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Media Release - 16th Octoberber 2009
Delhi 2010 go overboard to impress Commonwealth Delegates

Alan Cross, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Games Association of Jersey, has just returned from the Commonwealth Games Federation’s General Assembly held in New Delhi, the host city for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. He reports that delegates from 70 of the 71 Commonwealth Territories gathered last week at the Ashok Hotel, New Delhi for an intense 5 day programme of meetings and site visits to planned sports venues and the athlete’s village for the 19th Commonwealth Games which will take place between 3rd to 15th October 2010. The occasion was honoured by the presence of the CGF’s Vice Patron, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. Security was on full alert throughout the time of the visit with all official Games vehicles having armed police outriders and the Delhi traffic being brought to a standstill during the time of delegates’ movements around the City.
Cross reports that delegates were taken on a tour of visits to sport’s venues during the first two days of their stay and moved in brand new flat-floored coaches (each with its mandatory armed policeman on board) from one construction site to another. A lavish welcome and a detailed presentation awaited each visit and delegates were swamped with factual information on design and technological aspects of all of the state-of-the-art new buildings. Assurances were given that all construction work was on schedule and that acceptable completion dates would be met in good time for test events prior to the Games. Seasoned Games officials appeared happy to accept these assurances as there is undoubtedly no shortage of money and man power (plus equal numbers of female workers) being thrown at these grand facilities. For example the J.N. Stadium, a 60,000 seat venue for athletics events and for both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Games, although apparently on schedule for completion in June 2010, will continue to employ a round-the-clock 3 shift work force until work has been completed and the site handed over to the Organising Committee for the Games. The fear is that Delhi will then struggle to find the time to train their staff adequately to manage the operations of these facilities.
Accommodation for athletes will be provided in air conditioned apartments, all with en-suite twin-bedded bedrooms and communal kitchen and lounge areas, in 34 tower blocks set in grounds a short distance away from most of the sport’s venues. This site, which will provide 8000 beds for the Games will, post October 2010, become a new housing estate for Delhi residents but still retain training facilities for athletics, swimming, etc. The Delhi Organising Committee proudly boast that this will not only compare most favourably with the athletes’ village at the Beijing Olympics but that they will provide the best Commonwealth Games ever. Let’s hope that they are right and that all their promises (and there are so many of them) become reality.
Jersey will have the opportunity of a further update on their progress through more detailed reports following the visits of Paul Huddlestone and Paul Du Feu to Delhi in March of next year for a Chef de Missions’ Seminar.
The public of Jersey will have the chance to get their first taste of the Delhi Games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday 19th/20th/21st November 2009 when the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay comes to our shores. The Baton is due to be launched on its journey around the World by HRH The Queen from the steps of Buckingham Palace on Thursday 29th October 2009 and after a tour of the home countries will come to Jersey via the Isle of Man. Hopefully everybody will see the high-tech baton at some point during its time on the Island either as it visits all of Jersey’s schools and major sports’ venues or perhaps during the Friday lunchtime static display at the Royal Square.