What does this sort of news say about India?

[singveld]

again they talk about beijing, stop it already, you are light years away from PRC

Delhi toes Beijing line, eco-friendly buses to ferry Games athletes

New Delhi: Taking inspiration from the Beijing Olympics held last year, the Delhi government, too, is keen to display its commitment towards the conservation of environment to the world. It plans to introduce ‘hybrid’ electric buses during the Commonwealth Games to be held in October 2010.

These hybrid buses will run on CNG and electric energy, and the government plans to station them at all 11 Games venues to transport athletes and spectators. It may also possibly give joyrides to inquisitive visitors.

While Delhi already has a huge base for a CNG-propelled public transport system and it has recently introduced subsidies on the cost of battery-operated cars and two-wheelers, Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta said these hybrid buses would be in addition to the eco-friendly transportation structure to be provided during the Games.

“Hybrid buses were a part of the system during Beijing Olympics. Delhi, too, has a green city agenda and the event (Commonwealth Games) could be used to extend our commitment to the cause,” he said.

 

[singveld]

security look tight, i dun think al qaeda can suceed

Al-Qaeda threat to Commonwealth Games, IPL and hockey World Cup

The Commonwealth Games, the Indian Premier League and the hockey World Cup were put on alert for direct attacks from al-Qaeda after the terrorist organisation's Pakistani arm made specific threats against the events.

In a rare example of a terrorist group using specific threats against sporting events to generate propaganda the 313 Brigade, an affiliate of al-Qaeda, warned that athletes and spectators attending the events in India would face "consequences". The IPL and hockey World Cup take place next month, with the Commonwealth Games scheduled for October in Delhi. In a message issued following a bomb attack on the Indian city of Pune at the weekend, Ilyas Kashmiri, the head of 313 Brigade, was quoted by Asian Times Online as saying: "We warn the international community not to send their people to the 2010 Hockey World Cup, IPL and Commonwealth Games. Nor should their people visit India – if they do, they will be responsible for the consequences."



Lalit Modi, the chairman of the IPL, last night insisted the league, which begins on March 12, would go ahead. "We are working with the Indian government on a day-to-day basis," he said. "Security is going to be very, very tight and we have discussed every eventuality." Last year the IPL was shifted out of India due to security concerns and Modi said, "we do have a back-up plan". David Faulkner, the England Hockey performance director, expects full details of security arrangements for the World Cup to be made clear by the weekend. Faulkner is waiting for the International Hockey Federation to deliver detailed plans for security at the team hotel and transportation during the tournament, which starts in New Delhi on Feb 28.



He said: "Hopefully by the weekend we will have all the necessary details and planning to hand. We've had a positive communication from the FIH and there is a briefing taking place later this week which the British High Commission is managing on our behalf." The direct threat will add to uncertainty surrounding the Delhi Commonwealth Games, which will be the largest sporting event held in the subcontinent.



Some of the world's leading athletes have already indicated they will not compete citing scheduling issues, and last year The Daily Telegraph disclosed grave reservations about security at the event. Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Hooper dismissed suggestions the competition should be moved to another country. "The Games will not be shifted, make no mistake, the Games in 2010 will be in Delhi, there is no Plan B," he told the Sydney Morning Herald. "From a planning and security point of view, there is nothing to my knowledge that would suggest that security planning for the Games is not on track.

The commitment is unwavering from the Indian government to deliver a safe and secure Games." Last night security experts retained by Commonwealth Games England were examining the threat. "We take the security of the English team very seriously indeed, and are working closely with a number of experts and advisers in this area," said a spokeswoman. "Any threat will be evaluated and analysed to ensure the safety of our athletes.

As things stand we have been assured it will be safe to compete and as such we intend to travel to the Games in October. We will continue to take advice and evaluate intelligence throughout the period approaching the Games." The Foreign Office said it was aware of the 313 Brigade statement, and that its advice to travellers was constantly under review. "We are monitoring developments in India closely. Our travel advice already makes clear reference to terrorism and security issues in India generally.

