All eyes are on the mega event in Delhi that would host the country’s biggest sporting event, the 19th Commonwealth Games, from October 3-14. This is a major sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games. The country is expecting nearly two million tourists to the national capital for the Games that include 10,000 athletes from 71 teams representing 54 Commonwealth member states.

The Indian Olympic Association, Commonwealth Games Organising Committee and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit are battling to get the games village and stadia ready on time despite the allegations of corruption. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has stepped in to ensure the completion of the stadiums and smooth holding of the games despite the rain god playing spoil sport. On the other hand, Home Minister P Chidambaram said that he would view the security situation around the sporting centres around the middle of September.

As a precautionary measure, in the event of cancellation of the sporting extravaganza, the CWG Organising Committee has sought a hefty insurance cover of Rs. 750 crore. A senior OC official said that for any reason due to the non-staging of the Games, which included terrorism or non-transmission of video signal to broadcasters an insurance cover proposal of Rs. 750 crore was under consideration.
 
With the Games set to take place in the first week of next month, authorities are being targeted for the unfinished infrastructure for the event. Some well-known sports personalities have backed out from participating at the Games due to various reasons.
Officials said that Rs. 500 crore insurance cover had been finalised for athletes, CWG staff and technical officials, spectators and volunteers during the Games.

As per the Commonwealth Games Federation guidelines, the officials have taken a Comprehensive General Liability insurance cover of Rs. 500 crore in case of any eventuality. The insurance would cover 9,000 people, including athletes, Games staff and officials. However, the venues or stadia are not included in the insurance.

Giving a break-up of the insurance cover, the official said that Rs. 25 lakh had been earmarked for personal accident category for athletes and accompanying officials, and Rs two lakh to Rs 10 lakh for sickness depending upon the individual level. The insurance cover for spectators and volunteers is Rs one lakh each.

Amidst fears of wet weather, the organisers have ordered rain gear to protect performers, athletes and spectators. Organising Committee General Secretary Lalit Bhanot said that they were not taking chances and a plastic poncho to people entering the stadium would take care of things.

He categorically stated that despite many failing to clear the doping test, the country’s chances of winning medals won’t be affected. Recently four Indian wrestlers failed to clear the doping test. He said that sportspersons are themselves responsible and not the IOA or any other governing federation for the sportspersons testing positive.
The official went on to add that it was impossible for the Sports Authority of India or any other federation to be with the sportspersons for all 24 hours, and monitor their day to day activities. The person found guilty is responsible for the issue, he said.
 
Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi promised that the games would be dope free and those found guilty would be suspended.
It may be recalled that Indian athletes have done well in the medal tally of the CWG, but unfortunately they have yet to win a medal in eight disciplines from the 17 events.

Since the inauguration of the games at Hamilton in 1930, the country has bagged 271 medals with support from shooters and weightlifters. India, ranked fifth in the all-time CWG medals tally, and won 71 medals, including 38 gold, in shooting. In weightlifting, the country has won 93 medals, including 33 gold. By winning medals, the athletes have set 15 Games records in shooting and 20 in weightlifting.

India is planning to take a place on the podium in Aquatics (swimming, diving), Archery, Cycling, Gymnastics, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby Sevens and Squash as they would be playing on the familiar turf.

With India yet to open an account in swimming, Australia leads with 557 medals. National swimming coach Nihar Ameen, who is currently training a 26-member contingent for the Games, said that Australia has multi-million dollar programmes for its swimmers, while in the country one is fighting for resources. According to experts, the poor performance of sportsmen is due to lack of proper training. They are of the opinion that India does not invest much money in the training programmes of the athletes like other countries.

India's medal chances in cycling are slim after two participants have been detected with dengue. Amar Singh, Director Administration of Cycling contingent, said that the standard of competition was very high, as there were world champions from other countries taking part. He lamented that the cyclists were yet to receive equipment with not even a month left for the games to begin.

Speaking on the likely reasons for Indian athletes not doing well, former hockey player Viren Rasquinha said that they lacked fitness. He said endurance and speed are decisive in sports. Quoting an example, the player said that Indian shooters, boxers, weightlifters, have done well in physical sports where power element is balanced because of weight-wise categories unlike swimming or cycling.

Interesting Facts

• Seventy-one teams from 53 C’wealth nations are taking part in the mega event set to kick off on Oct 3.

• Four home nations of UK – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – are sending separate teams, while individual teams from British Crown dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man are coming.

• The Australian external territory of Norfolk Island, Cook Islands and Niue, two states in free association with New Zealand, are also sending their own teams.

• Australia is sending a large contingent comprising of 600 athletes and officials, while Scotland has said that 191 athletes would take part in the Games.

• Among the participating countries 10 are in Europe, 13 in Oceania, 15 in the Caribbean, eight in Asia, six in the Americas and 19 in Africa.
• The Commonwealth Games Federation would honour late David Dixon who served the organization for 17 years as the honorary secretary. The award would be presented to an outstanding athlete for his performance, fair play and overall contribution to the team’s participation.

• In 2002, South Africa’s Natalie du Toit, a disabled athlete who bagged four swimming gold medals won the Dixon award, while in 2006, Indian shooter Samaresh Jung won for his contribution to winning two individual golds in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol and Men’s 50m Pistol, as well as three team golds, one team silver, and one individual bronze. He also set three new Games records.

• In 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, for the first time team games like cricket (50 overs game), hockey (men and women), netball (women) and rugby 7’s (men) were introduced.

• From 2014, hockey (men and women), netball (women) and rugby 7’s (men) would be obligatory sports on the CGF sports programme.

 
• This year for the first time, tennis has been included in the Commonwealth Games and Archery is returning after a gap of 28 years.