CommonWealth Games 2010

When it offered to host the Asian Games in New Delhi in 1982, there was always a question mark till almost two years before the schedule of the Games. In fact in those days of rapidly changing and intensely charged political atmosphere, one of the temporary Prime Ministers even threatened to cancel the Games. Fortunately for the country and the sport a more sustainable government came into power and carried the Games through. In fact the 1982 Games were an outstanding success.

But will the Commonwealth Games of 2010 to be staged in New Delhi be a success?

In fact the bigger question is whether it will be held at all. And if held will the infrastructure be in place? For all the fanfare and drama and the cash incentives before the Games were awarded to India, there is very little evidence of any activity around the capital with just two years to go.

There are rumours that some work is going on and few of the structures have taken shape but the accepted fact is that everything is behind schedule. No body seems to be asking questions and there does not appear to be any enthusiasm from the core organizational group to advertise progress.

The Indian Olympic Association which bid for the Games is conspicuously quiet and there is very little comment from either the Delhi government or the Central Government, agencies which eventually will have to take the blame in case of organizational drawbacks.

There are reasons for the apprehensions about the Commonwealth Games and these are fuelled by the lack of any outward and onward movements from the parties responsible for the Games. Apart from the doubts on the infrastructure there appears to be little or no news on the preparation front of the gladiators taking part in the Games.

A newspaper report reveals that despite the available of funds from the Sports Ministry, nine of the 20 federations have not bothered to respond to the query on preparation front. One should not be surprised at this lack of interest.

Indian sport has nearly always worked in this fashion leaving everything till the last moment. That also goes for the construction part of the Games. One remembered the preparation for the Asian Games of 1982. Everything was done at the last moment.

Then someone rubbed the "magic lamp" as it were and lo and behold everything worked out well. One sincerely hopes that the Commonwealth Games of 2010 will be a success despite the drawbacks of a system which leaves everything till the last minute.