Commonwealth Games Federation satisfied with Delhis 2010 preparations

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said on Wednesday that it is satisfied with the progress of preparations for the 2010 New Delhi Games.

New Delhi, May 16 : The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said on Wednesday that it is satisfied with the progress of preparations for the 2010 New Delhi Games.

The coordination committee of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) took stock of the preparations, during a three-day meet with the Indian organizers here.

"The framework which was presented to us was very sound and we are confident that it will lead to an effective staging and hosting of the 19th games," Austin Sealy, Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Coordination Commission told reporters after the meeting.

He acknowledged the organising committee and other stakeholders of the games of having met a number of targets.

"In saying that there are some areas of concern and bearing in mind that we have three and half years to go, we made it clear to the organizing committee that the contracting of experts and suppliers need to be now given highest priority. The Organizing Committee will no doubt make sure that they build a team of events professionals and local staff to deliver the games," Sealy said.

India's sprawling city of New Delhi was chosen as a venue to stage the 2010 Games in 2003 in preference to a bid from Hamilton in Canada.

Sealy also asked the Indian athletes to raise their quality of performance as the host team of the games.

"We have reminded the organising committee that it is of paramount importance for India to have a strong presence at the games and to that extent team preparation for India is an important as is the planning for the games," he said.

The Games will be staged in India for the first time and in Asia for only the second time. Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, held the Commonwealth games in 1998.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games will be India's first big organisation of international sports event since the 1982 Asian Games. New Delhi hosted the inaugural Asian Games in 1951 and again in 1982.

ANI