CWG Conman's Event Knowledge Services under investigation

Taking a serious view of Shunglu committee findings, the Prime Minister's Office has suggested to Sports Ministry a probe by CBI and Enforcement Directorate based on the panel's report into alleged irregularities in the contracts executed by CWG Organising Committee.

In its letter, the PMO has asked for probe by the agencies specifically in works carried out by Event Knowledge Services (EKS), an international private consultant, and other irregularities pointed out by the Committee.

EKS was given three contracts of over Rs 70 crore by the organising committee to extend consultancy services for the venue development and management, games workforce, and games planning and project management services.

The PMO has directed "expeditious action" on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's order in the matter and sought the reply of Sports Ministry within a month on the fifth report of the high-level committee appointed by him.

The financial loss suffered by the Government due to favouritism for workforce contract aggregated to Rs 18.36 crore, the report said.

"Department of Sports may forward, to the CBI/ED, for action as appropriate, relevant extracts of the report pertaining to the matter of EKS, and the clear cases of forgery, falsification, record creation etc., mentioned in case of other highlighted irregularities," the letter written to the Sports Ministry said.

The Prime Minister had on 25th October last year appointed the high-level committee under the chairmanship of former Comptroller and Auditor General V K Shunglu to investigate and report all irregularities in executing various projects by several government agencies during the Games held here between October 3-14 last year.

The committee, in its report submitted to the PMO on 28th March, found several discrepancies in the projects executed by the company and "collusion" among sacked OC Chief Suresh Kalmadi, Chief Executive Officer of CWG Federation Mike Hooper and other senior functionaries of the Games body.

"The contract was awarded on a single source basis on the recommendation/statement of Mike Hooper, CEO of CGF that EKS was much better informed regarding Delhi venues status than any other International Consultant. This was both a biased and misleading statement," the report said.

"CEO, CGF made every effort to ensure award of these contracts to EKS. The CEO not only personally testified the credentials of this firm but also justified the reasonableness of rates and maydays utilisation and also attended the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) meetings," it said.

The panel found indication of "personal interest" by Kalmadi, currently lodged in Tihar Jail, in giving the contract to EKS.

"The fabrication of the minutes of two meetings (to decide on contracts) purportedly held on January 30, 2008 and March 10, 2008 was strongly suggestive of collusion between OC top management, CGF functionary and EKS for accomplishing its pre-meditated objective," the report said.

Interestingly, the Games Planning and Project Management Contract permitted EKS to assign the same to a sister concern.

EKS incorporated a new company in November, 2008 in Mauritius by the name Event Knowledge Services Pvt Ltd.

The entire contract was assigned to the new company in June 2009, thus, making a mockery of Quality Based Selection System (QBS), it said.

"This is a fit case for reference to the CBI and the ED. They would have to investigate the ownership of EKS Private Limited, Mauritius and trace the flow of funds from the OC to EKS private limited and onwards to other recipients.

"The aspects of fraud involved in this case would also need to be investigated and suitable criminal action taken against the guilty," the findings read.

The committee's fifth report has scrutinised all projects like sponsorship, ticketing, overlays, ceremonies, technology contracts and catering among others executed by the Games OC. (SP-8/5)
PMO recommends CBI, ED probe in CWG contracts

Asian Games Medal Tally: India moves up to 6th position

26/11/2010
Medals Tally
Country/ Gold/ Silver/ Bronze/ Total

China 181 104 95 376

South Korea 72 61 85 218

Japan 39 68 86 193

Iran 19 11 23 53

Kazakhstan 15 18 32 65

India 14 17 33 64

Chinese Taipe 12 12 33 57

Uzbekistan 10 17 20 47

Malaysia 9 17 13 39

Thailand 9 7 31 47

Hong Kong 8 15 15 38

Citizens Voice
Friday, 26 November 2010 17:02:23
Three cheers to all the Indians who have medals for our country. If our sports persons who excelled in CWG did well here, our medal tally would have been much better. Hope we do well in future events. We all should encourage our children to take part in sports and games. All the schools should be granted recognition only if they have playground and other sports facilities. Should make sports compulsory from school itself. At the same time the corrupt and incapable so called sports heads should keep away from the games. Jai Hind.

Indian Navy Sailing Team win Silver Medal

PIB Tuesday, November 23, 2010 17:23 IST
The Indian Sailing team of Lt Cdr (Retd) F Tarapore and team mates Cdr Atool Sinha, CPO (MA) Balraj, POR (Tel) Shekhar Singh Yadav and Trunal were accorded a warm welcome at New Delhi by the Indian Navy and the Yachting Association of India (YAI) after winning a Silver Medal in the Match Racing event at the ongoing Asian Games 2010.
Lt Cdr (Retd) F Tarapore, had won the Fireball class gold medal as crew of Zarir Karanjia in the 1982 Asian Games sailing regatta held off the Mumbai harbor and also picked up a hat-trick of bronze medals in the Asian Games held between 1986 and 1994 in different classes of boats.
The Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre, Mumbai has been a training centre for champion sailors and has produced 13 Arjuna awardees, 02 Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardees and 01 Dronacharya awardee for the sport in the past 40 years.
The YAI was formally constituted on 15 May 1960 and was registered under the Societies Registration Act XXVI of 1961 on 22 December 1964 at Calcutta, West Bengal. The YAI is affiliated to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), which is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the governing authority for sailing worldwide.
The YAI is officially recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India and the Indian Olympic Association as the governing authority for sailing, windsurfing, motor boating, powerboat racing and personal watercraft, at sea and on inland waters in India. PVS/AKR
Reception for Sailing Team of Indian Navy

