Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Humble rickshaws to get designer makeover for Games (With images)-May 19, 2010

Humble rickshaws to get designer makeover for Games (With images)

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 1:37:09 PM by IANS ( Leave a comment )

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) Some will use antique gramophones, others the colours of Bollywood or inspiration from the clean lines of a paper plane… designer cycle rickshaws could be plying at the Commonwealth Games village if things go according to plan.
“Two months ago we had made a proposal to the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee to run these rickshaws on Delhi streets and they are seriously considering it. It would also be a learning experience for the students to work with their mentors,” said Sunil Sethi, president of the Fashion Designer Council of India (FDCI).

To begin with, 50 rickshaws would be launched for players to go from point to point in the sprawling 63.5 hectare Games village, which has 34 towers with 1,168 flats. The numbers could increase if the organisers gives the green signal.

“Rickshaws are a convenient mode of transport. Once we get the approval, we will be donating them to the real rickshaw pullers with the help of SRCC-SIFE (a joint venture between Shri Ram College of Commerce and an international NGO Student In Free Enterprise). There is no commercial aspect attached to it,” Sethi told IANS.

The FDCI has collaborated with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) for the project. Nearly 100 NIFT students will be working with 50 designers to create the rickshaws ahead of the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games.

On Tuesday, Sethi unveiled four such rickshaws designed by Rajesh Pratap Singh, Samanth Chauhan, Nitin Bal Chauhan and designer duo Rahul-Gunjan at NIFT’s annual event Fashionova 2010.

Said Nitin about his creation: “My rickshaw is inspired by paper planes that we use to make during our school days. It reflects that India is going through future with economic growth, which is very positive right now.”

Samanth’s rickshaw is called “Victoria on Wheels” and he took inspiration from the colonial period. The highlights of his creation were gramophones and lamp-shades.

Talking about the concept Samanth told IANS, “Rickshaws have always been a part of our heritage. Foreigners are crazy about it and this is our way to carry forward are heritage.”

Rahul-Gunjan sought inspiration from Bollywood.

CWG scam: Everyone's 'family' in OC-Sep 29, 2010

CWG scam: Everyone's 'family' in OC

Josy Joseph, TNN, Sep 29, 2010, 02.41am IST


Tags:oc|nepotism|family members|cwg
NEW DELHI: Sifting through the list of employees on the rolls of the CWG Organizing Committee is a challenging task. But if you are looking for talent, the attributes you are not likely to find are professionalism and aptitude. Many of OC's personnel are rank unknowns with poor qualifications to hold the jobs they do, having been selected on the basis of being wives, children, nephews and relatives of persons who run Indian sport.

Some are of questionable integrity even as nepotism seems to be the obvious aspect of many appointments. Over the past four years, the OC brass has leveraged the plethora of positions to hand out sops to those who can have a role in their future as sports administrators. So office bearers of various sports federations — their votes are crucial for Kalmadi's election as president of Indian Olympic Association — are among the biggest beneficiaries of OC's largesse.

V K Verma, director general at the OC, is president of the Badminton Association of India. He is a former Air India director who faced a vigilance inquiry. There are a host of others from various games federations, all drawing handsome salaries and perks from the OC.

The OC has not limited its largesse to sports federations. Some OC functionaries raise questions about key men running the show — R K Sacheti and N P Singh — joint directors general looking after coordination and workforce. While Singh is from the government's grade B services, Sacheti's work experience is hardly known. The common factor is that the two are known for their proximity to Kalmadi.

There are others whose proximity to Kalmadi or secretary general Lalit Bhanot seems to have helped them find appointments with OC. In at least two instances, the sports ministry had raised objections in view of unclear qualifications. One was Sacheti, the other Sangeeta Wellinkar, additional director general (image and look). Wellinkar's son was working with OC until last month, while sources say her sister, Nishiganda Mathur, is a paid consultant with OC.

A large number of those who worked with the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune have moved in to join the OC. While this could be taken as a positive sign of expertise being utilized, many are at levels much senior to their experience. Many have also managed arbitrary promotions after moving to OC, sources say.

There is Group Captain K U K Reddy, who joined the finance and accounts division as director, and has managed two promotions to become additional director general. J N Mittal, a chartered accountant who joined as deputy director general in the same department and was senior to Reddy, is now junior to the former air force officer. Reddy is known to be close to Kalmadi.

Commonwealth Games-cwg delhi 2010

Commonwealth Games 2010-New Delhi Commonwealth Games-cwgdelhi 2010-Commonwealth

Games in India-Commonwealth Games-CGF 2010 Information

Commonwealth Games 2010


One of the biggest sporting extravaganzas in the world is the Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Games is a multinational, multi-sport event held once every four years. Commonwealth Games is often referred to as the ‘Friendly Games'. Athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations (the former colonies of British Empire) participate in this Game. On an average around 5000 athletes and officials, attend the Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) with its headquarter in London is the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games.

The main objective of the CGF in organizing the Commonwealth Games is to improve the society and general well-being of the people of the Commonwealth of Nations. This can be achieved through encouragement and assistance of education via sports development and physical recreation. Thus, CGF has adopted three core values: - HUMANITY - EQUALITY - DESTINY that is the motto of the Commonwealth Games.

