Rousing welcome for Queen's Baton in New Delhi

After traversing 1,90,000 km across the world — 20,000 km of it through the Indian territory — the Queen's Baton Relay for the XIX Common wealth Games reached the host city here on Thursday afternoon.

Olympian and Dronacharya awardee Satpal Singh ran in with the gold-plated baton into the Organising Committee headquarters at Jantar Mantar and handed it over to Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna, who in turn passed it on to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi received the baton from Ms. Dikshit.Light-emitting diodes embedded on the baton lighted up in the pattern of the Indian tricolour.

Ms. Dikshit began her speech with a friendly dig at the OC chairman. “Our good friend Suresh Kalmadi needs a big bump and a big pat on his back,” she quipped, adding that all the agencies were trying their best to organise a good Games. “But only public participation can make them better.”

Malhotra wants President Patil to open CWG

Holding that inauguration of the Common wealth Games (CWG) by Prince Charles would amount to "violation of Indian Constitution", General Association of National Sports Federations chief Vijay Kumar Malhotra asked the government to ensure that President Pratibha Patil does the honour on Sunday.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manamohan Singh, Malhotra said President Patil should declare the Commonwealth Games open as she "has the supreme position in the protocol to be observed in any function in India".

He said President Patil should open the Games first and then Prince Charles can read out the Queen's message.

Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India begin this weekend

It's not exactly a homecoming for Ram Nayyar, but when the Canadian national coach for badminton arrives in Delhi this week for the Common wealth Games, he'll introduce his Canadian and Indian families to each other. Regardless of the mad dash to complete key venues such as the Athletes Village, he thinks the two will get along.

"I'm ethnically Indian, but that being the case, do I have a personal investment in the success of the Delhi Games? Not really," he said. "But it's still representative of my roots and if the Games go well, it's a positive."

Born in Chandigarh, the capital of both Punjab and Haryana provinces near Delhi in northern India, Nayyar immigrated to Edmonton as a young child with his parents.

Commonwealth Games 2010: Wales' Rob Partridge pulls out

Rob Partridge has joined fellow cyclist Geraint Thomas in withdrawing from the Wales team for the Common wealth Games.

"There was a lot of stuff raised in the media with the health and security risks," Partridge told BBC Sport Wales. "The Commonwealth Games will always be a big part of my career, that's why it was such a hard decision, but I have to think of my career first."

The 25-year-old from Wrexham, who raced at the 2006 Games, finished a fine eighth in the recent Tour of Britain.The Endura Racing man was due to compete in the men's road race and the time trial in Delhi. "The big issue is that road racers have to compete on the road and go out training on the road," said Partridge.

Shooting, Weightlifting and Wrestling; India's domination to continue in Delhi 2010

It is not surprising that shooting has won India medals in previous two editions of the Olympics, with Bindra winning the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore earning a silver in 2004 Olympics at Athens.

Favourites to win gold medals in the XIX Common wealth Games 2010 Delhi are defending champion in women's 58kg Renubala Chanu, K Ravi Kumar (men's 69 kg) and Soniya Chanu (women's 48kg). Melbourne silver-medallist L Monika Devi also make a comeback after her two-year ban for doping.

Meanwhile, experts have said that this time around, wrestling can spring up some surprises as it has a strong possibility of winning medals.Although wrestling has never been a consistent performer in the past editions of the Commonwealth Games, but it managed to win six medals in Melbourne Games, more than boxing.

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CWG 2010:Tourists stay away from New Delhi over security fears

Tourist numbers are down, the organising committee are having difficulty selling tickets, hoteliers are complaining of empty rooms.

The projected bonanza of 100,000 extra people in the city to celebrate the Common wealth Games has failed to materialise. Local tourist bodies say only about 10,000 people are in New Delhi because of the Games.

The athletes are virtually bunkered down at the athletes' village and their training venues with many countries having banned them from going outside the security-fenced area.

Everyone is on tenterhooks fearing that the 300 tonnes of explosives that went missing from a convoy of 61 trucks last month in India will be used to target the Games.