16th Asian Games 2010 Medal Tally: India on eighth spot

November 16, 2010
In Asian Games 2010 Medal Tally, India is on eighth spot, with one gold medal, 4 silver medals and 3 bronze medals. China is still on top with 58 gold medals, 22 silver medals and 21 bronze medals. India's Ashwini Ponappa and Jwala Gutta enters in the pre- quarter finals of the women's double badminton event in the Asian Games 2010. Ashwini and Gutta defeated China's Tian Qin and Zhao Yunlei. Ashwini and Jwala won the first game by 21-13.

Asian Games 2010 Medal Tally

China: Gold 58, Silver 22, Bronze 21

S Korea: Gold 19, Silver 14, Bronze 19

Japan: Gold 13, Silver 25, Bronze 25

Hong Kong: Gold 3, Silver 5, Bronze 3

C Taipei: Gold 2, Silver 4, Bronze 9

North Korea: Gold 1, Silver 4, Bronze 9

Kazakhistan: Gold 1, Silver 4, Bronze 7

India: Gold 1, Silver 4, Bronze 3

Malaysia: Gold 1, Silver 1, Bronze 3

Phillipines: Gold 1, Silver 0, Bronze 3

Are our Sports Federations functional? The above results speaks for itself!
November 16, 2010
The Government has been insisting on adoption of good governance practices by all National Sports Federations (NSFs) including Indian Olympic Association (IOA). These include fair, transparent and democratic elections of office bearers, representation of sportspersons on the elected body, financial accountability, etc. This matter was also discussed at a meeting with International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials in June, 2010 in Lausanne, Switzerland, in which IOA had committed to revise its own Constitution, in accordance with the Olympic Charter and the basic principle of good governance, for the organization of Olympic movement. IOC has informed that this process is being done in close coordination with them. The final draft of new constitution of IOA, is in its final stages of adoption. This was stated by Dr. M.S. Gill, Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, in the Lok Sabha today, in a written reply to a question by Shri Nishikant Dubey.

The Minister further stated that the Government has re-iterated the guidelines on tenure limits, with a slight modification to align them with the norms followed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Some National Sports Federations contested the guidelines, but the Hon’ble Delhi High Court has refused to stay the government guidelines.

With regard to financial accountability, all NSFs, including IOA are required to submit their annual statement of accounts, including utilization certificate for grants released by the Government. As per the General Financial Rules, fresh grants are released only on receipt of utilization certificates of previous grants as soon as they become due. In addition to above, the Government has introduced a system, of grant of annual recognition to NSFs. Under this system all aspects of the functioning of a NSF are duly scrutinized before according recognition, the Minister added. RM/JL- PQ– USQ1250 - LS
Functioning of IOA

The best opening ceremony in sport ever!

If the CWG opening ceremony in Delhi stunned the world last month, the Chinese took the concept of ceremonies to an altogether new level with a display that not only left the world speechless but even breathless. The Asian Games Opening Ceremony was truly the most wonderful ever on earth.

Guangzhou: Two years after the spectacular success of the Beijing Olympics, China dazzled the world once again by unveiling the 16th Asian Games with a spell-binding opening ceremony in which water was the overwhelming theme and athletes were ushered in a unique boat parade on Pearl River.

The theme was water and the main part of the ceremony was held at Hai Xinsha, an island located on China's third longest river, which is the life-giver to the southern part of the world's most populous nation.

The four-and-a-half-hour ceremony started with trademark fireworks and the 37,000 capacity crowd was up on its feet when 1320 artists from the city's oldest kung fu school descended with giant LED screens in the backdrop.

The mesmerisingly choreographed act had the artists performing breathtaking acrobatics while being several feet above the ground. The LED screens flashed the cityscapes and the artists formed formations to look like eagles flying through the sky.
click here for full report
The 16th Asian Games sets sail on Pearl River: The Official Website of the 16th Asian Games

Conman of CWG Circumcised: Will he be punished?

Kalmadi sacked as CPP Secretary New Delhi, Nov 9, DHNS:
Suresh Kalmadi became the most obvious casualty of the corruption allegations swirling the Congress, as the party on Tuesday decided to sack him as secretary of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), headed by Sonia Gandhi.

Party sources are clear that Kalmadi was shown the exit as he faces serious corruption charges being at the helm of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.

