NEW DELHI – A year after Delhi hosted the Commonwealth nations for one of the biggest international sports events, the facilities created across the city remain in a shambles.
With most of the key organisers of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) – now suspended officials of the organising committee (OC) – languishing in jail for various scams related to the preparation for the Games, the state of various venues meant to organise different events tell the tale of real stories behind their creation.
Even though India could manage second position in the overall medals tally, shoddy preparations earned bad reputation to the country because of charges of corruption against the then OC officials and their associates as well as excessive delay in getting these facilities ready.
One of the worst among the facilities created was a foot over-bridge near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium , which was the main venue for the Games, held from October 3 to 14. Just 12 days before the start of the Games, the pedestrian bridge near the stadium collapsed. The army built a temporary bridge in its place, which has now been dismantled, leaving behind the hulk of the collapsed bridge, pavement from which expensive tiles have been scooped out by thieves and heaps of concrete debris. Motorists taking the road to the stadium were earlier greeted by a smiling Shera, the mascot, during the Games. Since the event ended, Shera has been battered a hundred times by vandals.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was the showpiece venue and hosted the opening and closing ceremonies. For the Games, the stadium was given a Rs 961crore makeover. So spectacular was the opening ceremony that Indians, hurt by a series of critical reports in the domestic and global media on the shoddy preparations for the event, forgot all the bad press overnight and held their heads high with pride. The centrepiece was a helium aerostat that served as a giant 360° screen for spectators. A year later, the lotus looks like a giant garbage bin.
Shivaji Stadium, the venue which was to serve as a practice arena for athletes and hockey teams during the Games, could not be completed on time by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). One year after the event ended, work is still continuing.
