CWG 2010- Casually Wasted Games

- Seventh largest country in the world.
- Fastest growing economy after China.
- Hosting the third biggest sporting event in the world.
- Seven years of preparation.
- Rs. 77,000 crore(770 billion) expenditure(so far).

Yes, dont be amazed, it is Rs. 77,000 crore and counting. And the facts that we are talking about is Delhi hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

When Delhi won the bid to host the games for the first time, it was a moment of pride and joy among the people."We will be hosting the Commonwealth Games,can you believe it?",was the reaction in many of us. Yes,we are.Being one of the fastest growing economy,we have the guts and power to host such a big event.Even Beijing has already hosted the Olympics successfully,why cannot we host the Commonwealth?We had a long seven years to prepare for the games.7 years!I have to agree that we had to start right from the scratch because we entirely lacked in infrastructure and equipments.


Now, these seven years have passed and we got a mere 8 days for the mega event to start.And I guess, what is the level of satisfaction over the preparedness of the event among the people and the authority?Each day,several new disturbing issues are emerging about the way the preparations have been so far.

Few days ago, a new row of corruption was busted on the misuse of the money allotted for the games.And the way the bills were stated were horrifying but equally amazing. For example, a general first-aid kit which would have cost some Rs.50 in the market, was bought for Rs.150. Some equipments which costs in thousands, were imported in the terms of lacs(not lakh)!! I guess, this is why, this edition of CWG is the costliest in the history of the games.


Recently a foot bridge(which was mean for top officials and athletes,but denied by CM Shiela Dixit) crashed down unexpectedly injuring some 27 workers. The next day, a false ceiling fell off in the weight-lifting arena(thankfully not injuring anybody). The point is that, Rs.77,000 crore already spent, but why these faulty, low quality infrastructures?


The security is also being questioned again and again resulting in many top athletes withdrawing from the event. The security is so thin that an Australian news crew walked into the main arena with a bomb detonation kit without being noticed. They filmed the whole footage, and now the world knows our potential in upholding security.

The biggest attraction, according to many, is the 'Games Village' that is being built for the athletes and officials for their accommodation. Again, most of the allotted amount is being spent on this village(or 'villas'). But still, participating nations like New Zealand, Canada, Scotland and Ireland are not satisfied with the facilities there. Especially, bathrooms and toilets are either dirty or not functioning properly. In some unlocked flats, even laborers had defecated. They are "unlivable" and "literally crappy". The work is still going on and it will take weeks to complete with only 8 days to go. And you call this 'village' your 'showpiece', Mr. Kalmadi??


These events have shrunk the entire nation with the ocean of shame. And with the entire world keenly watching us(Even France, a non-Commonwealth nation, has published articles about India's situation in its newspapers), thing have become more and more worse.


If we were not prepared for organizing such a big event, then why did we bid for it in the very first place? We could have waited for some more years to host it rather than being blamed and being shamed for such irresponsibility. Moreover, Rs.77,000 crore have been spent. The amount could have been used building thousands of miles of road,could have been used in the education,food,etc,etc for lacs of poor people in the country.


It is now just a matter of time that we will be able to know the real consequences, and that will be only after the end of the games. Till then, lets hope that India will hold up to its pride and dignity among its fellow nations and work out the situation.