The party had little choice but to give Kalmadi the boot a day before the beginning of the Parliament session since the opposition parties were planning major disruption to the session over his role in the alleged misappropriation of funds meant to conduct the Commonwealth games. “That Kalmadi has offered his resignation should stand alone. That should not connect with the Congress at all,” party spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan told newsmen. Kalmadi is a Congress member of Lok Sabha from Pune.

The party’s decision is no particular shock as it declined to give Kalmadi and others involved in the game’s organisation a clean chit soon after curtains were drawn on the games.

The fact that Kalmadi refused to quit as Chairman of Commonwealth Games Organisation Committee amid vociferous opposition demand to do so after the corruption allegations surfaced hardly helped his cause.

The decision, which comes after the AICC meeting in New Delhi, follows the severe criticism of the party by the opposition and the media for saying little over the scam involving its leaders.

Sports Minister M S Gill, Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit were among others involved in the preparations for the Games.
Kalmadi sacked as CPP Secretary

16th Asian Games Portal and Schedule of Events

The Official website of the 16th Asian Games
Indian Contingent at Asian Games 2010- Click here
Asian Games flame visits Zhaoqing
Zhaoqing, famous for the Duan Inkstone, became the 14th city in Guangdong Province to welcome the flame of the 2010 Asian Games on Friday (October 29). Eighty torchbearers took party in the relay.

Asiad Torch Relay held in Qingyuan[2010-10-28]

250 Chinese paintings to promote 16th Asian Games[2010-10-28]

Tickets of 1st and 2nd stage of Asiad can be received late Oct.[2010-10-28]

Asian Games Town under final review before Monday opening[2010-10-28]

Draw results of Squash of 16th Asian Games[2010-10-27]

Cocachin ready for visits nearby Asian Games Town during Games-time[2010-10-27]

Aoti Tennis Centre well on track to welcome tennis players[2010-10-26]

Third stage of Asian Games' ticket sale operates steadily[2010-10-25]

Draw results of Billiard Sports of 16th Asian Games[2010-10-24]
Asian Games flame visits Zhaoqing

General Competition Schedule for the 16th Asian Games V1.6

Abhay Chautala named India's chef-de-mission for Asian Games
Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, October 27, 2010
Indian Boxing Federation President Abhay Singh Chautala on Wednesday was appointed the chef-de-mission of the country's contingent for next month's Asian Games in China. "Mr Abhay Singh Chautala, Vice-President of the Indian Olympic Association and President of the Indian Boxing Federation, will be the Chef-de-Mission of the Indian contingent at the Asian Games," the IOA said in a statement.
The Asian Games are scheduled to be held from November 12 to 27 in the city of Guangzhou.
Abhay Chautala named India's chef-de-mission for Asian Games

Good vs Evil: Kalmadi surpasses all fixers

By T.J.S.George, 13/10/2010
Good Indians vs Evil Indians
The Devas finally came to the rescue of India. The Rakshasas have not yet been destroyed, but they have been exposed sufficiently enough to save India's honour before a watchful world. We can now walk with our heads held high as befitting citizens of a great country.

Such was the hold of the demons that the Devas had to appear in multiple avatars - as Bharat Bala, as Shyam Benegal, as Prasoon Joshi, as the all-conquering Keshav and as hundreds of nameless but astonishingly coordinated school children. Together they made the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games a moment of pride for us, effacing if only for a while the shame of greed and incompetence that preceded it.

All of us had always known that India had the abilities and the skills to organise the most challenging of events. But our political sphere allows the scum of society to occupy commanding heights of organising committees. In the case of the Commonwealth Games, it was clear that a Disorganising Committee was making a hash of it. But that Committee reckoned without the assurance of our protectors that "for the destruction of evil-doers, for firmly establishing righteousness, Sambhavaami yuge yuge".

So the avatars came. And how magnificent India looked before the world. The seven years and seven-thousand crores spent by the Disorganising Committee brought us disgrace. The ten months and one hundred fifty crores spent by the creative cultural team for the opening ceremony brought us glory.

That difference came about because of the difference in attitude. The primary interest of the Rakshasas was to feather their nests. Pride in their country was a sentiment totally alien to them. The Devas, by contrast, were motivated by nothing but pride in their country and culture. Some of them who led the team did not even take a rupee as fees. This is India at its finest. The pity is that all too often the vilest outgun the finest.

More worryingly, there seems to be no stopping the Chief of the Rakshasa Brigade. People like Jaipal Reddy and M.S.Gill, having discovered that they were outstanding non-performers, kept away from the limelight at the opening ceremony. But not the unashamed Kalmadi. That he was allowed to speak at the august function was an affront to the country. He made it worse by acknowledging the presence of Abul Kalam Azad ( May his soul rest in peace!) and later by thanking Prince Diana (will her soul now rest in peace?). This man is a serial blunderer too.

But even he, given to selective deafness and selective blindness, must know that he is hated by the people of this country. The crowd at the opening jeered him. Some days earlier, when he was dining at an upmarket Delhi restaurant, upmarket people from nearby tables went up to him and abused him. The internet is full of scorn and derision.