Commonwealth Games 2010: England's Bloomfield ruled out

Norfolk tennis player Richard Bloomfield has pulled out of the English Common wealth Games squad because of injury.The 27-year-old aggravated a back problem in a tournament in France earlier this month.

Josh Goodall, 24, has been named as Bloomfield's replacement for Delhi."I'm so disappointed to miss out on the Commonwealth Games. I was really looking forward to representing my country," said the British number five.

"I've been advised that my back injury will take another two or three weeks to heal, so the event has unfortunately come just that bit too soon."

Around 550 athletes and officials to arrived Delhi for CWG 2010

Around 550 athletes and officials are expected to arrive in Delhi to participate in the XIX Common wealth Games 2010 Delhi.

The largest contingent is from South Africa with 113 athletes and officials followed by Scotland with 77 athletes and officials arrived.Among the other large contingents arriving are those of England (61), Australia (59) and Canada (30).

Apart from these, officials and athletes from New Zealand, Wales, Namibia, Jamaica, Botswana, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Kiribati and others are also arrived.

World Wrestling Champion Sushil Kumar eyeing gold at Delhi 2010

XIX Common wealth Games 2010 Delhi’s Brand Ambassador Susheel Kumar, the new World Champion after winning a Gold Medal at the World Wrestling Championships (66 Kg Category) in Moscow, is eyeing for a Gold in the Games.

The first Indian to win a World Title, Kumar is now all set for the Delhi 2010. He is confident and believes that India can produce about 15 champions this time.

Sushil Kumar said, "Winning a gold medal at the World Championships is a huge achievement for me after the Beijing Olympic Games and before the Commonwealth Games. My next target is to win a gold medal in the Delhi Games."

For More Details:http://www.cwgdelhi2010.org/

Commonwealth Games 2010: England diver Peter Waterfield pulls out of New Delhi

The 29-year-old 10-metre platform specialist, who won Commonwealth gold in 2002 and silver in 2006 as well as a synchronising diving silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, said he had decided to withdraw from the Games out of duty to his family.

“I have attended two Common wealth Games and three Olympic Games in the past so I always knew that the living conditions would be basic, but I do not want to put myself at risk in Delhi,” he said.

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The Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi visits symbol of love, Taj Mahal

The Queen’s Baton 2010 Delhi visited the world renowned Taj Mahal. The monument is a jewel amongst the Seven Wonders of the World and also the pride of India. The Queen’s Baton for Common wealth Games 2010 Delhi was proudly taken around the Taj Mahal complex absorbing the beauty of the seventeenth century mausoleum.

Situated on the banks of Yamuna, Taj Mahal is an absolute blend of Persian, Islamic and Indian architecture. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, it is considered the perfect symbol of love. The team did not miss a photo opportunity at the colossal structure.

The Queen’s Baton 2010 Delhi was received by various dignitaries amongst large crowd of people. Here the Queen’s Baton Relay was flagged off. International grappler and Arjuna Awardee Mr.Mukhtiyar Singh became the first Batonbearer of the day.

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Australian swim team confident in security measures in Delhi: Huegill, Mitcham

Australia’s butterfly swimming star Geoff Huegill has said his team-mates and he were not considering pulling out of Common wealth Games 2010 Delhi. The 31-year-old said his fellow swimmers and he were confident in the security measures that would be in place for athletes.

“I'm actually quite excited to get over there to tell you the truth,” Huegill told the Australia Associated Press. “I haven't had a chance to go to India yet but when you speak to anyone that has been India, this is exactly what their culture and what their lifestyle is all about. It's all chaos, it's all excitement, it's all fun and it's all colourful.

Part of the Australian swim team's leadership group, Huegill said he understood world discus champion Dani Samuels' decision to withdraw from the Games due to concerns about safety.

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Commonwealth Games 2010: Shaw allays fear over Delhi

Lorraine Shaw, the 2002 Commonwealth hammer winner, thinks facilities in Delhi will be ready for the 2010 Games.

Shaw coaches the current British number one Zoe Derham and will also look after a group of English throwers in Delhi.

