Canadian swimmer returns from Commonwealth Games with dengue fever

Canadian swimmer Annamay Pierse has confirmed she contracted dengue fever at the Common wealth Games in New Delhi earlier this month."It was confirmed today that the disease incurred following my return from the Common wealth Games in India was in fact dengue fever," Pierse said Friday in a statement. "I'm thankful for all of the continued help offered from our medical team and I'm confident that I will recover quickly."

Pierse and her doctors had been awaiting test results to confirm the diagnosis after she came down with symptoms that are reliable with dengue. Those symptoms include a high fever, bone and joint pain, rash and fatigue. Stagnant water left over from heavy monsoons helped contribute to one of the worst dengue outbreaks in New Delhi in four years.More than 3,400 cases were reported and at least seven people died from the disease, which is contracted through mosquito bites.

Pierse said she hopes to be recovered in time for the world short-course championships in December in Dubai."I look forward to being there with my teammates, full form, as a strong competitor," Pierse said. The 26-year-old Edmonton native who now lives in Vancouver is the world record holder in the 200-metre breaststroke. She finished fifth in the event at the Games. The news comes a day after Navin Prasad, the chief medical officer for the Canadian team at the Games, confirmed that another athlete has come down with typhoid fever.

Archers eye three medals in Asian Games

Indian archers were eager to strike three medals in the Asian Games, but were getting a bit tired by the plethora of felicitations after their success at the Common wealth Games.While Rahul Banerjee, who got an individual gold and team bronze in Delhi 2010, said that archers were aiming at three medals at Guangzhou event, which would be tough in the presence of world champions Korea.

Cold and windy weather condition will also be a challenge for the Indians, the trio of Dola Banerjee, Rahul and Deepika Kumari had a common opinion. They feel that they were getting distracted by the felicitation programmes and promotional events after their Delhi success.
Deepika, who made a golden double in Delhi, was felicitated by an NGO at the Sports Authority of India Eastern Centre today.

"Every day I'm getting felicitated by various organizations, which is hindering my regular practice and routine. The Asiad will be really tough and I'm practising hard," Deepika said.
The brother-sister duo of Dola and Rahul were felicitated yesterday by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the third after the Games."There is hardly any time left for the Asian Games. We have to attend the felicitation programmes in the middle of practice," double Olympian Dola, who got a team gold and individual bronze in Delhi, said.

CWG Corruption: Enforcement directorate digs deeper and deeper into the OC officials

The Common wealth games corruption racket took another interesting turn when V K Verma the director general of the committee came in front of enforcement directorate this Wednesday for certain questioning procedures in connection to the hue and cry over corruption in the games. The directorate inquiring matters into the allegations of economic and corruption irregularities in London at the famous queen’s baton Relay organized last year.

According to the sources, the director general came at 11.15 am to the office of ED and when he came to the office he had all the relevant and required papers which were used for the contract given to A M Films which is a UK firm for the QBR.The sources further added that the official will also be asked to explain all the main monetary trade transactions and the important contract details.

Earlier the enforcement Directorate had registered a strong case under the charges based on Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) on this important matter. The electorate directorate has been very active in finding out even the minutest details and therefore even questioned T.S dardbari who was the joint director and also a very close ally of Suresh Kalmadi who was the chairman of the organizing committee for the commonwealth games 2010 Delhi.

This investigation was triggered by the information of the British authorities to the authorities at the Indian high commission which said that an infamous firm recognized as AM films just got a huge amount in their account which was done through the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Railways honours Commonwealth Games medalists

Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee made an emotional request to make a new policy for Railway sportspersons and coaches to do away with “technical” glitches that denied cash rewards and promotions to deserving performers.

While presenting cash rewards to the Common wealth Games medallists employed with the Railways, she not only announced out-of-turn promotion to the medal winners and their coaches but also wanted a commitment from the Railway Ministry and Railway Board members present at the function to ensure that these promotions are given without any delay.

“I don't want even a day's delay,” she said as she took up the case of World champion and Olympic bronze-winning wrestler Sushil Kumar.Sushil, promoted to assistant commercial manager after winning the World title a couple of months ago, has now been made the divisional commercial manager following his Commonwealth Games gold.

The Minister asked senior officials from the Ministry why Sushil could not be promoted as the senior divisional commercial manager. She also asked why Sushil's coach too was not given any promotion.

ED questions CWG OC Director General in connection with QBR

Common wealth Games Organizing Committee Director General V.K. Verma on Wednesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate here for questioning in relation with its probe into alleged financial irregularities in the Queen’s Baton Relay in London last year. Official sources said Mr. Verma came to ED office at 11.15 AM and brought related papers associated to the contract given to a UK firm, A M Films, for QBR.

They said the official will be asked to explain all monetary transaction and contract details. The ED has registered a case under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) in this regard. Earlier, ED had questioned suspended Joint Director General T.S. Darbari, a close aide of OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi, in this regard.

British authorities had referred to the Indian High Commission a matter regarding A M Films, a little-known London-based company, to which a huge sum of money was transferred through the Royal Bank of Scotland around three months back. The establishment in London have already begun a probe into the dealings of the firm.

The Organizing Committee had suspended Darbari, Deputy Director General Sanjay Mohindroo and Joint Director General (Accounts and Finance) M Jaychandran on August 5 for their alleged role in the Queen’s Baton Relay in London.

Govt until now to decide CWG probe panel members

The construction and the exact mandate of the high-level committee set up to probe the alleged financial irregularities related to the conduct of the Common wealth Games 2010 (CWG) remain unclear even a week after the setting up of the panel was announced. While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared that the committee would be headed by former comptroller and auditor general (CAG) V K Shunglu, there was no mention of the other panel members.

Official sources said the terms of reference were still awaited. They were also not clear about the other members who could be asked to join the panel. The Shunglu committee will be the latest to join the half-a-dozen premier inquiry agencies that will look into the allegations related to the conduct of CWG. Apex auditor CAG has already started auditing the accounts of various organizations that conducted the Games.

Governnent officials said CAG would have done this audit even in the normal course, but the process had been accelerated in order to compile a report within three months. The Central Vigilance Commission and the Enforcement Directorate of the finance ministry are also looking into the various financial transactions that happened in connection with the CWG. The Central Bureau of Investigation is another apex government organization that will conduct a probe into the matter.

CWG mess: Tainted Lalli deflects blame

National Broadcaster Prasar Bharti Chief BS Lalli, who is facing allegations of favouring a dubious 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games broadcast deal with SIS Live, on Monday ducked direct questions and deflected blame nearby corruption that has covered the deal.

Giving a clean chit to SIS Live deal, which executed Rs 246 crore contract for broadcasting the rights of Common wealth Games, Lalli said that the selection of the company was made with the approval of Information and Broadcast ministry and that there was no change made in any clause after the final contract was permitted by the capable authorities.

Fresh papers with Times Now proved that Lalli ignored important advice on changing the broadcast contract with SIS Live. According to documents accessed by Times Now, there was a change in the termination clause after it was awarded to the benefit private party. It remained unclear as to why BS Lalli defied the advice of the finance department.

After the modify was made in the contract after UK-based SIS Live endangered the government of India at the last instant. The change in the contract reportedly allowed SIS Live to keep equipment even if it walked out of its obligations. The clause also ensured that 60 percent advance payment will be made ahead of the Games, instead of 40 percent mentioned before.