Nothing seems to penetrate his skin, though. He is said to be busy with p.r.campaigns designed to convince the world that the opening ceremony was a smashing success because of his untiring efforts behind the scenes. Claiming credit for other people's work is an integral part of the fixer's techniques. He will claim credit for everything that goes well with the Games, putting the blame for things that go wrong on Mani Shankar Iyer's and other available shoulders. That's the style of this kind of operators.

But the machinations of the guilty men should in no way lead to their exoneration. They need to be held accountable and punished, not acquitted. If their political godfathers, who let them run wild in the first place, continue their misplaced sponsorship even after the Games are over, then the godfathers' role in the shenanigans will also have to be tracked and exposed. We are a land blessed by the Devas. Rakshasas belong to the nether regions where they can organise a Paataala Olympics.
Good Indians vs Evil Indians
click here for CWG corruption updates
Kalmadi: Fixer and Fielder of Fictituous Firms

CWG: Sports Structures in Shambles

Learning from CWG
Business standard Sunday, Oct 17, 2010
Instead of learning from the forces, are we doing to defence what we did to sports
Suresh Bangara / October 15, 2010, 0:20 IST
If India can organise a Republic Day parade every year with great efficiency, and could recently host successfully World Military Games, why did it mess up the organisation of the Commonwealth Games (CWG)?

What is common to successful mass events is an empowered structure with clear demarcation of responsibility and accountability. The CWG failed due to an absence of a centralised command structure. Responsibilities were not demarcated, there were too many “Indians” and no chiefs, and, what is more, everyone had an excuse not to own up responsibility.

November 13, 2003 was the date on which the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) resolved to hand over the Games to Delhi. In accordance with article 10A, the host city contract was inked by the Government of India (GoI), the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi(GNCTD), the IOA and the CGF. The organisation of the entire event was allotted to the Organising Committee (OC) of the CWG.

The key delivery partners listed on the website are the CGF, the IOA, the OC CWG, the GNCTD and the GoI in that order. It also states that several ministries of the GoI and several organisations under the GNCTD and others would be involved in execution.

Even a prima facie analysis of this structure would point to the fact that the coordination of such a complex body cannot be vested with a committee which has no authority over the key delivery partners. In the Indian context, hierarchy and individual egos play a vital role in the smooth functioning of the organisation. At times, collective organisational goals are sacrificed to appease individual aspirations. Presumably, these considerations caused undue delays of about two years before the OC came into existence on February 10, 2005 — a faulty and toothless structure from day one.

Although representatives of all the delivery partners were constituted on the committee, raising alarms at the CWG meetings, when deadline after deadline failed to be met by their parent organisation, is not a practical proposition. Having taken full responsibility for staging the best ever Games, as outlined on the website, the OC perhaps continued at best as a mute spectator to inter-ministerial red tape and embarrassing delays in execution.

What is needed in the globalised, highly competitive and demanding environment is to professionalise our decision-making structures to include experts in negotiations, project management and other niche areas.

A look at the ministry which manages the armed forces of India in the above context would be instructive. The defence ministry has the responsibility to handle the rapidly increasing defence budget, which is more than twice the amount allotted to the CWG, but on a yearly basis. Is it structured to meet all the requirements of the armed forces of India?

First, since 1952, the three chiefs along with their headquarters were removed from the decision-making structure of the GoI. They were designated as the “attached offices” of the ministry. In effect, all communications from the armed forces were to be addressed only to the ministry and no decision-making power and executive power was to reside with the chiefs, save those related to operations. Not even the revenue budget could be operated by the chief to merely run the service as it existed. The chiefs could send their recommendations and plans for modernisation, which effectively rested at the table of some functionary without even an acknowledgement. The ministry continued to be manned by generalists — civil servants who often learnt about the armed forces after they were placed in the chair.

While the authority to take decisions with the concurrence of the minister was vested with the ministry, there were no provisions for accountability. Having been removed from the chain, the chiefs could only make proposals and could not be held accountable. The procurement of Advanced Jet Trainers(AJTs) for the Air Force took over two decades, by which time costs had escalated by 500 per cent. The decision to induct Gorshkov took over a decade, by which time the deteriorating cables of the ship warranted doubling of the original cost. Many thousand crores are surrendered unspent year after year despite the urgent operational needs of the Army. There are no clear-cut penalties for procrastination and opportunity costs incurred thereof. Are these not the ills of the CWG as well?

Second, integration of the ministry with the armed forces by placing uniformed professionals at appropriate desks of the ministry is a successful model practised by other democracies. Similar structures were recommended by the Committee on Defence Management after the Kargil war. Cosmetic changes in nomenclature with no corresponding powers were the only action taken to show compliance.

