CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Commonwealth Games 2010: Overview
a. Facilities
i. Sporting
ii. Non- Sporting
iii. Games Village
b. Key Stakeholders
4. Impact on Various Sectors
5. Recommendation
6. Conclusion
7. References
ABSTRACT
Because of its long heritage it was called Great Britain, having spread over endless masses all
over the globe under the British Empire's crown. This great empire organized an inter-colony
sporting event which came to be known by The Commonwealth Games name after many years.
Now New Delhi, India's capital city, has secured the bid to host the 9th Commonwealth Games
in 2010, after 22 years. Therefore, it follows that, like every other host country, India is
committed to investing a great deal of energy in bringing this flagship event together and is eager
to make a favorable mark on the global scene. The problem then arises, however, whether the
city is properly equipped to coordinate such an event. And in what particular ways does this
multinational contest expect to benefit from? After investing an enormous amount of time and
money in planning for the said event, what kind of plans does the government have after the
event to use the existing facilities to their full capacity? In what way, if at all, does it recommend
seeking to achieve the full returns from the newly built infrastructure? Would it inevitably
become a 'white elephant' which will push the economy into a cri-sis of daunting dimensions?
Another problem arising from such an occurrence is the problem of sustainable development to
stop the urban blight of Delhi's capital city.
This paper aims to highlight key issues related to the 2010 Commonwealth Games organization
and the use of the world-class facilities so built after the event is over. The following section
deals with accurate details re-guarding the infrastructural facilities that were developed or are
under construction for the Games, and also provides a brief account of the expectations that the
Delhi people have of them. The paper ends with suggestions and recommendations about the
issues posed to make the event a productive, enjoyable and enriching experience for both the
viewing audience and the host audience.
Glossary
Commonwealth Games: The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event between 53
Commonwealth countries, once British Empire colonies, held every four years. The first such
event took place in 1930 and was later known as The British Empire Games. It eventually
changed its name to The British Empire and the Common-wealth Games in 1954, followed by
The British Commonwealth Games in 1970, and finally adopted its present name, The
Commonwealth Games, with the motto: Civilization, Freedom, Destiny ...
Host Community / Nation: Mega-events such as The Commonwealth Games are usually held at
stipulated time periods at various locations around the world. The host country is recognized as
the host culture, or host nation.
Olympics: Originally held in ancient Greece, the Olympic Games or the Olympics are an
international multi-sport event that has been held every four years since 1896 (also known as the
Summer Olympics), with one exception in both world wars. In the 19th century, the Olympics
were resurrected by Pierre Fredy Baron de Coubertin, a French nobleman.
Legacy: The host community / nation continued to use the physical infrastructure and facilities
initially designed specifically for the event beyond the duration of the event.
INTRODUCTION
A little round ball, hockey sticks, heavy weights, shuttle cocks ... things like these are not only
found in the narrow streets of different cities around the world. They have become more than
pure entertainment and exercise means. Sports have also become the means of attaining national
pride in this modern era, transcending the citizen into the global. Therefore, the renowned
international sporting events that are organized from time to time not only bring together the
various nations of the world, but are also seen as binoculars of economic growth and
development, particularly for the host country.
"Come Let’s Play": Delhi hopes to advertise and encourage the upcoming mega-event with this
message: the prestigious 2010 Commonwealth Games. India is set to host such an event after
nearly thirty years, hoping in the process to catapult itself onto the world stage as an economic
powerhouse, as well as bringing about changes in terms of infrastructure within the host city
itself, and also fostering the sports culture in the country as a whole. The Games potentially carry
with them global media attention that in turn could make or break the picture of India on the
global scene. Nevertheless, one must question the logic of investing more than a billion dollars
on such a sporting event in a country like India, which is already rife with various issues of many
kinds, and where the gap between rich and poor is disturbingly high. Will this turn out to be
simply an exercise in politically-induced populism and nationalism with political interests in
mind rather than welfare or development, or would it really have significant positive effects on
the com-munity? Considering particularly the fact that India is a nation where sport culture is not
as common as it is in the West? It should also be noted that the money spent in these activities
comes from public funds, and that the event will therefore support the people from which it
receives resources, not limiting itself to the elite-rich minority, but at the same time ensuring that
it does no harm to the society. Certain concerns that occur, with particular significance in this
paper, include the effect of such an occurrence on the lives of the host nation's people, and its
effects on the urban sce-nario. Is the occurrence going to result in unplanned and uncontrolled
growth, or any beneficial growth? Can the developed infrastructure be used long after the event
or will it remain unused and fall into disrepair? Will the country escape eco-nomic debt and post-
Games crisis which is a common phenomenon during these scale events? Will the planning in
some way impede the existence of the resi-dents of the town? There are several other issues that
occur in relation to an incident like this.
Therefore, bearing in mind the pros and cons of hosting such an event before bidding for the
opportunity to do so is important for the host community. Delhi has already won the bid to host
the Commonwealth Games in 2010, and it may come as a surprise to note that little or no
preparation has been done to use this newly-established infrastructure after the Games have
finished. The goal of this paper is to try and find and provide answers to such concerns as the
above. This paper puts forth, among other items, certain relevant points gathered through the
method of direct contact with certain key stakeholders in the case, and also through the collection
and compilation of available information from the departments concerned, as well as from the
internet. Case studies were also carried out on previously organized tournaments in other
countries to analyze more closely the status of their success and the effect of the Games on the
host country. Finally, based on the findings from the above, some suggestions were made for
optimizing the returns on this investment, ensuring the efficient use and maintenance of the
existing infrastructure, its accessibility to all parts of the city, and promoting sustainable growth.

COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2010: OVERVIEW

This is the first time the Commonwealth Games are to take place in India. They are scheduled to
be held between 3rd and 14th October 2010. India is the third developing country to host the
event after Jamaica in 1966 and Malaysia in 1998, and the second Asian nation to.
FACILITIES:
The organizers of the 2010 Commonwealth Games not only aim at providing an enhanced
infrastructure and thereby transforming the city's reputation through global media attention, but
also aim to give us the legacy that will ensure the Delhi's social, economic and physical
regeneration. The Games would help promote urban regeneration and inspire greater investment.
And, of course, the Games will leave behind world-class sports facilities that can be used in the
future by thousands of Indian sportsmen, helping to inspire the country's sport community.
Nonetheless, it can be said that due to mega-events such as the Commonwealth Games, political
and bureaucratic barriers in the infrastructure sector are being miti-gated along with stimulating
fast-track completion of major infrastructure projects that could potentially take 10 to 15 years to
come true.
The facilities can be divided as the following:
Sporting :
The year 1982 saw the first construction of the sporting facilities in Delhi when for the first time
in India the Asian Games were organized. Four new stadiums were constructed at that time.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was the centerpiece of the Games, the venue for opening and closing
ceremonies and athletics. The other main stadia were the Indira Gandhi Stadium, the Talkatora
Stadium and the Ya-muna Velodrome. At the other hand, the National Stadium was an except,
which was an earlier structure.
Over time new buildings were made in Delhi about sporting facilities and today we have a range
of sporting complexes both DDA and private owned along with nine stadiums out of which five
are the new buildings for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. In fact, a whole new Games
Village is coming up on the east bank of the Yamuna River acting as venues during the event for
different sports.
The current stadiums are designed as such that during the Legacy Phase i.e. post-games phase,
the facilities become revenue earners to cover the operating costs. In addition, some of the spaces
are planned to be used later for various purposes, including conferences and corporate seminars
and other purposes.
Another thing that has been kept in mind is its positive approach to the environment. All
facilities will follow the latest code of quality, water harvesting and concentrating on sustainable
development with an eye to reducing carbon emissions.
The following are some of the venues which are going to be used for competition as well as
training purposes:
Facility Ownership Pre-condition During and after Games
Talkatora (Swimming) Government Roof in a bad state Upgradation of the pool
Airconditioned hall – capacity
of 10,000-temporary-4,000
Major Dhyan Chand Government Not put into much Seating gallery redesigned
(Hockey) use A new warm up pitch
Hostel cum media Centre
Indira Gandhi (Gym) Government Technological Existing roof will be replaced
problems, leaking A new warm up hall and a
roof multipurpose hall
Area will be used for business
activities and for seminars
after the Games
Nehru stadium Governmen More used for Partial open close roof
(Athletics) t Bollywood events Upper tiers have bucket seta
and political rallies instead of concrete
than sports events Linked to metro rail
National stadium government Not used to its 1930 building-façade can’t be
(Swimming/Diving capacity changed much.
Night playing facilities,
additional turf, hostel block to
competition be served as
media Centre
Wrestling Hall government New construction 5000 seating capacity-1000
(Wrestling) permanent
Would be commercially used
after the Games
Karni Singh shooting government Used as a training A new 300-meter range
Range(shooting) ground

Non –sporting:
It is understood that the countries that are bidding to host the Games need to be fitted with sound
infrastructure in the host city as well as sufficient sports facilities to win the hosting contract.
Therefore, India is planning intensively for the case, and as a result has a range of projects in the
pipeline for the same. With the 1982 Asian Games, Delhi witnessed the emergence of its first
flyovers and ring roads, and with another sporting event currently coming up in the region, the
city is being given a virtual facelift, which includes enhanced infrastructure as a whole, as well
as better and more integrated road and transport networks.

