WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Athletes' Village at Commonwealth Games, Delhi, India (OK)

Not one picture, but 13...

Games due to start 3 October 2010

Courtesy of : BBC Sport, 23 September 2010

Commonwealth Games Is A Web Of Corruption: Aslam Sher Khan

Commonwealth Games 2010 (New Delhi)
Commonwealth Games Is A Web Of Corruption: Aslam Sher Khan

By ONE Liners Agency

INDIA NEWS – Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2010 (New Delhi) can’t even escape the wrath of former players. In a recent expulsion, former Hockey Olympian Aslam Sher Khan has accused Commonwealth organizers for corruption. While talking to journalists he said the game was surrounded by corruption. He intensified his statement by declaring it a record breaking Commonwealth Games corruption has ever been witnessed by the world. He also accused the baton in England.

"I have been told that Rs. 28,000 crore has been spent on the games, and I feel that this was a colossal waste and nothing else," he added.

He lamented that the government had spent a huge lump sum of 280 billion rupees for the Games when the aspiring athletes are looking at government with parched hope. He said even the basic facilities were not provided for the players, be it on or off the field.

He said it was a wrong priority of the Government of India to organize such corrupt event, whereas one balloon was hired for two hours for 40 crores rupees. On the other hand budding players are dying of want of a little help from the government.

He also strongly condemned Union Sports Minister M S Gill for asking wrestling coach Satpal to stand aside in a photo session with World Championship gold-medalist winner Sushil Kumar in New Delhi.

"Maybe Gill wanted to show to the world that he was to be credited for the medal won by Sushil Kumar and Satpal had nothing to do with it," Aslam said.

The Commonwealth Games 2010 will be India’s grandest sporting extravaganza since the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi. India is expecting about two million visitors and 10,000 athletes from 71 teams of Commonwealth Nations. CWG New Delhi will start from October 3 and end on 14 of same month.

53 Commonwealth Countries, 71 Teams: Interesting Facts About 19th CWG

By BOB Goswami

NEW DELHI - The much waited 19th Commonwealth is always in news for all wrong reasons. The sporting jamboree will start from October 3 and probably end 14th of the same month. There are 53 Commonwealth countries and the interesting fact is 71 teams are participating in this mega sporting event.

The reason behind this awkward figure is that countries are not participating but games associations. There are some countries, which have more than one Commonwealth Games Association (CGA).

For example, United Kingdom has four teams – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Apart from that individual teams under CGA Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man. However, in Olympic Games a combined “Great Britain” represents all four nations and crown dependencies.

The Australian external territory of Norfolk Island and the Cook Islands and Niue, the two states in free association with New Zealand sends their team.

Some interesting facts about Commonwealth Games

1. The combined population of Commonwealth countries holds 30 percent of world population, which is about 2.1 billion. The half 1.2 billion is in India!

2. In the year 1930, the first Commonwealth Games were held in Hamilton in Ontario, Canada.

3. There are 10 nations from Europe, 13 from Oceania, 15 in the Caribbean, eight in Asia, six in the Americas and 19 in Africa.

4. 19th Commonwealth Games will see tennis for the first time.

5. An award to honor late David Dixon who served 17 years in the capacity of honorary secretary will be given to an exceptional athlete at the Games.

Australian Swimmer Stephanie Rice Misses Commonwealth Games

Swimmer Stephanie Rice

Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010 will not see the swimmer Stephanie Rice as she gives Delhi games a miss due to a fatal injury. The Olympic gold medalist has been suffering from a problem in her right shoulder and need to undergo a surgery. The injury is continuing since March 2010 and she is compelled to leave CWG 2010.

The 22 years old ace swimmer has also been left from the Pan Pacific Championship in California. However, her coach is optimistic that she will be fully prepared before 2012 London Olympics.

“It’s very disappointing, the Melbourne Commonwealth Games was a fantastic event to be part of, and for me personally, and I was really looking forward to the colour and excitement of Delhi,” an emotional Rice told the Swimming Australia website.

Rice lamented that she was disappointed not to participate at the Pan Pacific Championship and missing Commonwealth would be indeed a painful moment for her.

However, she assured that she would return back with 100 percent after proper rest. said the Beijing gold medalist in the 200 and 400m individual medley, and 4x200m freestyle relay.

She is not the only ace player who has withdrawn from CWG 2010. Earlier, tennis star, Samantha Stosur, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and Jessica Ennis had ruled out their participation from games.

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Commonwealth Games Corruption Tarnishes India's Olympic Bid

Commonwealth Games Corruption Tarnishes India's Olympic Bid

India - In a recent past, three senior committee members of Commonwealth Games who have been charged of corruption were suspended. Owing to high level corruption allegation and ill management, the chairman of the committee, Suresh Kalmadi is now in a troubled water. However, he has refused to leave the position and said Commonwealth Games is "his baby".

There are many charges against the committee members such as prejudiced against particular company for contracts. Allegations for staging of the Queens Baton Relay Launch in London last year. It has been reported that one of the executive's son got the contract to lay the tennis surface.

Bombardment with allegations, Mr. Kalmadi is still adamant to admit his failure to manage things right.

“I’m not quitting, there is no question of quitting, I cannot afford to do that.

"The Commonwealth Games is my baby,” said Kalmadi, a politician with the ruling Congress party and president of the Indian Olympic Association.

The ill-management and crappy impression of India hosting the Games will surely destroy all chances of proposed Olympic bid.

The Indian government was expecting a successful Games to set their cards ready for 2020 Olympics bidding. Nevertheless, the Commonwealth fiasco has left no asking for government except shame and disgrace.