Thirdly, the Kargil Review Committee did recommend the creation of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as a single-point adviser to the defence minister on all matters of planning, acquisition etc. This has been stalled by status quo-ists within and without the armed forces. The result is the continuation of a toothless Chiefs of Staff Committee, which was first recommended in 1924 and which is still in existence only in India. Almost all armed forces of countries that matter have opted for a fully integrated structure with accountability, while we continue to live in denial of a serious structural infirmity.

The CWG 2010 has brought disrepute to the country due to delays in implementation despite seven years to prepare. We can live with it, for soon it will be forgotten. However, continued denial of structural weaknesses in the defence department has the potential to lay our country in the dust. Until then, incapability to modernise, lack of timely decision coupled with conflicting demands of the three services can only be offset by the ability of our officers and soldiers to lay down their lives — even if it is to achieve a pyrrhic victory.

The author is a retired admiral of the Indian Navy
Learning from CWG

Indian Women Atheletes create history

India winning Gold Medal in Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 - 4 x 400m relay FINAL



AtreyGotram @olebaj
Yes.. very true and sad that not many know the names of the GEMS of India. BTW I found her name: It is Ashwini. Here in Order - Manjeet Kaur, Sini Jose, Ashwini Akkunji and Mandeep Kaur

AtreyGotram RockStarV1
11 hours ago It is awesome....i mean this is hands down awesome ....what can be more awesome...girls you rocked...beat the opponents...keep this coming...

Indian Athletes and Volunteers have saved the Face of India when it almost got lost due to Kalmadi and Sheila Dickshit's corrupt ways...

Indian Soldier is the biggest winner for the Country

The Indian soldier is the biggest winner for the country in the Commonwealth Games
Soldier firepower at Games
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, Oct 11: The Indian soldier is the biggest winner for the country in the Commonwealth Games.

Indian Army soldiers and Indian Navy sailors have won 23 medals between them so far. They are all havildars, subedars, petty officers and cadets — called PBOR for “Personnel Below Officer Rank”. None of the medal winners is a commissioned officer.

Rajyavardhan Rathore, who had brought laurels for the country in shooting, is a colonel in the army. He has not qualified to be part of the Indian shooting contingent in the CWG this time.

Staff of the Indian Railways has also won 17 medals between them in the CWG.

Chief petty officer Omkar Singh of the navy has won three golds and a silver in different categories of air pistol shooting. Subedar Vijay Kumar has won three golds and a silver in different categories of rifle shooting.

The soldiers and sailors have won medals in five disciplines: shooting, weightlifting, wrestling, archery and athletics (20km walk).

A total of 41 soldiers are part of the 600-plus strong Indian contingent at the CWG. The army began a “Mission Olympics” programme in 2001 aiming at podium finish at the world-level in select disciplines.

If soldiers must necessarily be good marksmen, India’s armed forces have reason to be proud. In shooting alone, the soldiers and sailors have won 15 medals — 11 golds, two silvers and two bronze.

K. Ravi Kumar, Sukhan Dey and V.S. Rao — all havildars in the army — have won three medals in weightlifting. Master chief petty officer-II Sudhir Kumar of the navy took the bronze in 77kg weightlifting.

The sportsmen were trained in the Army Sports Institute, Pune, and the Army Marksmen Unit in Mhow.

Even off the field, the armed forces are being applauded for their contribution to the CWG. Army engineers put up a foot overbridge in four days after the one built by a Chandigarh-based company collapsed, injuring 23 workmen 12 days before the Games were to begin. The bridge is connected to the main venue in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Soldier firepower at Games

Defence Minister Announces Cash Bonanza for Services Sportspersons

The Defence Minister, Shri A. K. Antony felicitated the Armed Forces sportspersons who won Medals at the Commonwealth Games 2010, at a function, in New Delhi on October 15, 2010. The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. M.M. Pallam Raju, the Defence Secretary, Shri Pradeep Kumar, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik and the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. V.K. Singh are also seen.
Photo no.CNR - 34051

18:54 IST Friday, October 15, 2010
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has announced a cash bonanza for Armed Forces Sportsmen who excelled in the 19th Commonwealth Games (CWG) that concluded yesterday. Felicitating 19 Armed Forces Sportsmen at a function here today, Shri Antony declared a cash award of Rupees 12 lakhs each to the Gold Medal winning Services Sportspersons, seven lakhs for those who won Silver and five lakhs to the Bronze Medal winners.

The Armed Forces Sportsmen have won 25 Medals out of India’s total tally of 101. Out of the 25 Medals the Services Sportspersons have won, as many as 10 are Gold, seven Silver and eight Bronze. They make up more than 25 percent of India’s overall tally and represent 30 percent of the Medals claimed by the Men in India’s tally. There were 50 Sportspersons drawn from the three Services representing India, who competed in 10 Games events.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Antony commended the contribution of the Armed Forces in making the Commonwealth Games a success. Besides participating in the competitions, the Services were involved in the day-to-day management of the Queen’s Baton Relay during its over 100-day journey across the country, Armed Forces Bands participating in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Flag Hoisting during the Medals presentations and in the erection of the Bailey Bridge at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium complex at the eleventh hour.