A number of the following projects are being sub-contracted to private firms by the government,
to ensure timely and quality development:
Indira Gandhi International Airport
Delhi's IGI airport is modernizing, upgrading and expanding to accommodate the greater amount
of passenger traffic expected for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Passenger and baggage
handling facilities have been upgraded, and since 2008 a new 4.43-meter runway, Asia's longest
operating runway, has been in operation. It is equipped on both sides with the highly
sophisticated Instrument Landing System (ILS) and is designed to the highest standards of Code
F. The expansion plans include constructing a new state-of - the-art terminal (T3) with an annual
capacity to accommodate 35 million passengers. This will consist of 75 aero-bridges, nine of
which will be fully designed to accommodate giant aircraft op-erations, including the A-380.
There'll also be 20 passenger park-ing bays. The terminal, connected to all forms of
transportation networks, will have an integrated five-level in-line baggage handling facility with
high-class performance and safety explosive-detection technology. The departure com-plex will
be housed on the upper deck of the two-tier building while the lower level will be the arrival
area. The building's roof will have stylised incisions allowing sunshine, angled in a way that
protects the interior from direct sun-rays. A six-lane highway (National Highway 8) will enhance
the airport's connectivity with the area. The Metro Rail also has under construction a dedicated
corridor from the airport to the Games Village for easy transfer of athletes and officials.
Transportation and road network
Metro and bus: from the airport to the city center – Connaught Place – by 2010, Delhi will have a
dedicated Metro line. The Games Village and major venues such as the Jawaharlal Nehru
Stadium and Indira Gandhi Stadium will be linked via the Metro. It will improve intercity
connectivity as well as passenger capacity. All Metro stations are expected to receive Wi-Fi by
2010.
Roads: A four-lane, 2.2 km underground stretch from Ring Road to Lodhi would link the Games
Village with Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, minimizing athlete travel time. In order to improve road
connectivity with the Games Villages, the sports venues and within the area, twelve new flyovers
and several bridges and subbridges were planned. Bridge expansion is also under way. The new,
eight-lane expressway is functional from Gurgaon to Delhi. A total of 1,100 new low-floor, high-
capacity air-conditioned buses will move to Delhi roads to ease traffic by 2010.
Civic Services:
Power: By the time the Commonwealth Games are held Delhi expects to be power surplus. To
provide Delhi with additional electricity, the government is launching a major power-production
initiative to increase output from the current 4,500 MW to over 5,880 megawatts (MW). The
distribution network will be automated, more power will be diverted to Delhi and new power
plants will be installed.
Water: Delhi Jal Board aims to significantly increase water supply by the year 2010. Two recent
measures to improve the water supply from the existing 670 million gallons per day (MGD) to
941 MGD have been undertaken. Plans to streamline Delhi's solid waste management network
are still not under way.
Hospitals: By 2010 twenty new hospitals will be available to improve healthcare and medical
services for Del-hi. During the Games special medical ambulances will be on standby to provide
urgent relief in emergency situations.
Parking: Nine new automated car parks are being built in the vicinity of the Games venues with a
capacity for 7,500 vehicles.
Hospitality
Delhi has houses nearly all of the country's major world-class hotels and restaurants, and a huge,
well-equipped hospitality industry. The current capacity, however, would be inadequate to cope
with the huge influx of ex-expected visitors to arrive for the Commonwealth Games. An
additional 25,000 rooms are being constructed to meet the requirements for the same, to be
supplemented in effect by the Delhi government's Bed and Breakfast Scheme.
In addition, the State-owned India Tourism Development Corp. Ltd (ITDC) and private hotels
have embarked on make-over and upgradation plans to welcome visitors to Delhi and make their
stay a satisfying experience.
City Makeover
Delhi's city is poised to look to the 2010 Commonwealth Games for its future. Some of the
event's legacies would be that it would leave behind a community that is much more attractive,
friendly and infrastructurally more effective than it is at present. A new façade has been given to
the colonial city center and the main shopping area of Delhi, Con-naught Place, and is already
experiencing a resurgence. Rajpath, Lutyens 'Delhi's principal road, is being rejuvenated. The
landmarks of the area, an important part of the rich heritage of the history of the country, are
being cleaned up and revitalized.
In order to add to Delhi's modern look, new international style signs and bus shelters are being
set up, along with public conveniences like call booths, shopping areas etc. An interesting point
is that when construction delays are spoken of, it should be explained that according to a source,
the explanation for the Commonwealth Games construction delay was a deliberate attempt by the
Organizers. While they were actually behind scheduler in the construction at some point due to
planning and other obstacles, the explanation was that setting up the infrastructure a year before
the event would serve to add to the expenditure of the government in the form of its protection
and maintenance.
Games Village:
Commonwealth Games 2010 is considered to be the most expensive of its kind in history, priced
at US$ 230.7 million (compared to Manchester 2002 – about US$ 240 million and Melbourne
2006 – around US$ 1.1 billion). A state-of - the-art Commonwealth Games Village, including a
residential complex, is being built along the east bank of the Yamuna River, near the
Akshardham Temple, by DDA, a Delhi Government agency and a Commonwealth Games
delivery partner. It is notable that from the very beginning this platform was embroiled in
controversy in itself. It is being constructed by a Dubai-based real estate firm, Emaar in
cooperation with an Indian firm, MGF. The Village is built to combine traditional Indian
hospitality with levels of comfort and quality claimed by the organizers that the participating
nations have never been seen before. The Games Village covers an area of 63.5 hectares (158.4
acres). Established under the Pubic Private Partnership (PPP) model, the residential complex has
14 floors, 34 towers and 1,168 air-conditioned flats to comfortably accommodate 8,000 athletes
and team officials.
There will be a variety of types of apartments ranging from two to five-bedroom units, each with
ensuite facilities that are the highest ratio of facilities given for any Games ever held, with just
two occupants per room. In addition, it will have training facilities for athletics (400 m eight-lane
synthetic track and separate field for throwing events); swimming (50x25 m, children's and
recreational pool); weightlifting; wrestling; and a fitness center. The International Zone, Village
Services, and Support Areas will be located in temporary buildings.
Work for the same began in August 2007 and is on schedule: It is planned that the Common-
wealth Games Village will be ready for use by March 2010. Surrounded by thick, green and
natural vegetation, the Village will provide the athletes and officials with a calming and soothing
envi-ronment. Not only is the Games Village within easy access to all the competitions and
training sites, it is also close to some of Delhi's prominent landmarks such as the Baha'i Temple,
Humayun's Tomb, Akshardham Temple, India Gate, etc.
This time East Delhi will be the target area of the Games, across the Yamuna, where the village
of the Games and other venues are situated. East Delhi residents expect to see the same kind of
change South Delhi witnessed during the 1982 Asian Games.
The amount of money spent on all the above institutions can be summed up as follows:
 Commonwealth Games 2010 Venues Investment

1. Games Village 950 crores

2. Nehru Stadium at Lodhi 550 crores
3. Indira Gandhi Stadium at ITO 512 crores

4. Talkatora Stadium 295 crores

5. Dhyan Chand Stadium at India Gate 125 crores
6. Siri Fort Sports Complex 300 crores
7. Yamuna Sports Complex 100 crores
8. Saket Sports Complex 40 crores
9. Thyagaraja Sports Complex 100 crores
9. Additional Renovation 458 crores

(Source: http://www.cpwdcommonwealth.in and www.cwgdelhi2010.org.)

