Hindustan Times
Is Delhi ready for CWG 2010?
Raghav Sikka
As we come closer to the Commonwealth Games 2010, our uncertainties regarding a successful event grows even larger and larger. Why is that we fail to believe in our nation’s capital city and have no trust as to whether the Games will take place or not?
Well until now, it was the corruption and the controversial contracts, doping scandals, dengue fever, non-stop rains, lengthy traffic jams and the slow development of some our complexes and stadiums. But Sunday’s attack on foreign tourists near the Jama Masjid in Delhi is by far the biggest concern our government should be focusing on prior to the start of CWG 2010. We simply do not need another 26/11, not during, before or after the Games.
Being a proud Indian, I do believe that in spite of all the mishaps and the corruption that has taken place so far, this mega sporting event is like a stepping-stone for sports India. In terms of providing world-class facilities to our athletes in the future, the organizing committee along with the Indian government has done a great job to build sports infrastructure in Delhi. Not to forget that all this has come about at a very heavy cost of course, but the positives that will be cherished by our athletes will overlook the wrongs after the event. Our young Indian athletes will break world records and new champions will be born in this country starting the 3rd of October 2010.
It is time for different states of India to go ahead and start investing in sports infrastructure so that we create exceptional talent and do not remain ‘a good in cricket only’ nation.
In fact I think this will be the best Commonwealth Games for team India as I expect our athletes to achieve many more medals than in the past. So even if there were deals that did go astray, does it deny the fact that we have stadiums that are now fully functional and are ready to take on the biggest sporting event India has ever witnessed?
As a developing country there are bound to be problems in preparation for such an event, but the truth is that these Games hold our national pride and thus instead of criticizing the faults and portraying them to the rest of the world, let us benefit from this prestigious occasion and enjoy the Games.
(35 votes, average: 3.63 out of 5)
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