"We are in regular contact with UK sporting bodies ahead of events such as the Commonwealth Games in India. We will continue to work closely with the Indian authorities who are doing everything they can to ensure the safety, security and success of these forthcoming sporting events."

 

[singveld]

Commonwealth Games head Fennell says more work needed

Michael Fennell: "The massive work that is being done now ought to have been done before"

The president of the Commonwealth Games Federation says "extensive work" still needs to be done to prepare the athletes' village for the opening of the Games on 3 October.

After visiting Games sites in Delhi, Michael Fennell said India had done much to resolve remaining problems.

But he said he was concerned about the safety of athletes and officials.

The chaos surrounding the preparations for the Games had done a "lot of damage" to India's international image, Mr Fennell said.

"People are questioning whether we should have come to India," he added.

"I would hope that at the end of all of this, India would have learned a great lesson, and we also would have learned a great lesson working with a country like India," the head of the Games said.

All 71 countries will take full part in the Games, he said.

The build-up to the event has been marred by construction delays, corruption scandals, a dengue fever outbreak, the collapse of a footbridge near the main stadium and security fears.
Continue reading the main story
Dirty sink in athlete's village

The first English athletes - the men's hockey and the bowls teams - arrived in Delhi on Friday, although they plan to stay in hotels until Monday, when the athletes village should be ready.

Several other participating countries have delayed their planned arrival to allow problems to be resolved, after officials earlier in the week escribed the conditions in the village as uninhabitable.

Indian Prime Minister Prime Manmohan Singh had held an emergency meeting about the Games on Thursday night. He was reviewing preparations with senior ministers, an official in his office said on Saturday.

Ticket sales for the event in New Delhi have been low, and the cost of hosting the largest sporting event in India's history has soared.

It has become most expensive Commonwealth Games so far, with estimates ranging up to more than $10bn (£6.3bn).

Delhi has had seven years to prepare, though very little work was done until 2008.

 

[singveld]

this is so typical of ah neh, nothing is wrong, we are the greatest, NOT

What were the Delhi doubters so worried about?
By GREG FORD in India - Sunday Star Times

NZ confirms Commonwealth Games participation India races to save face before Commonwealth Games
Greg Henderson is huge in Delhi.

Since news broke the Kiwi cyclist had pulled out of coming to the Commonwealth Games, his face has been plastered on TV and local newspapers.

None of the coverage has been judgemental. The Indians, so warm and welcoming, are too kind. But written between the lines is a sense of disbelief, a feeling shared by the handful of Kiwis now here in Delhi.

Henderson has got this decision horrendously wrong.

Any fears about security vanish when you arrive here.

There is so many security staff on duty, even a week before the Games start, it is mind boggling.

Delhi is like fort Knox. You cannot move without getting patted down by intimidating soldiers.

It’s it crushing, invasive and unpleasant. But any frustration felt has at least allayed my fears and the fears of most other athletes that these games will be incident free.

The games village was a shambles but has been fixed.

Chris Jenkins, the chef de mission from Wales, said it is now “unrecognisable” from the state of repair he found it in 48 hours ago.

The sporting venues are world class. Nehru Stadium is an architectural wonder. And Delhi has rolled out the welcome mat and the reception from the locals has been nothing short of humbling.

There is no escaping the fact Delhi will be unlike any other Games.

Yes, there have been problems. But they are being fixed, slowly. The infrastructure in place is excellent. Much of the angst has been created by fear rather than fact.

If Henderson had embraced the fact Delhi will be different, then he may have made a different decision.

Many athletes already have.

Several British athletes arrived yesterday and were greeted like heroes.

It appears in the brief time they have been here they are already captivated by the sights and diversity of Delhi.

After a day or so wondering around the other facilities in Delhi it’s hard not to get the impression this much maligned place could well become the best games yet.