The city of Delhi intends to invest an estimated Rs. 26,000 crore ($6.5 billion) on city
infrastructure, urban planning, and sporting facilities in the context of the Games.
Breakdown:
7,000 crores total CWG related construction of sports facilities: the venues
mentioned above plus flyovers, roads, parking lots, etc.
8,000 crores metro expansions
5,400 crores airport modernization
5,000 crores a power plant in Bawana
26,000crores total on the above, plus sports specialty hospitals, cultural centres,
five-star and budget hotels, etc

Source: CPWD/CWG Website; discussion with SAI/CPWD officials; ASSOCHAM Study;

Mahendra Raj Consultants; Mobile Creches

KEY STAKEHOLDERS:
The key stakeholders in this process are:
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF):
The CGF, with its London headquarters, is the body responsible for managing and regulating the
Commonwealth Games. The CGF is the sole authority on all matters relating to the
Commonwealth Games. In turn, the CGF "owns" the Commonwealth Games much as the
Olympic Games are "held" by the In-ternational Olympic Committee. The CGF's governance lies
through the Federation's General Assembly and Executive Board.
The Commonwealth Games are awarded at its General Assembly by the CGF to the nominee
city of a Commonwealth Games Associa-tion (CGA). This city is chosen 7 years prior to the
actual hosting. The CGF entrusts the management of the Games to the host country CGA.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA):
The IOA is India's top sports body responsible for training and including athletes in the Olympic
Games, as well as in competitions such as the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. In
each game / sport, a separate federa-tion at national level assists the IOA in training sportsmen.
The IOA is the Indian CGA and the host city contract signatory to play the Delhi Commonwealth
Games. It is committed to preparing the best possible team for the Delhi Games, in partnership
with the National Sports Federations and the GoI. It also plays a significant role in finalizing the
Games Joint Marketing Plan Agreement (JMPA).
Organising Committee (OC):
The IOC assigned to the OC Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi the responsibility for fulfilling
the Host City Contract obligations under Protocol 2 of the Treaty, in compliance with Article 27
C of the Constitution and with the approval of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF);
The OC is therefore empowered to prepare, manage and deliver Delhi 2010 Commonwealth
Games. It was established as a registered society under India's Societies Registration Act 1860,
on 10 February 2005. It is an independent, non-profit organization that works in partnership with
its partners to create a dedicated team and follow best practices to produce the Games
successfully.
Government of Delhi:
Host city is defined by the GNCTD. This is committed to providing the necessary Games
facilities, civic facilities, amenities and services like town beautification to provide visitors with
an enjoyable experience during the Games. It is committed to meeting all conditions of the Host
City Agreement.

The two GNCTD agencies which explicitly participate in the delivery of the Games are:
 Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which is committed to developing the Games Village
in accordance with the venue briefs and to developing various venues for competition and
training; and
 Delhi Police, which is committed to providing security during the Games and related events
in Delhi City, as well as security cover for all venues, the Games Village, and so on.

Government of India:
GoI is the sovereign government of the host country that has supported the Games since the
initial bid stage. It is committed to ensure adequate funds for the conduct of the Games to the OC
as well as for the dev
 Ministry of Home Affairs for the conduct contingency management and planning; and for
the planning and enforcement of security measures in ac-cordance with Games Statement of
Securities Principles (GSSP);
 Ministry of External Affairs for assistance in processing Gratis Visa and work permits;
 Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to organise the Games in accor-dance with the
constitution, protocols and regulations of the CGF; and to pro-vide timely funds for the
Games infrastructure and operations;
 Ministry of Commerce and Industry to provide space for Media Press Centre
(MPC)/Media Broadcasting Centre (MBC) and warehousing through the India Trade
Promotion Organisation (ITPO); and
 Sports Authority of India (SAI) to develop competitions and training ven-ues as per the
venue briefs; provide the venue media centre at all competi-tion venues and provide the Dope
Laboratory.
A slightly different kind of stakeholders include the following:
 Displaced Persons
 Environment
 Citizens of the host city

