howard, director of Howard and Sons, the company staging the fireworks at the opening and closing ceremonies, said.
The event will have an Australian production manager and audio engineer. Australian-born Ric Birch, who masterminded the opening and closing ceremonies at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and the Brisbane Commonwealth Games in 1982, is a consultant to the organising committee.
Howard's firm, which staged the fireworks at the opening ceremony of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games four years ago, has had 20 Australian pyrotechnic riggers installing the fireworks at the main stadium.
''I've done plenty of big jobs in exotic places around the world but none of them have been as challenging as this one,'' he said. ''But I'm not complaining. I like the vibe of the joint … it's like a great Indian train ride: you've got to hop on and take the ride.''
Howard said the opening ceremony has ''got a huge cast, lots of colour, telling a story about the history and culture of Delhi … the choreography will have frantic pace with plenty of action and movement, just like Bollywood or the traffic of India's roads.''
However, the pomp will not hide reminders of the troubled prelude to the Games. Spectators attending the opening ceremony will walk over a temporary military bridge hurriedly erected to replace the one that collapsed last week, injuring 27 workers.
Early last month, authorities delivered certification documents to the Commonwealth Games Federation stating that all completed venues were safe to operate. But on September 22 a section of ceiling in the wrestling venue fell in. Organisers insist that all venues are sound and ready for use.
Teams from across the Commonwealth are giving them the benefit of the doubt.
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October 2, 2010
Ads by Google
Commonwealth Games 2010TimesOfIndia.Indiatimes.com
Sports officials are hoping to put their troubles behind them, writes Matt Wade in Delhi.
The organisers of the Delhi Commonwealth Games are banking on an extravaganza combining the glitz of Bollywood with the aura and colour of India's ancient culture to offset the miserable build-up to the event.
The atmosphere of crisis that gripped the city last week when filthy, unfinished rooms were revealed at the Games village, structures at venues collapsed and two tourists were shot at a historic mosque has abated a little. Preparations have been relatively accident-free for several days and thousands of athletes have arrived. The monsoon deluge that hampered organisers' late scramble to get ready has passed and the sun is shining.
Advertisement: Story continues belowIs Delhi ready? Tomorrow night's opening ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, completely rebuilt for the Games, will be the first big test.
The vast Indian cultural palate has given those masterminding the ceremony plenty to work with. Organisers say the ceremony will span 5000 years of history, especially the rich story of Delhi, an ancient city and the national capital.
It is expected that the six-part show will kick off with 1000 drummers beating the rhythms of India. Artists will perform classical Indian music and dance before 1000 yoga experts take the stage. In a segment called the Great Indian Journey, 1500 performers will provide a glimpse of rural life including the colour and movement of village bazaars.
Bollywood will make an inevitable appearance when A.R. Rahman, who wrote the Oscar-winning score for the movie Slumdog Millionaire, performs an anthem he wrote for the Games.
A tunnel, built at vast expense, will allow the 8000 performers to emerge from under the ground in the middle of the stadium. The focal point for much of the action will be an ''aerostat'' helium balloon.
Organisers say performers from each one of India's 28 states will be involved in the ceremony. That includes the disputed state of Kashmir, claimed by Pakistan, and the state of Arunachal Pradesh in the north-east, a large portion of which is claimed by China.
The ceremony has not been without controversy. There has been a push to have the Games declared open by the President, Pratibha Patil, instead of by Prince Charles, who will represent the Queen.
However a statement from Clarence House, the Prince's official residence in London, confirmed this week that he will read out a message from the Queen which ends by ''declaring the Games open''.
In what has been described as a compromise in India, Patil is expected to give a short speech after the prince and say ''let the Games begin''.
The Australian team, with more than 600 members, will be the biggest to march into the stadium, with athletes from 71 other countries and territories participating. But Australia will also be well represented behind the scenes.
''All in all, in the ceremonies team, there's probably about 50 to 60 Aussies here,'' Andrew Howard, director of Howard and Sons, the company staging the fireworks at the opening and closing ceremonies, said.
The event will have an Australian production manager and audio engineer. Australian-born Ric Birch, who masterminded the opening and closing ceremonies at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and the Brisbane Commonwealth Games in 1982, is a consultant to the organising committee.
Howard's firm, which staged the fireworks at the opening ceremony of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games four years ago, has had 20 Australian pyrotechnic riggers installing the fireworks at the main stadium.
''I've done plenty of big jobs in exotic places around the world but none of them have been as challenging as this one,'' he said. ''But I'm not complaining. I like the vibe of the joint … it's like a great Indian train ride: you've got to hop on and take the ride.''
