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.