IMPACT ON VARIOUS SECTORS

India is aspiring to establish itself as a superpower through hosting this hallmark event, and is all
set to change the westerner’s view of India as just being a land of spices and slum dwellers. It
has in consequence intensified efforts to present a new face to the world, with world class
infrastructure, hospitality, facilities, etc. It is also, however, essential to look at the projected
impact that such preparation can have on different facets of the host community. Like India,
many other cities across the world have played host to mega sporting events such as the
Olympics and Commonwealth Games. By studying the experiences and impact of such events on
their economic and social conditions, it is possible to gain a broad understanding of the pros and
cons involved in bidding for and taking up the responsibility for such events, and al-so to outline
a strategy with the aim of efficient utilization of the infrastructure created, after the Games are
over.
The primary positive impacts of the same are as follows:
Infrastructure
Because of the Games, Delhi will receive a revolutionary facelift: its temples and heritage
buildings will be restored and areas such as East Delhi and the Yamuna riverfront will be built
along with changes in various other installations. If the form and shape of the infrastructure thus
created can be modelled in a way that ensures its adaptability to the city's already existing
infrastructure (e.g., stadiums, entertainment facilities, parks, airports, highways,
telecommunications, housing, hotels, etc.) that also includes the various temporary systems, the
country can hope for a satisfactorily productive usage.
Generation of Employment
Although the economy continues to generate ample job prospects for various offices in the
process of planning for the Games, and during the Games as well, even catering to the poor,
ranging from a labourer's role to a professional engineer. The Games being, at this stage, the
most costly and ambitious event in the world, needs an efficient support system at all planning
and imple-mentation rates, which could provide very beneficial em-ployment opportunities,
thereby boosting the economic cycle.
Investment in the region
The event itself announcement will lead to anticipatory investment-ment. The growth and
encouragement of sport culture in India, which could be brought about by the facilities provided,
may help to attract more investors even in the post-Games scenario. Also, during their duration,
the Games are expected to fuel local demand, given the economy remains cautious about the risk
of over-supply.
Improved Transport and Road Network
Transportation is another area that is expected to experience tremendous improvement: flyovers,
bypasses, wider highways, a broader system metro, an integrated rail bus transport network, and
a high-capacity bus system. All of these will help to alleviate traffic congestion and allow for
smoother transport for the people of Delhi. The Indira Gandhi International Airport's expansion
will diminish its potential and play a significant role in enhancing connectivity with the rest of
the world in both India and Pakistan.
Sporting Legacy
The Games will leave behind significantly enhanced, world-class sports facilities which the
future generations of Indian sportsmen and aspirants will be able to use. Establishing an
Olympic-size pool as well as a gym at the University of Delhi would also promote sports among
Delhi youth. Above all, the legacy of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games will be to raise a
near-absent sports culture as part of every Indian's everyday life, of all classes, regions, and ages
alike, with special focus on the youth, the nation's future.
Volunteering Culture
The Games can also be hoped to build and promote a culture of volunteering in the host nation,
educating young people with principles of hospitality as well as improving their life skills such
as self-awareness, courtesy, imaginative and critical thinking, empathy, communication and
interpersonal relations.
Boost to Tourism Industry
With the much-needed facelift and enhanced city picture, amplified by global media attention,
India is hoping to draw a large volume of tourists into the region. Renowned globally for its rich
cultural heritage as well as its hospitality, India seeks to make use of the Games to promote its
tourism industry, anticipating tourists both during and after the games, once sufficient media
attention has been obtained.
Creation of Business Opportunities
The Commonwealth Games are also expected to create significant incentives for private
companies to do business. There are already a number of firms contracting out contracts in
preparation for the Games, with further such deals in the pipeline. The city can also expect to
become the country's business center, with companies flocking to it in the short term, and
possibly even in the long run.
Knowledge, Skill Development and Education
The host community can expect to gain more awareness and skills from hosting such a major
sporting event. Employees and volunteers will learn skills and expertise in organizing and
managing activities, managing human resources, security, hospitality and service, and so on.
Spectators and volunteers learn to use public transport more efficiently, as well as being able to
get to know environmental initiative. They can also gain more knowledge and understanding of
their city's cultural background and heritage as well as of their country, as well as various other
such issues.
Improved image of the country
It can be expected that the media attention that comes with the Games will touch more than a
billion people, enhancing the tourism industry, attracting foreign investment and further opening
India up to the globalized world economy. This aside, both the vibrant environment created
during the Games and the subsequent smaller activities will help the nation show an enhanced
image of the city and of itself as a whole.
A Cultural Legacy
The Commonwealth Games can also be hoped to allow cultural ideas to be promoted, cultural
identity recognized and cultural awareness understood. Through the case, the country aims to
reinforce its cultural heritage with the spirit and message of friendship, unity, and peace. The
host community should expect to create memories of the spirit of the Commonwealth Games:
Democracy, Equality and Destiny with mass protests and cultural activities of people coming
together from all over the world.
National fervour and unification