Shri Antony lauded the Armed Forces for having organised the 4th Military World Games (MWG) at Hyderabad in 2007 at a cost of Rupees 50 crores, a fraction of the whopping budget of the CWG Games. He hoped that the Indian Armed Forces Sportspersons would bring glory to the nation at the 5th MWG to be held in Brazil in July next year.

The Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal PV Naik and Chief of Army Staff Gen VK Singh were present at the function. PK/SR
Defence Minister Announces Cash Bonanza for Services Sportspersons
Army sportspersons do India proud by Prabhjot Singh Tribune News Service

India says good bye to Commonwealth Games

14/10/2010
India says good bye to Commonwealth Games
12 days of sporting extravaganza where India showcased itself to the world. After all the pre-CWG negativity, the Games itself were so full of energy. All good things have to come to an end and India bid farewell to the CWG 2010. If the opening ceremony was simply spectacular, the closing ceremony was a beautiful blend of Indian culture and Scottish tradition and left the world awestruck.

The Nehru stadium was painted in blue the whole evening and India once again displayed its might in ceremonies. CWG creative director Bharat Bala worked for over 18 months to get these two special days ready and why not! From the 'revival' of Vande Mataram to handing over of 'Games' to Scotland to some spectacular laser show to universal music of love, the evening was simply perfect. Did we miss something? The aroma of Scotland while taking over the games from India. The Chief Guest for the evening was Sri Lankan President Mahendra Rajapaksha.

CWG handed over to Glasgow
CGF Flag was handed over to Glasgow, the next host of CWG in 2014 in the beautiful country of Scotland. The flag was handed over by CWG 2010 Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi to Lt. Gov of Delhi, Tejinder Khanna, who then handed it over to the Scottish delegation led by Lord Smith of Cambridge, who will be the Chairman of the Organising committee for CWG 2014.
The organising committee of India had put up a bollywood-style extravaganza while being handed over the games by Melbourne in 2006 and today Glasgow responded with a fabulous display of Scottish tradition, heritage and culture in a 10-minute presentation that was simply stunning, especially the technicalities of the performance left the audience with a sparkle in the eye.
India says good bye to Commonwealth Games

Closing Ceremony- 44 crore Helium Balloon echoes Kalmadi's boring Speech

Posted: Thu Oct 14 2010, 00:25 hrs New Delhi:
"It was like a big, fat Indian wedding." This was how some of the spectators described the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games tonight, which proved to be a dampener after the spectacular opening 12 days ago.

The opening extravaganza on October 3 had showcased thousands of years of Indian civilisation and culture and had swept away all the gloom that preceded the games marred by corruption, inefficiency, mismanagement and delays.

Ironically, the presentation by the Games' next host Scotland was probably the best part of the closing ceremony witnessed by a packed crowd of some 60,000 fans at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium. 'Vande Mataram' item presented by Delhi school children was was yet another highlight.

The glitzy Rs 44 crore worth aerostat that was the centre of attraction during the Opening Ceremony also remained dormant laying suspended 25 metres above the ground except for the occasional videos that were played on the 360 degree projection surface of the aerostat.

The only time that the world's largest helium balloon actually came alive in all its colours was when the 'golden moments' of the Games was played out and also when the Scots performed.

In stark contrast, during the Opening Ceremony, the aerostat had captivated everyone inside the stadium.

To add to the boredom, there were speeches galore, the longest by the Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi, who was roundly booed to start with.

He thanked all and sundry including Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, City Police Commissioner etc etc.

Top singers like Sukhwinder Singh, Sunidhi Chauhan, Kailash Kher, Usha Uthup, Shaan, Ila Arun, Shobha Mudgul, and Shankar Mahadevan lent a touch of Punjabi wedding ambience when they crooned some popular numbers.

Even the Army bands played stale tunes heard over the years at the traditional "Beating the Retreat" ceremony during the Republic Day celebrations.
CWG closing ceremony a big dampener

Comment
Will Kalmadi ever face an enquiry on the fraud committed on the Citizens of the Nation? His Pride as an Air Force Pilot is a National Disgrace.

Defence forces play their part in India's CWG success

The Times of India
Surender Negi, TNN, Oct 13, 2010, 03.47am IST

NEW DELHI: The Indian Army has silently played a key role in India's march towards its highest medal haul in the Commonwealth Games. Army's efforts are not just limited to building a collapsed bridge and helping the security for the Games - sportspersons from the forces are also winning medals for the nation.

Till Monday, sportspersons from the Army have accounted for seven gold, four silver and five bronze medals. Naval sports persons are also not far behind fetching five gold and a silver & bronze each with Suranjoy Singh still in contention for gold in 52kg category in boxing.

This performance by them can be traced back to 2001 when the Indian Army launched its Mission Olympics programme. The programme was envisioned by the Army to train talented and potential sportsmen in selected sports disciplines to excel with an overall aim to ensure a podium finish in the Olympics. Army's Mission Olympic Wings (MOW) has got five world class facilities across the country for round the clock training under experienced coaches in athletics, archery, boxing, weightlifting, wrestling, fencing, rowing and yatching.

