By IANS
New Delhi : The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has approved the competition schedule of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi said here Thursday.
“The competition schedule for both the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune next year and the 2010 Delhi games has been approved by the CGF in its general assembly,” Kalmadi announced at a press conference here.
The approval for Oct 3-14 games came in the general assembly meeting held in Colombo.
While expressing satisfaction over the progress of the construction work of the stadiums in Delhi, Kalmadi said the preparations of the games are on schedule.
He, however, said that the organising committee was facing some opposition for the proposed underground tunnel from the Games Village on the Delhi-NOIDA border to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which is a few kilometres away.
“The time has come for us to get into action. The construction work of a few stadiums has already started and the rest will start in a couple of months,” he said.
“The DUAC [Delhi Urban Arts Commission] has accorded for the construction of the Games Village, but the underground tunnel has met with some opposition. We are working out alternative ways to solve this problem.”
Kalmadi also said that hotel accommodation for the tourists still remains a big problem for the organisers as huge numbers of foreigners are expected to hit the capital during the 15-day event.
Kalmadi, who at every given opportunity has been expressing his displeasure over the “lack of budget”, Thursday seemed to be happy with the government’s first instalment of Rs. 6.60 billion for training of athletes.
“I am happy that the [sports] ministry has realised the need and has allocated the money. It is the first instalment and we have accepted it, but we will sit again and discuss on the issue,” he said.
The government has allocated a total budget of Rs. 10 billion.
Kalmadi also said that the money spent by the government on the games’ organisation would be on a no-cost-to-government basis and that they are taking the amount as a loan which they would pay back.