Howard said the opening ceremony has ''got a huge cast, lots of colour, telling a story about the history and culture of Delhi … the choreography will have frantic pace with plenty of action and movement, just like Bollywood or the traffic of India's roads.''
However, the pomp will not hide reminders of the troubled prelude to the Games. Spectators attending the opening ceremony will walk over a temporary military bridge hurriedly erected to replace the one that collapsed last week, injuring 27 workers.
Early last month, authorities delivered certification documents to the Commonwealth Games Federation stating that all completed venues were safe to operate. But on September 22 a section of ceiling in the wrestling venue fell in. Organisers insist that all venues are sound and ready for use.
Teams from across the Commonwealth are giving them the benefit of the doubt.
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Commonwealth Games: Queen's Baton rally organized in Delhi
Commonwealth Games: Queen's Baton rally organized in Delhi
2010-10-01 14:20:00
The Queen's Baton Relay (QBR) of the XIXth Commonwealth Games was carried out in a rally here today.
Suresh Kalmadi, the Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, held the baton and walked down Rajpath.
Kalmadi said that it was a special moment for the country as it prepares for one of the most extravagant sport events.
"I am feeling very proud about the baton. It's come all the way from London till here, covering a distance of 190,000 kilometers without a blemish. People have organised it very well. I must be thankful to them," said Kalmadi.
The band of the Indian Armed Forces welcomed the Queen's Baton by playing patriotic tunes at the venue.
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, a gold medallist at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, said that he expects the country's athletes to bring a number of medals home.
"Now when everything is under control, there are positive reports about the Games. No doubt, the Games would be good, and our athletes will win a lot of medals," said Rathore.
On Saturday, it will visit Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib and St Columba's School.
The Queen's Baton will reach Games Village at 10.55 am where it will be on display for 45 minutes. It will then be taken on a trip to monuments like Akshardham Temple, Rajghat, Red Fort and Jama Masjid.
The journey would conclude at the CWG main venue Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where the event opens on Sunday.
The 1.9 lakh-km-long QBR's journey across 71 countries will culminate on October 3 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium before the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.
The Queen's Baton Relay is a torch race symbolising the unity and shared ideals of the Commonwealth of nations. It carries a message from the head of the Commonwealth of Nations, currently Queen Elizabeth II of the UK.
The baton has the ability to capture images and sound as it travels throughout the nations of the Commonwealth. With Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, it can be tracked through exact location. (ANI)
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2010-10-01 14:20:00
The Queen's Baton Relay (QBR) of the XIXth Commonwealth Games was carried out in a rally here today.
Suresh Kalmadi, the Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, held the baton and walked down Rajpath.
Kalmadi said that it was a special moment for the country as it prepares for one of the most extravagant sport events.
"I am feeling very proud about the baton. It's come all the way from London till here, covering a distance of 190,000 kilometers without a blemish. People have organised it very well. I must be thankful to them," said Kalmadi.
The band of the Indian Armed Forces welcomed the Queen's Baton by playing patriotic tunes at the venue.
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, a gold medallist at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, said that he expects the country's athletes to bring a number of medals home.
"Now when everything is under control, there are positive reports about the Games. No doubt, the Games would be good, and our athletes will win a lot of medals," said Rathore.
On Saturday, it will visit Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib and St Columba's School.
The Queen's Baton will reach Games Village at 10.55 am where it will be on display for 45 minutes. It will then be taken on a trip to monuments like Akshardham Temple, Rajghat, Red Fort and Jama Masjid.
The journey would conclude at the CWG main venue Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where the event opens on Sunday.
The 1.9 lakh-km-long QBR's journey across 71 countries will culminate on October 3 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium before the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.
The Queen's Baton Relay is a torch race symbolising the unity and shared ideals of the Commonwealth of nations. It carries a message from the head of the Commonwealth of Nations, currently Queen Elizabeth II of the UK.
The baton has the ability to capture images and sound as it travels throughout the nations of the Commonwealth. With Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, it can be tracked through exact location. (ANI)
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One of the best Games villages-1/10/10
One of the best Games villages
Around ten days back the Commonwealth Games Village was described as 'filthy' and 'uninhabitable'. Now, every athlete, including our correspondent Harish Kotian, is falling in love with the place.
Around ten days back the Commonwealth Games Village was described as 'filthy' and 'uninhabitable'. Now, it seems every athlete is falling in love with the place.
Hectic work over the last couple of weeks has seen the organizers turn around things in style. Many of the foreign athletes are describing the Village as one of the best they have ever witnessed.
England's badminton ace Nathan Robertson, a veteran of three Commonwealth Games, says the accommodation is the best he has ever seen.
