Venues will be ready in time: Kalmadi

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi reiterated on Friday that most of the construction work for the 2010 event will be over by the end of the year.

Inspecting the Siri Fort Sports Complex,which will host badminton and squash events,Kalmadi said the progress of the work was satisfactory. “The site has been visited by the technical delegates,appointed by the respective international federations who have reviewed the plans and expressed satisfaction. There will also be trial events for both badminton (in April) and squash (in May) before the Games,” said the Indian Olympic Association president.

The proposed 5000-seater badminton venue will have eight courts while the squash arena will have a capacity of 3000,with 11 single courts convertible into five double courts. Besides,the Siri Fort Complex will also be used as training venue for tennis and swimming during the Delhi Games.

“All the construction activities are going as per schedule and we are quite confident that all the venues will be ready by December 31,” he added. With regard to the rugby and cycling venues,Kalmadi said they were likely to be ready by January and March next year,respectively.