"The Mission Olympics is designed to produce outstanding results in international competitions. Children in the age group of 14-16 are trained to excel in various Olympic sports. It is all about catching them young. Pick them when they are about 14 and train them for a good six years," Lt Gen Ramesh Halgali, Director General of Military Training said. "They are getting everything as far as upgradation is concerned - equipment, facilities and motivation," he added. Shooting, which has emerged the bedrock of India's biggest tally, has also accounted for majority of gold medals that the forces have won.

While Army has won six out of its seven gold medals through shooting, Navy has won three out of five. Vijay Kumar (army) and Omkar Singh (navy) have been the most successful shooters, each winning three gold and a silver.
Read more: Defence forces play their part in India's CWG success - The Times of India Defence forces play their part in India's CWG success

Indian Armed Forces win 22 Medals
A figure for your consideration and for feeling proud. Out of the 33 medals won by India in CWG till now Defence Forces have bagged 22, 16 by the Army and 6 by the Navy.
Brigadier PT Gangadharan, Guards, Veteran

India roar to track and hockey breakthroughs

India's Danish Mujtaba (L), captain Rajpal Singh (2nd L) and Vikram Vishnu Pillay celebrate after they won a penalty shootout against England during their men's field hockey semi-final match at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi October 12, 2010. Credit:Reuters/B Mathur By Nick Mulvenney
NEW DELHI | Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:09pm EDT
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Hosts India celebrated dramatic Commonwealth Games breakthroughs on the athletics track and hockey pitch on Tuesday with rapturous applause from their delighted home fans.

Last week low attendances threatened to join the long list of problems that have blighted the Games. But Indians have gradually embraced their first major multi-sport event in nearly three decades and on Tuesday they were in full voice.

A day after discus thrower Krishna Poonia won India's first athletics title in 52 years, some 55,000 fans roared the women's 4x400 metres relay team to an unlikely victory at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to end an equally long wait for a track gold.

"The crowd was amazing, their support gave us extra motivation," Ashwini Akkunji, who ran the third leg, told reporters. "At the same time, I could feel some pressure as well. They would have gone home really upset had we returned empty-handed tonight."

A packed house of nearly 20,000 had earlier shaken the rafters at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium as the men's hockey team came back from 3-1 down to beat England in a penalty shootout to reach the final and ensure a first medal in the national sport.

It was miserable day, though, for Nigeria with Osayemi Oludamola stripped of the women's 100 gold after her B sample confirmed a positive test for a banned stimulant and Samuel Okon, a sprint hurdler, also disqualified for the same offence.

Alana Boyd won the women's pole vault, which not only helped boost Australia's gold medal tally to 68 but also gave her a share of family bragging rights with her father Ray, the 1982 pole vault champion, and mother Denise, the 1978 200 champion.

Indian shooters Annu Raj Singh and Heena Sidhu won the women's 10 metres air pistol pairs to ensure the host nation a best Games gold medal tally with a 31st title in Delhi, beating the 30 the country won in Manchester in 2002.

The 32nd came completely unexpectedly in the women's 4x400 on the last night of athletics, Mandeep Kaur taking the baton home to clinch India's first track title since Milkha Singh's 440 yards gold at what was then the Empire and Comonwealth Games in Cardiff in 1958.

KENYAN CLASS
England grabbed thrilling victories in both 4x100 races to stay in the hunt for second place on the medal table with 30 golds, Mark Lewis-Francis producing a magnificent final leg of power and pace to overhaul Jamaica and clinch the men's title.

"It feels like it was some cricket match going on," Indian javelin thrower Kashinath Naik said of the crowd. "I hope the audience will support us in the same manner every time."

Oludamola was awarded gold in controversial circumstances when Australian Sally Pearson was disqualified for a false start three hours after crossing the line.

Natasha Mayers of St Vincent and the Grenadines, who crossed the line third in the blue riband sprint, will now be awarded the gold. Mayers herself served a two-year doping ban after testing positive for testosterone in 2005.

On a last night of athletics thrills, Kenyans again provided a touch of class with world leader Silas Kiplagat winning the 1,500 in three minutes 41.78 seconds and world champion Vivian Cheruiyot cruising to the womens' 5,000m in 15:55.12.

The Delhi athletics competition was seriously weakened by withdrawals of big names, some like world and Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt because of scheduling problems, others because of health or security concerns.

Poonia, who had expressed her hope that her discus gold on Monday would wipe away the problems of the games, lashed out at the latter.

"Security concerns are everywhere and India is a very big country. I did not like it when they blamed our country for withdrawing from the event," she said.

"We also love our life. They would have been our guests and we would have taken more care of them than ourselves."

Out at Delhi University, the New Zealand rugby sevens team, their bare torsos adorned only by their gold medals and a kaleidoscope of tattoos, performed a celebratory haka after beating Australia 24-17 to win a fourth successive gold medal.