Take the practice facilities. The running track beside the games village where the likes of Nick Willis will fine tune before the 1500m makes New Zealand’s two premier athletics venues Mt Smart and QE2 look third world.

There’s a brand new running surface and grandstand to boot far bigger and more modern than at Mt Smart. I’m told the sport science facilities under said grandstand are also first rate.

The place isn’t perfect. A few days ago it was awash in water amid late summer monsoon rains. The massive ponds have subsided and left behind a larger problem: mosquitoes. They are an acute problem near the village.
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It was impossible not to get bitten despite being slathered in litres of insect repellent. But as we left the area yesterday massive fog machines were being brought in to fumigate the area. It’s an imperfect solution to an issue still giving the likes of New Zealand chef de mission massive concern.

There are still several days before the Games begin, and one suspects plenty of time for the transport system, the one remaining concern, to kick in and work just fine.

As anyone who has been in a car around Delhi knows the roads are chaos. But there is order in chaos. They work. And my overriding feeling is Delhi will too.

It’s why we Kiwis should also praise the lord that John Coates is an Australian. Their Olympic Committee president said yesterday that Delhi should never have been granted the games, from the safety of Melbourne. It’s a shame John didn’t come to see Delhi firsthand before making his assessment. Mike Stanley and Barry Maister extended that courtesy.

And perhaps we should too should hesitate before passing judgement. Take it from me this place isn’t as bad as many have made out.

 

[singveld]

head are starting to roll

CWG media chief loses job for 'bad press'

Barely a week before the start of the event, Commonwealth Games Deputy Director General, Press Operations Manish Kumar was today transferred to Environment and Sustainability department, according to OC sources. Manjushree Roy of Press Information Bureau has been named as the new DDG, PressOperations in Kumar's place.

The decision to transfer Kumar was taken by the Cabinet Secretariat.

Two days after taking control of the much-criticised CWG Village, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today put in place a three-layered mechanism to ensure cleanliness, hygiene and house-keeping as per international standards at the complex.

Under the new set up, professionals from five-star hotels and volunteers from Hotel Association of India will look after cleanliness and maintenace of the rooms in all the 34 towers in the Games Village, top sources told PTI.

While cleanliness and all other maintenace related matters outside the rooms like balconies and other areas within the complex has been entrusted to a team of officials from NDMC, the MCD has been directed to look after the areas outside the towers on village premises.

 

[Charlie258]

It may be wise to put up a website on how to behave in Singapore. It should apply to all foreigners rather than Indian specific.I have seen some bad behaviour froom other new arrivals as well. However the target audience should be Indians and the PRC mainly because of their numbers and some notable traits. Nobody can beat these guys when jumping queues and talking loudly.

At the same time, may be website on Singaporeans should behave is also timely. Our manners have also gone down the drain. I noticed this amongst the female gender. Scolding service staff continously, whingeing and complaining while on flight, making a scene in economy class when the newspaper has run out, the men in this case, asking for so many changes for a cooked dish when placing orders, etc.

Re: "asking for so many changes to a cooked dish......" You have made a very astute observation. There is this cafe in the East Coast I frequent, every time the waiters, waitresses and cooks see one of the local middle aged and elderly Singapore women come in, they just cringe and try to hide in the back of the restaurant. Things like, "give me my stir-fried noodles with no oil on it," "my salad must have no onion and no green chilli peppers," and so on. Sometimes, I feel tempted to tell the bitches off for the sake of the poor cafe service staff. They are ruining the day for everyone in the cafe, workers and customers alike! For pete's sake, grow up, women!!!!

 

[singveld]

Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010 – The Con Games


Delhi Commonwealth Games LogoThe Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held between 3rd – 14th October in Delhi, will be the largest multi-sport event to be held in India after the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. As many as 72 nations will participate in the games. This will be the second time, the Commonwealth Games will be held in Asia. Therefore, the event is significant and a big moment for India. The city is under siege from multiple agencies, 21 in total, all working at cross purposes and stepping on each others toes while the mad scramble to give the Capital a face-lift clashes with the frantic construction to get the stadia and other Games-related venues ready on time. The monsoon downpours have only made matters worse, leading to flooded venues, blocked drainage, leaking ceilings, burst water pipes and seepage everywhere. Here’s a reality check.

1. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which is to host all key events including athletics and weight-lifting, and the opening and closing ceremonies, is struggling to meet its July 31 deadline. Ten days before the scheduled handover to the Organizing Committee (OC), the stadium resembles a dust bowl, with open drains and piles of rubble all around and the approach roads still in the early stages of construction. As things stand, only the main arena would be ready by the deadline, with the peripheral work to continue till mid-September, barely two weeks before the opening ceremony.

2. The shooting range at Kadarpur in Gurgaon, an official Games venue, has “collapsed”. Inaugurated barely two months ago by Sports Minister M.S. Gill, the range had even hosted a test event for the Games but has now self-destructed after the rains. On July 8, dig and Manager (Sports), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), M.C. Panwar (the Range is built on CRPF land) wrote a desperate letter to top sports ministry officials. “Due to the incessant rains on the night of July 4 and 7, the various embankments on the range have collapsed and extensive damages (sic) have been caused. The grassy expanse of lawn overhead the first box culvert has been washed away along with the side foot-tracks.”

3. At the Yamuna Sports Complex, where the table tennis events will be staged, the false ceiling collapsed and the wooden flooring has been badly damaged because of waterlogging. Both will need to be replaced. The new deadline for completion is now first week of September, one month later than the original deadline of August 1.

4. The Siri Fort badminton complex, where World Number 2 Saina Nehwal will be India’s biggest medal hope, faces the same problem with the wooden floor having buckled due to seepage. The entire floor will have to be relaid.

5. The “new” Dr S.P. Mukherjee Swimming Complex built at a cost of Rs 377 crore, was inaugurated last week with parts of the complex still to be completed. During the inauguration, a waterpipe malfunction sprayed water on the people present there. The walls are already marked by seepage.

6. The rains have led to flooding the newly constructed Velodrome at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, a fully air-conditioned indoor timber track, built at a cost of Rs 150 crore.

7. The Talkatora Boxing Stadium has major problems with flooding inside because of leakage, while there was more than a foot of water all around outside.

8. The vital timing, scoring, result (TSR) equipment will only be commissioned 10 days before the start of the Games, a ridiculous state of affairs since glitches and settings take time to be tested and ironed out.

9. Every approach road to the venues is dug up, waterlogged, minus pavements and dividers, and the construction debris has entered the drainage system leading to flooding each time it rains, even for a brief spell.

10. The Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, venue for hockey, was inaugurated on January 24, after missing the original deadline by four months. Costing Rs 262 crore, 50 crore more than was budgeted, the peripheral work is still on.

11. The catering contracts for the Games venues was canceled last week, meaning fresh bids will have to be submitted and approved, leaving no time for the eventual caterers to prepare and set up operations.

12. As if that wasn’t enough, some of the world’s best athletes, including Olympic and world champion sprinter Usain Bolt, have pulled out of the Games robbing it of much of its luster and led to an unseemly and very public war of words between Gill and Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi.

The stadiums ares not the only worry. The Games Village is not ready either. Built at a cost of nearly Rs 1,100 crore, the first deadline was December 2009, later shifted to March 2010 and finally to July 31. The work in the Village slowed down in December 2008 when Emaar MGF claimed that it had no money due to the global meltdown. The DDA, its PPP partner, had to cough up Rs 766 crore as a bailout package. The eviction of 3,000 students from their hostels indicates that the Village will not be ready and last minute alternate arrangements are being made.

In fact, there is not a single aspect, which the OC or the Sports Ministry can claim has been completed to satisfaction. The OC is still not sure how it will feed the sports persons, athletes, officials and referees outside the Games Village. With more than 30 lakh meals expected to be cooked during the fortnight of the Games, it’s one of the most important functional areas of the event.