Hosting an event of this magnitude and stature can engender a feeling of local identification,
vision and motivation along with a certain amount of national fervour, unifying the country in
spirit and hope.
The attempts to make Delhi a world class city have a large number of positive effects. However,
they do not come entirely devoid of a negative aspect. The possible negative impacts of the
Commonwealth Games can be outlined as follows:
Displacement of the marginalised
A growing number of people already live on the outskirts of Indian soci-ety are looking to more
marginalization, as they find themselves fitting the greater scheme of things improperly.
Demolitions of slums in the Yamuna Pushta region have not only pushed people deeper into the
margins, but have also served as clear reminders of the government's failure to provide housing
to all. There is also likely to be a huge number of hawkers and migrant labourers evacuated
during the Games. Bulldozers have already razed fortunate homes belonging to hundreds of slum
residents in New Delhi earlier this month as the Indian government moved to develop the Games
area. Officials say the land was cleared to create a road, and the demolitions are a small part of a
larger master plan to clean up the city while providing decent housing for slum dwellers at the
same time. However, the govern-ment’s stand is that there will be no relocation for poor families
be-cause they do not meet relocation requirements. Critics say that de-molishing housing that has
existed for years, while relocating some residents and not others, will only serve to harm many
who live on the margins of society.
Environment
The Commonwealth Games Village site near the Yamuna has been in the midst of debate and
discussion since the very beginning, due to environmental concerns expressed by various
environmental groups, activists and citizens. A major concern is that constructing the Games
Village can potentially destroy the Yamuna floodplains, causing not just environmental damage,
but also putting the river areas at a risk of pe-riodical flooding. The government has, in this
regard, also been ac-cused of cutting down and transplanting many ‘heritage trees’ in the sprint
for rapid development, harming the city’s green belt. To address these concerns, the Indian
government has formed a monitoring com-mittee to oversee the ecological aspects of the
construction of the Games Village. It had first invited Nobel prize winner and Chairman of the
International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) R.K. Pachauri to head the committee; Pachauri, in
turn, recommended that a non-profit group be partnered with the committee for greater
effectiveness.
Cost
The expense of such mega events amounts to billions of dollars. South Korea spent $2bn and
Japan invested over $4bn on new stadiums and the Olympic infrastructure. During the 2004
Olympics Athens spent more than $1 billion on defense costs alone. Substantial eco-nomic effect
provides a rationale for public subsidies to promoters of these activities, for mega event
infrastructures. They claim that the expenditure is seen as an investment which in effect would
yield returns. This is therefore a situation where the rights of the people are at stake. Several
independent researchers have found that the economic effect of ex ante forecasts made by event
organizers significantly exceeds that of ex post estimates. The obvious question that then arises
is whether the cost is justified, and still remains without conclusive answers.
This brings us to the development in developing nations bidding for such events. On-ly five main
events have been organized by developing nations all across the world in all these years.
It is, however, interesting to note the experience that the developing nations face vis a vis
developed nations. Although they hope for complete urban renewal and im-proved infrastructure
in the host city with a boost to the economy, the impact of the event can even be adverse if post
event planning is not carried out adequately, and on time. The Asian Games of 1982 are a good
instance of this. India, at the time, was witness to constructions of the new stadiums and other
facilities for the very first time. However, buildings like the player’s building and the roof of the
Talkatora swimming pool were not completed on time, the development was haphazard and short
sighted, and there was little importance given to planning norms and regula-tions. The retracting
roof of the Indira Gandhi indoor stadium hailed as a technologi-cal feat never worked effectively
and even after numerous repairs, the roof still leaks. An international Badminton competition in
the 1990’s was disrupted due to water leaking in. The main stadium, built on the banks of the
Yamuna is actually tilt-ing on one side. The adjoining Yamuna Velodrome is in a pathetic state
with the ve-lodrome full of cracks and bumps, and more often visited by snakes and rats than
humans. The Nehru Stadium too is crumbling and bad maintenance means that even though new
tracks were laid recently, they are already in disrepair. Utilisation of these stadiums has also not
been very high. Bad maintenance has meant that they cannot be used for high profile
international events and even domestic events are not held very often. The stadiums do serve as
training grounds for the Sports Au-thority of India (SAI) but the fact remains that these stadiums
have not been used to capacity since 1982. The stadiums are used more often for Bollywood
events or political rallies than sporting events. Recently the only high-profile international event
that the famed J.N. Stadium has been used for is the Half Marathon where it was the starting and
end point! Today, after nearly 30 years, the upgradation and renovation process are taking shape.
There are therefore some obvious questions that must be answered about the ‘legacy’ that such
events create
The remaining potentially adverse impacts, in brief, can be listed as the following:
 Underutilization of facilities post the Games
 Inability to attract a large number of spectators
 High infrastructure development costs
 High opportunity cost of capital
 Skewed Ownership Structure: More government owned, less usage by public
 Problems of access
 Absence of Long-term Vision
 Potential to create chaos
 No real Public consultation or democratic transparency in the planning process
 Gentrification
 Not having accounted carefully for all post Games expenses
 Not properly responding to post games criticism
 A loss of public confidence