"Athletics are going to Doha first, so it gives an extra week or so for the accommodation to get up to standard."

15 teams complete DRM process

As many as 15 Commonwealth Games Federation member nations and territories have completed the Delegation Registration Meetings (DRM) for next month’s Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi.

Australia, Canada, Cook Island, England, Isle of Man, Jersey, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Uganda and Wales completed the process.Five nations – Trinidad & Tobago, Norfolk Island, St. Lucia, Cameron and Guernsey – will go through their DRMs.

Final entries are confirmed to the Organising Committee Common wealth Games 2010 Delhi by the CGF member nations and territories at the DRMs.

PIB Opens Media Center for Common Wealth Games 2010

Ambika Soni, the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, inaugurated the state-of-the-art Main Press Centre (MPC) and International Broadcast Centre (IBC) for Commonwealth Games 2010.

The MPC will be operational on 23rd September for the national and international Press.The largest Press Centre in the history of the Common wealth Games will have many world-class facilities for the visiting journalists.

The host of other facilities includes a 300-seat Press conference room and a Press Briefing Room which can accommodate about 100 people.

The centre will be run by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

Intense effort being made to address Village cleanliness issues

Organising Committee Common wealth Games 2010 Delhi has said that intense effort is being made to address all issues over the Games Village residential zone raised by Commonwealth Games Federation President Mr. Mike Fennell and by Commonwealth Games Associations of some nations and territories.

“We are aware of the concern show by some members who are here in connection with the participation in next month’s Commonwealth Games,” Organising Committee Secretary-General Dr. Lalit K Bhanot said at a media conference. “The situation is under control and we are confident that when the teams arrive on the evening of September 23, the residential wing will be clean.”

For More Details:http://www.cwgdelhi2010.org/

Lawn bowler Siti Zalina to be Malaysia's flag bearer during the Games Opening Ceremony

Renowned lawn bowler Siti Zalina Ahmad has been honoured with the role of flag bearer for Malaysia at the opening ceremony of the XIX Common wealth Games 2010 Delhi starting from 3 October 2010.

It is big honour for the veteran, who is eyeing to become the first Malaysian to win a hat-trick of gold medals in the Games.In fact, it is the first time that a lawn bowl athlete has been chosen to hoist the Jalur Gemilang at a major Games.

National Sports Council (NSC) director general Datuk Zolkples Embong confirmed that Zalina had been given the mandate to lead the Malaysian contingent in New Delhi.

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Emily Hurtz named in Hockeyroos' Commonwealth Games squad and inspires Campbelltown teammates

Women’s Hockey Association’s 2010 grand finals had an extra shine with confirmation former player Emily Hurtz had been named in the Hockeyroos’ Commonwealth Games line-up.

“It was great news,” association spokeswoman and 2006 Common wealth Games gold medallist Rebecca Sanders said.

Canada announce squash, rugby teams for Delhi CWG

Canada has named an eight-member squash team for next month's Commonwealth Games, which will be spearheaded by two-time men's national champion Shahier Razik and three-time women's national champion Alana Miller.

The squash competition at the Common wealth Games is one of the top events in the international calendar with leading nations such as England, Australia and New Zealand gunning for top honours.

Apart from Razik, the men's team will also have Shawn Delierre, who will be participating in his second Commonwealth Games, world number 78 Robin Clarke and 22-year-old Andrew McDougall.

Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi salutes Father of the Nation

The Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi on its journey across the country reached Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. This was one of the residences of Father of The Nation Mahatma Gandhi. This ashram is now a national monument due to its significance in the Indian independence movement.

The relay was flagged off from the historical Ashram. Tejas Bakre, Gujarat’s Chess Grandmaster led the relay. Junior Indian Tennis Federation players Vaidik Munshaw and Yagnesh Sharma also were proud Batonbearers.

For More info:http://www.cwgdelhi2010.org/

Games Village all set to host athletes from across the globe

Hundreds of media persons were taken on a guided tour of the Games Village to get a feel of the state-of-the-art facilities after it was soft-launched on the banks of the river Yamuna here on Thursday.

