Commonwealth Games logo to be unveiled on January 6

The 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games logo will be released on January 6...

The 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games logo will be released on January 6, marking 1000 days to go for the mega event. The Delhi Commonwealth Games Organising Committee also plans to organise a 2010 countdown run from Vijay Chowk to India Gate in New Delhi.

The Delhi CGOC have invited eminent sports personalities to grace the occasion. “We have also invited members of the national hockey squad that has won gold medals in the Olympics,” said Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the committee.

Kalmadi expressed his satisfaction with the progress in preparation for the Games in the past year. “All infrastructure will be ready by 2009, and will be handed over to the Delhi CGOC at the beginning of 2010,” he added.

Surprisingly, Kalmadi did not breathe a word about the preparation of the Indian contingent for the 2010 Games. Also the president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), he passed the buck by saying training was the responsibility of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), not the IOA or the organising committee.

“The government has allocated Rs 661 crore for the advanced training of athletes. The money will be given to the SAI,” he said. However, the money has not yet been handed over to the SAI.

Asked whether the delay in conducting proposed special training camps and appointment of foreign experts to train the country’s top sportspersons for the 2010 Games will affect the medal count, he answered in the negative.

“With our limited resources we will do our best in the 2010 Games. We will also win more medals than we did in Melbourne,” he claimed.

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The CGOC chairman also clarified that the mega event will be a zero liability for the government. “The Games will make good profit. Whatever the government gives us, it will be returned,” he said.

Kalmadi avoided the issue of the IOA not approving the draft of the comprehensive sports policy, saying they were ready to discuss the issue with the sports minister. The meeting, he said, will be held shortly.

Earlier, IOA and the respective federations had at least twice declined to attend the meeting with the government.