RECOMMENDATIONS
Finally, India is all set to play host to its first major event and for whatever reason, has no plans
to let down the country's reputation at any cost. Thus, it becomes important for the organizers not
only to improve the infrastructure and re-requirements, but also to hold firmly in mind the use of
the same and correct sustainable development plan after games in order to avoid urban blight.
Unfortunately, when organizing these mega sporting activities, the theme was of a lack of
planning for the use of the facilities for post games. In addition, there are only a couple of
situations in which the planning and execution is carried out with great care, and on time, and
Barcelona is one such example. And it becomes obvious that the lack of post-Games preparation
is not a peculiar issue to India. This is a worldwide phenomenon. It is high time, however, for the
country to take notice of events around the world regarding the organisation of these games and
pay careful attention to the negative impacts it could have due to the lack of a clear policy on the
use of the legacy of post games.
In this regard, the following section outlines some ideas, suggestions and recom-mendations that
can be efficiently put into use for successful operation of the Games, and also for the post Games
utilization of the legacy:
The key emphasis should be on delivering a productive event taking into account the legacy
goals (economic, financial, cultural, political, regional, and internal) that are beneficial to the
country as a whole during and after the Games.
A proper marketing plan can be developed for the event's global exposure, as well as at the
national, regional and sub-regional levels, generating a transformed picture of the city and
country, and also inspiring sport culture.
Tracking post Public opinion in general and reactions to the post-Games program in particular.
Clearly articulated strategy for the commercial use of new facilities after the event is over, the
position of both the private and public sectors should be clearly set out.
Data on organizations, volunteers, employees, etc. can be used to build a database for possible
use of future activities, taking into account data privacy criteria.
Provision of a good customer service level with readily available customer treatment helplines.
Whenever possible, market visitor attractions, use event passes, printed material on the event,
and other advertising sources and media.
Use of local and regional know-how on almost any case
Provision whenever possible of streamlined ticketing and one stop information about the main
event as well as any related activities.
Offering reliable transport services to and from the places.
Providing the tourists with a healthy, clean and attractive climate.
The key actions required to meet the above-mentioned objectives and to ensure efficient use of
the infrastructure during as well as after the Games can be listed as follows:
It is possible to build on relationships formed during and after the Games, so that the public
sector can play a significant and involved role in bidding, financing and hosting major events.
The role of the private sector in delivering major event strategies can be strengthened by
initiatives such as creating incentives, providing re-regional companies with avenues to
showcase and further grow their business, etc.
Creating a key marketing plan to explain the position of the city / country on the global events
market.
A planned event portfolio can be produced, reflecting the position of the re-gion in the events
market (national and international).This will involve bidding for major events and will also help
in developing national or regional events which will utilize the unique infrastructure of the
region, along with boosting the sports culture, as well as involve international participation in the
long run, such as the Indian Premiere League.
An Event Impact Assessment toolkit can be prepared which can be used to measure the
estimated impact of events on various sectors of society and to measure its commercial value in
the world market. This information would keep us better informed for future investments and
biddings for more such events.
International sports federations, media and political bodies need to cooperate in order to stage an
event successfully. In general, events improve political networks, such as close partnerships with
the central government. Network building of this kind can then enable an understanding and the
creation of a common interest for the mentioned entities, which are otherwise entirely separate
bodies with separate objectives and separate areas of interest.
Talking about the sporting facility of the Commonwealth Games that is being con-structed,
renovated or upgraded, mainly including stadiums and sports complexes, certain possible
initiatives and planning have been outlined in accordance with vari-ous different sectors of the
host community, below:

1. Ownership:
The ownership of the stadiums and sports complexes can be under a PPP model (Public Private
Partnership), implying that government and private enterprises will share the risk of operating
the stadium.
This would not only ensure efficient management, use and maintenance of the venue, with the
intervention of the private player, but will also provide accessibility to all sections of society,
from poor to rich, urban to rural. In this regard, membership can be provided to all, at a
reasonable and affordable price, and the Government can also be instrumental by providing
‘Vouchers’ to the marginalized poor or people from rural backgrounds who have a keen interest
in sports. Separate trainers for such people can be employed. To ensure the effectiveness of such
a scheme, different time slots can be allotted to certain sections of people to protect them from
any kind of abuse, or inferiority complex. This would also keep a close check on the
performance of the individuals, and an estimate can regularly be drafted to balance the number of
users of the facilities, and the resources required for them. However, the Vouchers should be
extended only after noting the performance, interest level and aptitude of the person accessing
the facilities, shortcomings in either of which may lead to termination of the voucher at the end
of 6 months.
The role of private players will be that of managing and maintaining the facilities, which would
enable them to earn profit by putting them to multiple uses such as renting venues for corporate
seminars, conferences, events, etc.
Moreover, such facilities can also be utilized by schools and universities, government schools in
particular, where adequate sports facilities and equipment is hard to find.
Such schools can be given concessions by the government to access them or to hold large-scale
school events in the sports complexes or stadiums. A grass root coaching programme can be
created, providing such facilities to all.
Housing:
The DDA holds a 50 per cent share in the housing created in the Commonwealth Games Village.
The remaining half lies with Emaar MGF which has already begun the sale of the luxurious flats.
A proposition can be made keeping this in mind, that the flats under DDA may be auctioned or
sold at the maximum price available, and the money earned from the same can be transferred to
the Slum Wing operational under the DDA, for the construction of houses for displaced slum-
dwellers.
One may argue that the government is not responsible for providing housing to all. However, if it
has the power to displace somebody then it must also compensate them adequately. As with the
evacuation of the Yamuna Pushta area under the Delhi Master Plan 2021, stating the inhabitants’
adverse effect on the ecological balance of the area, and on the grounds of their being illegal
encroachment, while the government has now itself authorized construction in the same area, it
becomes clear that the standards being applied to different objectives is not uniform in the
governmental policy. Moreover, when the government is in the process of ‘cleaning up’ the city,
it is in effect simply creating another slum at another site, leading to a never-ending cycle of
creation of makeshift low budget housing. If the government collects taxes from the citizens, it is
also accountable to provide the details of its expenditure. Here, when the DDA is already
equipped with the power to build houses, it can build housing for the marginalized section of the
community, ensuring transparency as well as effective use of the money earned.
Another suggestion that can be made is that the DDA can declare a clause before-hand, in
consultation and affiliation with sports authorities and the government through an MoU, that a
pre-decided amount of money earned from the sale/auction of the flats would be awarded to a
particular number of Indian sportspersons and athletes to commend their performances during
the Games, as a an act of encouragement and motivation to athletes and sports overall in the
country. This is also with particular emphasis on sports other than cricket, since we need to
generate interest in other sports as well, for which such encouragement is essential.
Returns on investment and other uses:
To gain maximum returns to the investments made, a number of strategies can be employed:
Ticket sales are an easy means of collecting returns. A broad enough audience can be gathered
with extensive advertisement and promotion of the event. In addition, some concession for
students could be added to draw them to the game, and in the long run, to sports as a area, in
order to attract young audience.
For various uses such as workshops, conventions, concerts, festivals, fairs, programs and other
such activities, facilities can be rented out.
Selling stadium and sports center naming rights could be a successful choice. For example, when
Sidney's main national stadium was unable to generate money, the naming rights were sold to an
Australian excommunication corporation Telstra, which helped to dramatically offload the
government debt.
Event advertisement and telecasting rights that be issued to the highest bidding private parties,
rather than Door darshan.
Encouraging corporate sponsorships. The case as a whole or any of its phases may be supported
by the private sector with funding and assistance. Also, under any individual enterprise's CSR
(Corporate Social Responsibility), support may be given to sportsmen for training and other
purposes, individually or collectively. For example, during the 2008 Olympics, Lakshmi
Narayan Mittal provided financial assistance to some athletes, who in turn performed very well
on the world stage. This will also help lessen the government's burden of supplying trainers and
funds, with the private sector also participating in the same.
An organization may be created consisting of experts, equipment owners, sportsmen and other
professionals who may invite international teams for training purposes, as well as for
tournaments and matches. It will not only aid Indian athletes in their training but will also
generate revenue.
Stadiums, sports facilities and malls can have spas and fitness centers accessible at reasonable
rates for use by the general population.
The private owners of various venues/stadiums working under PPP model, can merge to form
one banner under which the facilities can be marketed and utilized, and profit can be earned.
Also, this merger enterprise can be listed as IPO and public issue can be offered to enable people
to invest in the same. Under this banner, stadiums can be bundled with other commercial
activities for tendering purposes, as the stadiums individually offer limited opportunity for profit.
A part of the facility can be taken over by Delhi University for its management which can be
used by the students, local sporting clubs, schools, RWAs etc.
Parking:
Parking areas can be used as parking spaces even after the Games, and can be rented out to
nearby shopping centers, office buildings, residential apartments, to be used by the general
public.
Open public spaces:
Open public spaces can be developed as beautiful green landscapes, or to build commercial
centers, educational institutions or public libraries.
A sustainable and vibrant township can be created, operational 24 hours a day and 7 days a
week, which can help in generating investment and suitable and timely returns.
CONCLUSION
For the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the city of Delhi is on the verge of radical change, as
illustrated by the details provided in this article. Nevertheless, it is important to bear in mind that
while change can be generally viewed as an independent mechanism for a positive result, it does
not always come without a cost. An interesting example of this idea at this stage is the
preparation being made for the Games, which does not show too many clear signs of discontent,
but a closer look shows that it has more to it than de-development and economic growth.
Many such events have already been experienced by the world, and aspiring bidders considered
the experiences of the same in order to create a plan that minimizes losses and maximizes
income, both during and after the event. Whether these incidents do more harm than good is still
a debatable problem, since many of the advantages and adversities resulting from them are
intangible. Thus, it is important to scrutinize each case in depth, examining the particular
characteristics that are also country-specific, in order to benefit from both gain and loss
experience in all spheres.
India, as the host of one of the largest, most opulent Commonwealth Games the world has seen
yet, compounded with the fact that it is still a developing country, must therefore excer-cise
extreme caution if it aims at forwarding its progress as an economic superpower. The present
plan for the Commonwealth Games may spell catastrophe in ecological as well as financial
terms, while there is also the possibility of them being instrumental in creating and presenting a
new and improved face of the city, and subsequently of the country, to the global arena. They
may herald a surge in the direction of progress, or they may mark a downfall, the likes of which
India has never had to face before. Popular perception tells us that the Asian Games was an
unmitigated success, but closer analysis brings out the fact that it is a little more complicated
than that. For the Commonwealth Games to be a success on all fronts, benefiting all spheres,
effective planning and implementation is essential, with a crucial need at this moment, for
foresight, in order to prevent the possible negative after-effects of the event while encouraging
and furthering the positive ones.

References
http://www.thecommonwealthgames.org/delhi‐2010/
http://2010commonwealthgamesindia.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html
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http://www.chakpak.com/movie/ix‐asian‐games:‐new‐delhi‐1982‐‐(mini)/17384
http://www.dda.org.in/sports/venue_asiangames.htm
http://www.commonwealth2010.in/2010-commonwealth-games.htm
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071223/jsp/7days/story_8700278.jsp
http://www.delhilive.com/1982_asian_games
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After the Party: What happens when the Olympics leave town; Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Urban Legacy in the Long Term: Sydney’s Experience; Cashman, Richard
Game for growth; Majumdar, Boria, Aug 24, 2008
The Olympic Village, ten years on Barcelona: the legacy of the Games 1992-2002; Carbonell,
Jordi
An Introduction to Bird’s Nest; January 27, 2008
Re-use of Olympic Architecture post-event; August 29, 2008
Commonwealth Games Benefits Study Report; NWDA
The Impact of the Commonwealth Games 2010 on Urban Development of Delhi; Up-pal, Ghosh.
Vinayak, Debjani.