Minor Delays in CWG Projects, will Completed on Time

The chief organizer of New Delhi's 2010 Commonwealth Games told that there were minor delays in construction of two venues but promised to have all infrastructure ready six months ahead of the event.

Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the Commonwealth games Organizing Committee, said brisk construction work had made up for the slow start in erecting infrastructure for the biggest sporting competition to be staged in India since the 1982 Asian Games.

"It took us a while to procure mandatory approval for some infrastructure projects. That led to a delayed start, but we have now managed to catch up and most venues will be ready a year ahead of the Commonwealth Games," Kalmadi told reporters.

The Commonwealth Games, a multi-sports event bringing together athletes from 71 nations and territories that formerly comprised the British Empire, are scheduled for Oct. 3-14.

"Most of the infrastructure will be ready in November this year. But there's some catching up to do at the rugby and cycling venues," said Kalmadi. "These two will need another three months and we're expecting these to be handed over to the Organizing Committee by March next year."

Kalmadi said the Commonwealth Games Federation's (CGF) executive board expressed satisfaction with the progress during its recent visit to New Delhi a week ago.

"The CGF executive inspected the venues and expressed satisfaction with the way the infrastructure was coming up, they were also briefed about various organizational aspects," Kalmadi said during his inspection visit to the under-construction athletes village.

"We need to maintain the momentum, and the organizing committee will keep monitoring the execution of infrastructure contracts.

New Delhi was chosen to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games after several failed bids, becoming only the second Asian city to be allocated the event. Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur was the host in 1998.