"We have been here two days now. We all saw reports a week ago back in England about the Games Village. But I must tell you that the village quality is very good and the food hall is excellent. The accommodation is possibly the best that I have ever stayed in. It was a little dirty when we arrived but the actual accommodation is some of the best we have stayed from the previous Commonwealth Games," he said.
Robertson, who won gold in the mixed doubles and silver in the team event at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, said it was a pleasant surprise to find things in order.
"It was a little dusty when we arrived because a lot of work was being done last week, like cleaning up the apartments. But that is really a minor problem as compared to what we saw in reports a week or so ago," he said.
Photographs: Harish Kotian
Around ten days back the Commonwealth Games Village was described as 'filthy' and 'uninhabitable'. Now, every athlete, including our correspondent Harish Kotian, is falling in love with the place.
Around ten days back the Commonwealth Games Village was described as 'filthy' and 'uninhabitable'. Now, it seems every athlete is falling in love with the place.
Hectic work over the last couple of weeks has seen the organizers turn around things in style. Many of the foreign athletes are describing the Village as one of the best they have ever witnessed.
England's badminton ace Nathan Robertson, a veteran of three Commonwealth Games, says the accommodation is the best he has ever seen.
"We have been here two days now. We all saw reports a week ago back in England about the Games Village. But I must tell you that the village quality is very good and the food hall is excellent. The accommodation is possibly the best that I have ever stayed in. It was a little dirty when we arrived but the actual accommodation is some of the best we have stayed from the previous Commonwealth Games," he said.
Robertson, who won gold in the mixed doubles and silver in the team event at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, said it was a pleasant surprise to find things in order.
"It was a little dusty when we arrived because a lot of work was being done last week, like cleaning up the apartments. But that is really a minor problem as compared to what we saw in reports a week or so ago," he said.
Photographs: Harish Kotian
CWG: Delhi looks prepared for sporting event-October 1st, 2010
CWG: Delhi looks prepared for sporting eventOctober 1st, 2010
PTI Share Buzz up!Tags: commonwealth games, New Delhi
New Delhi: No more 'filth' in the Games Village or debris and slush on the streets - the national capital is finally wearing a shining refurbished look ready to welcome the visitors for the Commonwealth Games.
The city known for its numerous Mughal and British era monuments and buildings is now dotted with designer foot overbridges and flyovers, sleek street furniture and elaborate decorative signages.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the New Delhi Municipal Council and the Public Works Department have mostly undertaken the new infrastructure projects. Leaving complaints about delay, lack of quality control and overspending behind, most of the projects are now over.
The heritage shopping district of Connaught Place has got a fresh coat of white paint and its facade has been restored. The NDMC, which is carrying out the 450-crore project, said the remaining work will be done after the Games.
The posh Khan Market in south Delhi as well as the Khanna Market, Janpath Market and Tibetan Market were also revamped while some parts of the facade and parking area have been improved in Shankar Market near CP.
All the three agencies have carried out extensive road improvement, strengthening and dense-carpeting while streetscaping has been conducted on major roads.
The NDMC did streetscaping on 10 major roads while the MCD, which has spent over 700 crore on Games projects, has carried out streetscaping on ten roads near Chhatrasal and Rugby Stadium, four near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, two each near Thyagraj Stadium and Karni Singh Shooting Range and five near R K Khanna Stadium, officials said.
It has also undertaken streetscaping on 28 roads on tourist hubs Karol Bagh and Paharganj besides improving areas near hotels and guest houses with installation of new tiles to designate parking areas and underground ducting of cables though officials admit that more work could have been done in the areas which are frequented by tourists.
The Games has also given town planners an opportunity to experiment with modern street furniture like self-illuminating structure near Indraprastha Park, terracotta pillars-cum-lanterns on Mother Teresa Crescent or Games mural work on rotaries on Shankar Road.
An MCD official said the civic has body has installed information kioks on several streetscaped roads while along with a private group, 40 info-cafes have been put up across the city which will sell Delhi memorabilia during the Games.
Pavement upgrading with multi-colour tiles have changed the look of many localities.
PTI Share Buzz up!Tags: commonwealth games, New Delhi
New Delhi: No more 'filth' in the Games Village or debris and slush on the streets - the national capital is finally wearing a shining refurbished look ready to welcome the visitors for the Commonwealth Games.
The city known for its numerous Mughal and British era monuments and buildings is now dotted with designer foot overbridges and flyovers, sleek street furniture and elaborate decorative signages.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the New Delhi Municipal Council and the Public Works Department have mostly undertaken the new infrastructure projects. Leaving complaints about delay, lack of quality control and overspending behind, most of the projects are now over.