All the top officials of the Common wealth Games Organising Committee (OC) were present on the occasion, including chairman Suresh Kalmadi, CWG Federation (CGF) chief executive Mike Hooper, vice-chairman Randhir Singh and Secretary General Lalit Bhanot.

Even delegations from Australia, New Zealand, England and Wales were also present, some of whom have already started moving into the village from Thursday.

Torrid build-up but Indian cyclists upbeat about CWG chances

Their return to the Common wealth Games after a 32-year gap has been marred by a delay in procuring new equipment and dengue but Indian cyclists remain upbeat about their chances despite their medal hopes being slim at best against powerhouses such as Australia.

Janki Das was the first Indian cyclist, who took part in the 1938 Sydney Games, and the last time an Indian rider featured in the event was Avtar Singh Dogra in the 1978 Edmonton edition.

A 27-member is gearing up for the challenge that awaits them in the October 3 to 14 event against a strong field here but Cycling Federation of India are bullish about the host riders' chances despite the torrid build-up which saw two of the team members being laid low by dengue.

International cultural display in CWG

Common wealth Games 2010 will not be about sports only, it would also have other elements to make it more vibrant and colourful.One such component that would add more colour to the mega-event will be Australia's cultural representation at the Games.

RMIT Gallery in Melbourne in partnership with India's foremost craft and textile museum, the National Handicrafts and Handloom Museum, is going to organise an exhibition 'Power Cloths of the Commonwealth', which is scheduled to be held from September 25 to October 20.

Games' shopping festival to kick off on Sep 25 in Delhi

The Commonwealth Games Shopping Festival will commence Sep 25 across all main markets in Delhi.An initiative of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2010 Organising Committee and the Delhi Traders Association, the gala will be held till Oct 15.

"We are delighted to announce this shopping festival as part of the festive spirit that is set to engulf the city as part of the Common wealth Games Delhi 2010 (Oct 3-14). Our endeavour is to impart to every visitor an exciting and memorable experience during their stay in the city," CWG organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi said in a statement.

Indian Announces Venue-Specific Nowcasts Plans for Commonwealth Games 2010

The India’s weather office on Tuesday announced its plans for providing forecast venue-specific "nowcasts" that gives predictions upto six hours during Common wealth Games 2010.

A three-tier forecast system - very short range (nowcasts), short range and medium range - is being put in place by the India Meteorological Department for the sporting event which will be held in New Delhi between 3rd and 14th October.

CWG 2010: Finally, Nehru stadium puts its best foot forward

The Common wealth Games Organising Committee (OC), for the second consecutive day on Monday, took the media to visit the venues. This time around it was the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the lawn bowls greens. Though it kept raining all evening, things still looked under control at the JLN Stadium,which will host the opening and closing ceremonies and the main athletic events.

“It has been raining continuously since evening but we have covered the field areas and there is no damage to the infrastructure here. This proves that we are absolutely ready for the games,” said Lalit Bhanot, the OC secretary-general.

Kiwis may withdraw from CWG 2010 over security concerns

With less than 20 days left in the commencement of the Common wealth Games 2010 the Game still appears to be engulfed by controversy as the participating team from New Zealand still seems to be dissatisfied by the security preparation of India during the games and they have made it very clear on Monday, 13th September, that they may call themselves out of the gaming event.

The New Zealand Olympic committee said that it will wait for its chef-de-mission Dave Currie’s assessment after his 10-day visit to New Delhi before deciding on participation.”Jeopardizing the life of our athletes is mischievous” were the words of the Olympic committee president, Mike Stanley, of the Kiwis.

US issues travel advisory ahead of CWG 2010

After Australian authorities told its swimmers that they were free to fly back home if they felt unsafe after landing in India, the United States has now issued a special travel advisory cautioning its citizens on security concerns in Delhi just days ahead of the Common wealth Games 2010.
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All games works under cvc scanner

The Central Vigilance Commission is investigating almost everything related to the
common wealth games display boards to installation of air-conditioners. But, poor response from the project executing agencies is a probable reason for the slow progress of investigations.