Gymnastic venue vaults ahead,thrown open

days to go for the Commonwealth games,the renovated Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium,the gymnastics venue for the October 3-14 Games,was inaugurated on Saturday.

The 14,500-seater stadium,revamped at a cost of Rs 240 crore,has a built-up area of 72,425 sq m. It is said to be the largest indoor stadium in the country. While Union Sports Minister M S Gill and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit inaugurated the stadium,Commonwealth Games organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi and State Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare Pratik P Patil were also present. “This is an outstanding stadium and an engineering marvel. Equipped with modern facilities,it is the largest covered and air-conditioned stadium in India,” Gill said.

“Through the Games,Delhi will prove that it is far modern than other cities. Each stadium will surprise visitors. We are young India and will hold the best Games,” he said.