Commonwealth Games 2010 in India
Commonwealth Games Federation
Commonwealth Games History
Past Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games Village
How to Reach the Games Village
Places to See Near Games Village Delhi Commonwealth Games
Closing Ceremony
Official Logo
Official Mascot
Opening Ceremony
Participating Countries
Schedule of Events
2010 Commonwealth Games Sports
Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010 in India

Venues for 2010 Commonwealth Games
Aquatics
Athletics
Athletics Events
Badminton
Boxing
Cycling
Gymnastics
Hockey
Lawn Bowls Netball
Rugby Sevens
Shooting
Squash
Table Tennis
Tennis
Weightlifting
Wrestling Delhi University Sports Complex
Dhyan Chand National Stadium
Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range
R K Khanna Tennis complex
Siri Fort Sports Complex
Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukharjee Swimming Complex
Talkatora Indoor Stadium
Training Venues
Tyagraja Sports Complex
Yamuna Sports Complex




A sporting competition bringing together the members of the British Empire was first proposed in 1891 as a means of increasing the goodwill and good understanding of the British Empire. However, it did not happen until 1928 when Canada was asked to organise the first British Empire Games. The result was the first such event, then known as the British Empire Games, was held in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada. In due course of time, the name of the British Empire Games changed to the current name Commonwealth Games in 1974.

Since its inception in 1930, the Commonwealth Games has gained tremendous popularity throughout these years. After the Olympic Games, it is the second popular game in the world in terms of number of participating teams, athletes and number of sports included. Around 400 athletes of 11 nations participated in just 6 sports in 1930 which has increased up to 4500 athletes comprising of 71 teams of 53 nations participated in 16 sports in 2006 Commonwealth Games.

According to the current regulations, every host nation must include all the core sports. Besides this, it may include some of the approved sports that should not be less than ten in all. The current core sports consist of athletics, aquatics (swimming, diving and synchronised swimming), lawn bowls, netball (for women) and rugby sevens (for men).The approved list of sports also includes archery, badminton, billiards and snooker, boxing, canoeing, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, squash, table tennis, tennis, ten-pin bowling, triathlon, weightlifting, and wrestling.

There is also a requirement to include some events for Elite Athletes with a Disability (EAD). This was introduced in the 2002 Games. At present there are 4 sports for EAD which include Athletics, Swimming, Table tennis and Powerlifting

The Commonwealth Games starts with Queen's Baton Relay that is a relay of athletes carrying a baton from Buckingham Palace to the Opening Ceremony. The baton's final bearer is usually a famous sporting personage of the host nation. In the Parade of Athletes event on the Opening day of Commonwealth Games all the team march in the alphabetical order except the last host and current host city who are at the first and last of the march.

Showing dynamism and pragmatism Commonwealth Games Federation has adopted a new official flag and seal for Commonwealth Games in 2001.

The ceremonial flag is hoisted at the Opening of the Games, and flies continuously night and day during the period of the Games until it is lowered at the Closing ceremony.

At Commonwealth Games Village, delay was the only constant-Wed Sep 29 2010-

At Commonwealth Games Village, delay was the only constant


Posted: Wed Sep 29 2010, 02:44 hrs

Even before the first bricks had been laid at the proposed site, the Games Village was standing on weak ground. Complicated negotiations with the UP government on acquiring a portion of the land, year-long protests by environmental activists and the 2008 slowdown contributed to the delays at the Village.


When Delhi won the bid to host the multi-sport event in November 2003, the Union Cabinet in principle approved setting up of the Village on the Yamuna banks at a cost of Rs 180 crore. According to sources, the budget has now burgeoned to a staggering Rs 1,200 crore or more. However, the Union Cabinet signing the proposal was a mere formality. The Delhi Development Authority was to start the process of getting environmental and other clearances.


With no news on the status of the Village, in February 2005, Commonwealth Games Federation boss Mike Fennell issued “gentle warnings” to the authorities to get cracking. Around July 2005, environmental activists started talking about the threats posed by building on the Yamuna riverbed. While eco groups were building momentum for a wide-scale protest, the DDA issued statements expressing confidence that work would be over well in time. “We have enough time to develop the Village. By 2006-end, the planning and designing will be over and by 2009 all types of construction will be completed,” DDA’s then Vice-Chairman Dinesh Rai said on December 2005.


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Land dispute
The DDA was, meanwhile, confronted by a belligerent UP government that wanted various perks in exchange for a portion of the land where the International Zone was to be built. “They wanted to use a proposed freight corridor for commercial purposes. A lot of time was spent in negotiating the terms of acquiring the land,” a senior DDA official said. By August 2006, the negotiations were close to completion and DDA announced that it hoped to get construction underway by April 2007. Developer Emaar-MGF was awarded the contract in July 2007. By this time, the budget had risen to Rs 900 crore.


