Delhi and the 2010 Commonwealth Games

World Class Sport to Bring Economic & Tourist Boom to Indian Capital

Sep 20, 2009

As India prepares to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Delhi is fast improving its infrastructure to accommodate world class sport and benefit tourism in the long term.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games were launched in traditional fashion on the 3rd of March 2009. The Queen’s relay baton was unveiled at India Gate among great public celebrations, marking the start of its long journey between participating nations. On the 3rd of October 2010, it will return to Delhi where the enclosed royal message will be read and the games will begin. The Delhi baton is made of aluminum with multicoloured layers of soil from every corner of the land.

In the meantime, India’s capital is in the throes of an unprecedented economic boom bringing its infrastructure up to date.

Economic Boom in Indian Capital, Games and Tourism

The 2010 Commonwealth Games should be a major boost for Delhi. Labour is cheap and plentiful, foreign investors have moved in and despite a few hiccups, work appears to be moving at a frantic pace.

Most apparent are improvements to the transport system with flyovers, underpasses, multi-lane roads and high capacity bus corridors. Efforts to combat pollution continue with more taxis and buses running on natural gas. Meanwhile Delhi boasts new trains and buildings in the Cantonment Station, the Metro is fast expanding to become the world’s second longest and the modernised Indira Gandhi Airport will have a new runway and terminal.

Add increased energy and water supplies, thousands of extra hotel rooms and a green village to house over 8000 athletes and officials and Delhi seems all set for world class sport and a major boost in tourism. Over five million visitors from India and abroad are expected in the capital as a result of the games.

India will be hosting the Commonwealth Games for the first time and is only the second Asian country to do so, after Malaysia. Delhi won the vote by a sizeable majority against Hamilton in Canada where the first games were held in 1930.

There are currently 72 nations planning to attend the 19th Commonwealth Games in Delhi and 17 disciplines from Aquatics and Wrestling to Hockey, Gymnastics and Ahtletics. Triathlon, basketball and cricket are still in the balance but a demonstration of Kabaddi, a Tamil Nadu team sport, is likely to be included.

India hopes to beat its 2002 record of 138 medals, including 30 gold. Indian gold medals in 2006 went to boxing, shooting, table tennis and women’s weightlifting.

The 2010 Commonwealth games will be held in a number of venues across Delhi, including the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium Complex, the Siri Fort Sports Complex and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies will take place, on October 3rd and 14th respectively.

Tickets are available on a number of websites but it is advisable to book through a reputable tour operator or agent. Visit the games official site www.cwgdelhi2010.com for the latest news and for general information on India, see www.incredibleindia.org.

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