Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games

The 2010 Commonwealth Games is the nineteenth Commonwealth Games, and the ninth to be held under that name. The Games are being held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010, the largest multi-sport event conducted to date in Delhi and India, which hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. The opening ceremony is taking place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main stadium of the event. This marks the first time the Commonwealth Games have been held in India and the second time the event has been held in Asia (after the 1998 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).

The preparations for the games received criticism in news media due to issues including bad weather, infrastructural compromise, preparation delays (in particular, that of the Games Village[1][2]), the withdrawal of prominent athletes,[3] and allegations of widespread corruption.[4] However no nations have withdrawn and the games have not been postponed.

Bidding
The two principal bids for the 2010 Commonwealth Games were from Delhi, India and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. A ballot of members was held in November 2003 at the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Delhi bid won by a margin of 46 votes to 22, confirming India's first successful bid for the Games. The bid was Canada's attempt to hold the games for the fifth time.[5][6][7] India's bid motto was New Frontiers and Friendships.[8]

India shifted the balance in its favour in the second round of voting with a promise that it would provide US$100,000 to each participating country, along with air tickets, boarding, lodging and transport.[9] The successful 2003 Afro-Asian Games held in Hyderabad was also seen as having showed India has the resources, infrastructure and technical know-how to stage a big sporting event. India also thanked Latif Butt, former vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia, for his support in the winning bid, by saying, "You played a vital role in the Commonwealth Games 2010 being allotted to India. Such actions are worthy of emulation by all concerned in Pakistan and India. I have no doubt that if both sides continue to live by such ideals, one day, sooner than later our generations to come will reap the benefits of and be grateful to those making such contributions. You would certainly be such person."[8] The Indian government stated that it would underwrite the total cost of the Games