Eco hurdle
But 2007 was annus horribilis for the Village. Construction was held up for over 100 days by a group of environmentalists under the banner of Yamuna Satyagraha. An associated group called Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan shot off letters to everyone, from IOC chief Suresh Kalmadi to the Prime Minister and the President, and even to the executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (Nairobi) Achim Steiner. The Yamuna Satyagraha began a constant vigil on the site. The international media also started highlighting wide-scale displacement at the site. The Delhi BJP supported the activists, as did DU students, and INTACH announced that high-rises would lead to permanent damage on the river bed. A PIL was filed in the Delhi High Court. The court responded by recommending that an eco panel be set up under Nobel Laureate R K Pachauri. The SC stayed the ruling, finally lifting it in July 2009.


By this point, construction had come to a standstill because labourers complained they had not been paid by contractor Ahluwalia Constructions, who in turn complained that they had not been paid by developer Emaar-MGF, which had taken a hit due to the global meltdown. Again time was wasted negotiating a bailout package between DDA and Emaar-MGF.

Games boss was 'living it up royally' Greg Ford -September 29, 2010

Games boss was 'living it up royally' Greg Ford

September 29, 2010 - 7:53AM


Mike Hooper (l) talk withs Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell at press conference in Delhi on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Indian media continue to turn up the heat on New Zealander Mike Hooper, the Commonwealth Games CEO, claiming he has been "living it up royally" and producing some staggering figures.

Hooper has lived in India in the leadup to the Games which open on Sunday.

He has become a controversial figure as accountability is sought for the state of New Delhi's preparations.

The Commonwealth Games Federation and the Indian Organising Committee appear to be fighting a blame game.

Lavish accommodation and tax arrangements have been detailed by the Times of India from documents they say show that the Organising Committee has been paying for Hooper's lifestyle.

The newspaper claims:

- Hooper initially stayed in a sprawling farmhouse with a monthly rental of $A27,833 paid by the Organising Committee.

- From December 1, 2008 he shifted to cheaper accommodation, another farmhouse rented at $10,441 a month.

- Hooper has six employees at his house with a total monthly salary of $867.

The newspaper said the Organising Committee had also decided to take on Hooper's income tax liabilities during his stay in India. These had amounted to $464,353 for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 financial years.

The newspaper's TV channel Timesnow TV also reported that an annual income tax liability of $199,784 was being paid by the Organising Committee.

It also claimed Hooper has a chauffeur driven sedan.

The Times of India said Hooper was being paid a salary by the Commonwealth Games Federation in London.

The newspaper's story started: "Michael Hooper CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation who has been in Delhi for the past several years, has been living it up royally even as the Games preparations were floundering."

Organising Committee boss Suresh Kalmadi wouldn't comment on taxpayers' money being used on Hooper. He said facilities provided to the New Zealander were part of an existing deal with the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Organising Committee vice-chairman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said that money spent on Hooper's accommodation and staff assisting him would be audited.

"I don't have full information about it, but it's true that Mike Hooper has been working here for a very long time. He is part of the OC [organising committee] and he should not have resorted to this. We are also trying to collect information and see how much we are spending on these people," VK Malhotra told Timesnow.

The Hindustan Times, webindia123.com and DailyIndia.com were among Indian websites carrying the same story with news agency Asian News International picking up on it.

School kids walk for success of Delhi Games-September 28, 2010

School kids walk for success of Delhi Games

September 28, 2010

New Delhi: Nearly 300 school children here on Tuesday walked to promote the Delhi Commonwealth Games and lend the much-needed boost to the October 3-14 mega event.

Carrying colorful posters and placards, the students came up with interesting slogans on facts and sporting history of the Games.

The walk, organized by the Modern School, started from the school ground and ended at the Commonwealth Games office at Jantar Mantar.

"So much of negativity had surrounded the Games that children were discussing falling ceilings and scams instead of sports. We wanted them to take CWG in a positive way," Lata Vaidyanathan, the principal of Modern School, Barakhamba Road, told the sources.

"It was overwhelming to see such a great response from the kids," Vaidyanathan said.

The students would also organize weekly quizzes and interactive sessions on the history of the

St. Stephen's ready for Commonwealth Games before schedule-January 23, 2010

St. Stephen's ready for Commonwealth Games before schedule

January 23, 2010

New Delhi: As New Delhi prepares itself for the mega-event which befalls in October this year, most of the projects under Commonwealth Games are running behind schedule but the one at the Delhi University's (DU) St. Stephen College stands ready much before time.

The rugby events of the Games is scheduled to be hosted by DU for which the sports complex of the university is undergoing major transformations to bring it at par with international standards featuring the latest astro turf on its ground.

"The football ground at St. Stephen's is being renewed into a practice field for the rugby players which would be ready by March. The players would be boarded across the DU hostels during the games," said SK Chakravarthy of the department of physical education.

He further highlighted the special features of the arrangements and said that they are planning warming up machines, medical facilities and special rooms for the players.

"The players can also avail the facilities of the physiotherapy laboratory of the college," he said.

According to the college authorities, though the deadline of completing the ground would is March, but it would be completed much before the stipulated time.

The department officials said, "More than 70% of the work was already over."

The college is also one of the chosen accommodations for some rugby players.

"Accommodation to the players would be provided by the North Campus colleges for which we are giving some blocks of our college residence for the purpose," said Chakravarthy.