A NON-PROFIT GOVERNMENT OWNED REGISTERED ORGANISING COMMITTEE TO BE CONSTITUTED FOR 2010 GAMES– VIKRAM VERMA

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Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Vikram Verma briefed the press regarding India’s Wining the bid for 2010 Commonwealth Games after he returned from Jamaica.

On the proposal of India Olympic Association (IOA) Government of India on 2^nd July, 2002 conveyed its no objection to making a bid presentation at Manchester Games, 2002.

• Subsequently, Government of India has approved the following:
• Allowing the Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs, Delhi. Administration and IOA to bid for the XIX Commonwealth Games, 2010
• In principle approving holding of the XIX Commonwealth Games, 2010 in case the bid to host the Games at New Delhi is successful .

It was also decided to issue the following guarantees:

1. Undertaking to support the bid of Delhi to host the Games;
2. Guaranteeing free entry for all accredited athletes and delegations of all participating countries; and
3. Guaranteeing that the Games will be organized in accordance with the Constitution and Protocols & Regulations of the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Accordingly, a delegation led by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Vikram Verma, President AICS Sh. V.K.Malhotra, the Lt. Governor of Delhi Sh. Vijay Kapoor, President IOA Shri Suresh Kalmadi and Shri Randhir Singh, Secretary-General, IOA, presented a formal bid before the Commonwealth Games Federation in London on May 30, 2003, were also present on the occasion.

Government on 11^th September, 2003 further approved the following:

1. Agree to and enter into the host city contact as provided by the CGF
2. Underwrite any shortfall between revenue and expenditure of the Organising Committee.
3. Approve in principle the proposal of Lt. Governor of Delhi to set up the Games village. However, the manner of funding and utilisation of the games village would be decided later.
4. Approve in principle to m eet the cost of construction of the indoor and outdoor stadium in the Yamuna Sports Complex and that of up gradation of existing infrastructure.

Delhi and Hamilton (Canada) were the two candidates for hosting the Commonwealth Games, 2010. Team India comprising of Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports; Lt. Governor of Delhi; Secretary (Sports), DG (SAI), Joint Secretary (Sports), representatives of IOA and eminent sports persons namely Shri Sunil Gavaskar, Shri Michael Ferreira, Ms. Anjali Bhagwat and Shri Murad Ali Khan were present during the General Assembly meeting of the Commonwealth Games Federation held at Montego Bay (Jamaica) from 11^th to 13^th November, 2003 and made their presentation before the members of the Commonwealth Games Federation. On 13^th October, 2003, voting through a secret ballot was held and New Delhi (India) was able to secure, 46 votes against 22 secured by Hamilton (Canada).

The Commonwealth Games 2010 are scheduled over a period of 11 days while the competition will take place over 12 days for the extended programmes of several sports. These games are proposed to be held in 12 individual sports and 3 team sports as under:-

Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Net Ball, Rugby 7"s, Shooting, Squash, Table-Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling. It is also proposed to include few disciplines from among Cricket, Lawn-Tennis, Volleyball and Basketball subject to the approval of their International Federations concerned and the CGF. Kabbadi as demonstration event will also be included after due consultation with Commonwealth Games Federation.

Future course of Action

1. The Sports Authority of India and other Government agencies like DDA/NDMC/MC/MCD will undertake upgradation of existing infrastructure in a phased manner and shall prepare a plan accordingly.
2. A Games Village will be constructed. However, the funding and utilization of the games village is to be decided.
3. Two new (one indoor and one outdoor stadium) in the Yamuna Sports Complex will be constructed.
4. A detailed exercise to firm up the projected revenue from and the expenditure involving the games will be carried out in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, the government of Delhi and the IOA.

Organisation of the Games

For organisation of the Games, a non-profit Government – owned registered Society – "Organizing Committee" will be constituted. The past experience of Asian Games 1982 and First Afro-Asian Games 2003 will be the guiding document in this.

Monitoring the preparation for the Games

Government will immediately constitute a high powered Committee to monitor the progress of preparation for the 2010 games.