The heritage shopping district of Connaught Place has got a fresh coat of white paint and its facade has been restored. The NDMC, which is carrying out the 450-crore project, said the remaining work will be done after the Games.
The posh Khan Market in south Delhi as well as the Khanna Market, Janpath Market and Tibetan Market were also revamped while some parts of the facade and parking area have been improved in Shankar Market near CP.
All the three agencies have carried out extensive road improvement, strengthening and dense-carpeting while streetscaping has been conducted on major roads.
The NDMC did streetscaping on 10 major roads while the MCD, which has spent over 700 crore on Games projects, has carried out streetscaping on ten roads near Chhatrasal and Rugby Stadium, four near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, two each near Thyagraj Stadium and Karni Singh Shooting Range and five near R K Khanna Stadium, officials said.
It has also undertaken streetscaping on 28 roads on tourist hubs Karol Bagh and Paharganj besides improving areas near hotels and guest houses with installation of new tiles to designate parking areas and underground ducting of cables though officials admit that more work could have been done in the areas which are frequented by tourists.
The Games has also given town planners an opportunity to experiment with modern street furniture like self-illuminating structure near Indraprastha Park, terracotta pillars-cum-lanterns on Mother Teresa Crescent or Games mural work on rotaries on Shankar Road.
An MCD official said the civic has body has installed information kioks on several streetscaped roads while along with a private group, 40 info-cafes have been put up across the city which will sell Delhi memorabilia during the Games.
Pavement upgrading with multi-colour tiles have changed the look of many localities.
Bindra to carry Tricolour during CWG openingOctober 1st, 2010
Bindra to carry Tricolour during CWG openingOctober 1st, 2010
PTI Share Buzz up!Tags: Abhinav Bindra,
commonwealth games Duffer's Guide Commonwealth Games
New Delhi: Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra will carry the Indian flag during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on Sunday, Indian chef de mission Bhubaneshwar Kalita said today.
The 28-year-old ace shooter will lead a 619-member strong contingent - 379 men and 240 women - in the grand ceremony scheduled to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium here.
"Bindra will be our flag-bearer. India will participate in all the 17 disciplines and have the biggest contingent," Kalita told reporters at the Games Village near Akshardham.
Kalita said badminton star Saina Nehwal and Beijing Olympic bronze medalist boxer Vijender Singh are among the six probables who will carry the Queen's Baton during the opening ceremony.
"Being the host nation, we have certain advantages and disadvantages relating to participation in the Games. But we are participating in all the events," he said.
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PTI Share Buzz up!Tags: Abhinav Bindra,
commonwealth games Duffer's Guide Commonwealth Games
New Delhi: Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra will carry the Indian flag during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on Sunday, Indian chef de mission Bhubaneshwar Kalita said today.
The 28-year-old ace shooter will lead a 619-member strong contingent - 379 men and 240 women - in the grand ceremony scheduled to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium here.
"Bindra will be our flag-bearer. India will participate in all the 17 disciplines and have the biggest contingent," Kalita told reporters at the Games Village near Akshardham.
Kalita said badminton star Saina Nehwal and Beijing Olympic bronze medalist boxer Vijender Singh are among the six probables who will carry the Queen's Baton during the opening ceremony.
"Being the host nation, we have certain advantages and disadvantages relating to participation in the Games. But we are participating in all the events," he said.
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Mayawati warns of strict action against trouble makers-October 01, 2010
Mayawati warns of strict action against trouble makers
Press Trust Of India
Lucknow, October 01, 2010
First Published: 14:43 IST(1/10/2010)
Last Updated: 14:45 IST(1/10/2010)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday warned of strict action against any attempt to vitiate the communal atmosphere after the Ayodhya verdict. Her warning came close on the heels of the remarks by SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav that he was disappointed by the Ayodhya title suits verdict as he felt faith was given "priority" over legal procedures.
"...anyone who tries to disturb the communal atmosphere in the state would be dealt with strictly," Mayawati told reporters without making any direct reference to Yadav.
"I would like to appeal the people of the state that they should not get influenced by provocative statements being made by some persons," she said.
Press Trust Of India
Lucknow, October 01, 2010
First Published: 14:43 IST(1/10/2010)
Last Updated: 14:45 IST(1/10/2010)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Friday warned of strict action against any attempt to vitiate the communal atmosphere after the Ayodhya verdict. Her warning came close on the heels of the remarks by SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav that he was disappointed by the Ayodhya title suits verdict as he felt faith was given "priority" over legal procedures.
"...anyone who tries to disturb the communal atmosphere in the state would be dealt with strictly," Mayawati told reporters without making any direct reference to Yadav.
"I would like to appeal the people of the state that they should not get influenced by provocative statements being made by some persons," she said.
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