We may continue to crib and curse until the first bugle is sounded and there is no guarantee that the moaning will stop once the Games are on because it is the intention of some to see that Delhi 2010 does not succeed. A strong statement this but it is true.

See the train of events since the CWG was allotted to India seven years ago. Suresh Kalmadi, the IOA chief, had done enough spadework to enable India's bid to be successful. At that time, it looked it would not come to east again. India's bid was the best. Kalmadi drew big plans to live upto it. What did go wrong then to make the working less than smooth? The commonest Indian trait of lethargy crept in and then came the unexpected clash of egos. The pride of hosting the biggest Commonwealth Games ever was lost in the battle of one-up-manship. There emerged far too many power centers and the members of the Commonwealth Games Federation, especially the chairman and the CEO made frequent visits to India in the last three years and turned too demanding. They started finding faults with several projects connected with the Games and this only added to the delays.

No one is denying that some of the agents and contractors, whom Kalmadi trusted turned out to be shady in their deals. Several controversies were blown out of proportion and for the mess that followed; Kalmadi was made the ultimate scapegoat, Things have now settled down and it would be in everyone's interest to see that the Games run smoothly. From what I have seen, all the venues that have been built are world class. Besides, the other infrastructures are in keeping with the high standard. The cycling velodrome is such a marvel that the world body chief went ga-ga over it and asked for all the designs and a complete videography done of the stadium and the tracks, not to mention the revolving seats for each spectator. He said that he would recommend similar structure for future Olympics. And this is just one of the things. Yes, there will still be many critics after the Games, but they ought to pause and think of the huge and rich legacy that it will leave behind in terms of multi-games structures and facilities for the Indians, who have always craved for the same. The status of the country's capital too will go up, what with a most modern airport, posh underground railway and several new roads and flyovers.