Security cover for CWG Games, Delhi 2010 on track

21 May 09

With close to 500 days left for the Commonwealth Games, Delhi 2010, all indications are that the security planning is going well ahead.

“India will go all out for the security arrangements for next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi,” said the organising committee chairman, Suresh Kalmadi.

Kalmadi said that the first task for the organisers would be to allay the security concerns of the participating countries. “The Games Village which is intended to provide a safe, secure and comfortable environment to the participating Athletes and Teams Officials is going to be the best Commonwealth Games Village so far. I am happy to note that the work at the Games Village is progressing very well and it is going according to schedule,” he added.

Kalmadi added that, “There would be a general assembly of all the Commonwealth countries, who would be meeting in Delhi in October this year. We would have to satisfy them about the security arrangements.”

"We have the Governor of Delhi, who is heading the security aspects. We also have the Commonwealth Federation sending us reports and we are also sending them monthly updates about the security, so it is one of the important aspects of the game,” he said.

Beijing Olympics-like security cover

"With security becoming an issue in the neighbouring countries, it is important for us to comfort them. We will put up a security cover on the lines of Beijing Olympics. We will put the best foot forward in October and make the right projection so as to satisfy the 71 countries who would be coming for the general assembly meeting," he said.

"We have to satisfy the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) on the security aspect and I am confident we can do that," he said.

"The CGF had sent a couple of delegates to check on the security," said Kalmadi. "They have given a report for us to follow up on," and he added that the CGF executive board were satisfied with the progress during a visit to New Delhi earlier this month.

India is looking at the October 3-14 Games next year to showcase their ability to stage major sporting events with an eye on hosting the Olympics by 2020.