 

[singveld]

it is possible for india to make a sucessful game, but not the level of beijing olymp

« Previous | Main
Delhi learning downside of hosting Games

Post categories: Commonwealth Games

David Bond | 17:47 UK time, Wednesday, 22 September 2010

With the worldwide television exposure they offer, countries recognise the power of major sports events to promote themselves and boost their image.

And it is no coincidence that those emerging economies most commonly referred to as the Brics - Brazil, Russia, India and China - are the nations most alive to the potential of the biggest international events.

Since the International Olympic Committee took the calculated risk of taking the 2008 Games to China we have seen a run of big events going to Bric countries.

Brazil is to host the 2014 World Cup while Rio de Janeiro is staging the 2016 Olympics.

And in addition to bidding for the 2018 World Cup, Russia is putting on the 2014 Winter Olympics in the city of Sochi.

Hosting the Commonwealth Games was supposed to be India's chance to show the world that it had left behind the old stereotypes of an economy blighted by corruption and political interference.

Sadly for them their preparations for the Delhi Games have shown that staging these events do have a potentially damaging downside.

Rather than beaming images of gleaming stadiums and happy athletes producing world class sport the last 24 hours have reminded India that the 24 hour modern media culture has a nasty downside. Get it right and the world sits back and applauds. Get it wrong and your failings are transmitted to the globe's rolling news networks.

Delhi may yet surprise us. No major event enjoys a smooth build-up with no problems. Witness all the scare stories about South Africa in the run up to the World Cup this summer. There were issues but largely the event passed off without any major difficulties.

 

[Ramseth]

The Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held between 3rd – 14th October in Delhi, will be the largest multi-sport event to be held in India after the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. As many as 72 nations will participate in the games.

Good heaven, you mean the British had conned, conquered and colonised 72 nations into the Commonwealth even not counting USA. Hell, no wonder we're all speaking English.

 

[singveld]

i saw bbc world today dateline london, an ah neh, still today claim that athlete village is better than beijing, yes toilet is dirty, it is a problem, but they are correcting it.

ah neh have no shame.

 

[cocobobo]

if you go to the expatsingapore forum, there's a thread on cwealth games.

the best part is the indian fts in that forum (yes, they consider themeselves expats hor)defend themselves and push the blame on everyone else except them..... from the foreign press, to the cwealth c'tee etc. everyone but themselves.

damn typical.

 

[KNNBCCB]

...defend themselves and push the blame on everyone else except them..... from the foreign press, to the cwealth c'tee etc. everyone but themselves.

damn typical.

that is their only expertise. their genes are all like that... knnbccb:oIo:

 

[singveld]

last min work by ah neh

 

[Leongsam]

Typical Indians... one guy working at a snail's pace.... 30 guys standing around "supervising".

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

if you go to the expatsingapore forum, there's a thread on cwealth games.

the best part is the indian fts in that forum (yes, they consider themeselves expats hor)defend themselves and push the blame on everyone else except them..... from the foreign press, to the cwealth c'tee etc. everyone but themselves.

damn typical.

fucking keling shit skins!!!!!!:oIo::oIo::oIo::oIo:

 

[postnew]

Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell, left, and Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi look on during a press conference in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010.

Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell addresses a press conference in New Delhi on September 25, 2010. The chaos surrounding the Delhi Commonwealth Games has done a 'lot of damage' to India's international image, Games federation president Mike Fennell said.​

 

[postnew]

Malaysian lawn ball team leaves the athletes village for practice in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010.​

 

[postnew]

Members from England's team for the Commonwealth Games eat food inside the food court of the athletes village in New Delhi September 25, 2010.​

 

[postnew]

New Zealand officials have lunch at the dining area in the Commonwealth Games village in New Delhi on September 25, 2010, ahead of the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.​

 

[postnew]

Indian army soldiers carry a construction material at a Commonwealth Games venue, in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010.​