In less than 14 months from now, the nation will host the XIX 2010 Commonwealth Games, its largest international multi-sport event since the Asian Games in 1982 The countdown has begun for the XIX 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG), scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India, from October 3 to 14, 2010, in which about 72 nations are planning to participate. Going by past records, when Delhi hosted the first Asian Games in 1951, followed by the 9th Asian Games in 1982, the forthcoming Games are speculated to have far-reaching consequences not just for the sports in the country, but also in the fields of economy, tourism, transport and culture.
The 2010 CWG is expected to give Indian sports the much-needed shot in the arm, similar to the impetus it had received after hosting the Asian Games in 1982 when it finished with an impressive 57-medal tally. When women's hockey debuted in the 1982 Asian Games, India had the distinction of winning the first gold medal. P.T. Usha's success saga also has its origins in the 1982 ASIAD in which she won two gold medals in the 100 meters and 200 meters.
Conducting a sporting event of the magnitude of the Commonwealth Games is undoubtedly a matter of great pride for the country and is seen as a great step forward in giving a fillip to India's image overseas. India is being hailed as the emerging world economic superpower and the Games can be the perfect showcase to present the country on the world stage. It will also be a good opportunity for Delhi to portray its grand heritage, juxtaposed with all the trappings of a truly global city with world-class amenities.
Among the many merits of hosting the Games would be the infrastructural, cultural and economic resurgence of Delhi. With the CWG, the landscape and skyline of the city are set to change forever. And the transformation is understandably going to be fairly drastic. In addition to the Metro construction, road infrastructure is being expanded in a big way with flyovers, cloverleaf flyovers and bridges to provide connectivity to the Games Village and other sports venues. Not just Delhi, states such as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are augmenting their infrastructure in keeping with the demands of the Games.
Sports lovers would remember that the 1982 ASIAD also brought about major socio-economic changes in India, when the color television was introduced in our country for the first time. This was the first time that the Games were broadcast in color on television. The Moolchand and Sewa Nagar flyovers, too, are bequests of the 1982 ASIAD Games.
However, the accent then was on providing for the bare necessities for the Games. The task of hosting the Games is far more challenging this time round. The stress is on optimization of the existing infrastructure with modernization that conforms to the highest international standards, besides speedy development of infrastructure such as the Metro, airport and road network projects.
The other offshoots of the CWG 2010 would be creation of new jobs, increased investments and a boom in the hospitality and tourism industry. According to official estimates, two million foreign tourists and 3.5 million domestic tourists are likely to arrive in Delhi in 2010 to witness the Games.
In order to cater to the tourist influx, the monuments and heritage buildings would be refurbished and the hitherto neglected areas of East Delhi will get a striking makeover. So, what the Games would essentially leave in its wake are unprecedented infrastructure and civic facilities for Delhites, besides opportunities for economic development and prosperity.
But the biggest boon of them all would be the trail of world-class sports facilities that the Games would leave behind, inspiring and enabling future generations of Indian sports persons to excel and create a glorious sports legacy that the nation can be proud of.
In the recent past, sportsmen such as ace shooter Abhinav Bindra, boxer Vijendra Kumar and wrestler Sushil Kumar, with their remarkable performances at the Beijing Olympics, have given their country the hope of a rich sports tradition and the upcoming Commonwealth Games would provide the perfect setting for the sportsmen to live up to the expectations of their countrymen.
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