Boxing takes center stage on the penultimate day of the Games on Wednesday with medals in diving, shooting and cycling also up for grabs
India roar to track and hockey breakthroughs

India creates history in athletics, Gold after 52 yrs

India created history by breaking the 52-year-old Commonwealth Games gold medal jinx with Krishna Poonia winning the yellow metal in women's discus throw to become the first woman from the country to win a Commowealth Games gold in New Delhi on Monday.

India swept the event with Harwant Kaur and national record holder Seema Antil also winning the silver and bronze respectively.

Poonia's gold, which she won by throwing the discus to 61.51m, was the first gold after 'Flying Sikh' Milkha Singh's 440 yard race gold in the 1958 edition of the Games in Cardiff, Wales.

Harwant came up with an effort of 60.61m, a tad below her season's best of 60.66m, while national record holder Seema Antil threw the discus to a distance of 58.46m. (BJ-12/10)
India creates history in athletics, Gold after 52 yrs

CWG: Opening Ceremony Video

CWG Opening ceremony begins with colour, music and a giant balloon



Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010 Live Streaming: Hindi: Link click here

CWG Grips the nation- The magic has commenced

03/10/2010
CWG fever grips India. Craze for opening ceremony says it all
New Delhi: Here is the timeline of the 19th Commonwealth Games opening ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here Sunday evening.

The organisers have been very tight-lipped about the details of the opening ceremony. All they have said till now is 'it will be a blockbuster opening ceremony'. MSN now gives you a sneak peak as to what you can expect in the big ceremony today. Here is the schedule of the opening ceremony.

19:00: Opening film showcasing India to world (duration 2 minutes)

19:02: Countdown (3 minutes and 55 seconds)

19:05:05: Rhythm of India (12 minutes and 34 seconds)

19:17:39: Swagatam (4 minutes and 40 seconds)

19:22:19: Arrival of dignitaries (11 minutes and 50 seconds)

19:25:19: National anthem and raising of Indian flag (2 minutes and 15 seconds)

19:27:34: Athletes' parade (50 minutes)

20:17:34: Dignitaries' speech (11 minutes and 30 second)

20:29.04: The final lap of baton carried by Abhinav Bindra (10 minutes)

20:39:04: Arrival of the Games flag (11 minutes and 50 seconds)

20:46:54: Athletes oath taking ceremony (5 minutes)

20:51:54: Tree of knowledge (11 minutes and 20 seconds)

21:03:14: Yoga (7 minutes and 30 seconds)

21:10:44: Great Indian journey (8 minutes and 30 seconds)

21:19:14: Celebrating India (7 minutes)

21:26:14: Grand finale (9 minutes)
(All times in IST)

Several people queued up outside the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to buy tickets for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony Sunday, even as the Organising Committee said all tickets for the gala event had been sold out.
There was a huge rush of people looking for tickets near the stadium's gate number 16, close to the Metro station.

Excitement amidst chaos and confusion
The excitement was palpable but there was chaos and confusion too at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on the opening day of the Commonwealth Games Sunday with hapless spectators and confused mediapersons asking around for directions and volunteers proving to be of little help.

A foreign media journalist along with his photographer, who were looking for the right entry for mediapersons, said better informed volunteers or banners giving proper directions would have made access easier.

Commencing at 7 p.m. the the inaugural ceremony will encapsulate 5,000 years of India's culture. Divided into six segments, it will feature some 7,000 performers.
Some 7,000 athletes from 71 countries will vie for 829 medals in 17 disciplines at the Games.
Source: IANS
CWG grips the Nation

CWG: Stop misusing the Army

THE INDIAN Army has once again been called in at the last second to replace the collapsed foot overbridge near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium constructed by the PWD. I leave it to the people of the country to form their own opinion on the commitment, pride, accountability and efficiency of the civil department and its masters in handing over to problem to the Army after being at it for well over a year.

Despite the Armed Forces being a 24 x 7, all weather and all problem response, why are soldiers being treated shabbily? Why is a soldier retired compulsorily at an early age without a suitable alternative career or being compensated for the overall loss of his lifetime earnings while every other government servant retires at an age of 60 or above? Doesn’t the government compensate government servants and employees of the Public Sector Undertakings by paying them a handsome compensation for a Voluntary Retirement Scheme? Even the lowly One Rank One Pension that can partially offset the loss of overall lifetime earnings is being denied.

Why? Doesn’t a soldier need as much finances to bring up his children and take care of his family as anyone else in the society? Talking of finances, the government has no problem providing Rs 70,000 crore for the botched up Commonwealth Games, Rs 80,000 crore for the loan waiver scheme for the farmers or to enhance the pay and allowances of the Parliamentarians.

The loss to the exchequer through illegal mining or scams which surface almost on a daily basis does not seem to be a cause of financial worry to the ruling class but when it comes to paying the soldier, they seem to have an inexplicable predicament.
Brigadier V Mahalingam ( Retired)
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