Department of Sports

Logo of Department of Sports

The Ministry of Youth Affairs  & Sports was initially set up as the Department of Sports in 1982 at the time of organization of the IX Asian Games in New Delhi .  Its name was changed to the Department of Youth affairs  & sports during celebration of the International Youth Year, 1985.  It became a Ministry on 27^th May,2000.  Subsequently, the Ministry has been bifurcated in Deptt. of Youth Affairs and Deptt. of Sports under two separate Secretaries w.e.f. 30^th April,2008.   The specific subjects being dealt with by these two Departments are contained in the Order of the Govt. of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961.

Sports promotion is primarily the responsibility of the various National Sports Federations which are autonomous.  The role of the Government is to create the infrastructure and promote capacity building for broad-basing sports as well as for achieving excellence in various competitive events at the national and international levels.  The Department schemes are geared towards achieving these objectives.

Source:-

• http://yas.nic.in
• http://sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in/

The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports

The Ministry of Youth Affairs  & Sports was initially set up as the Department of Sports in 1982 at the time of organization of the IX Asian Games in New Delhi .  Its name was changed to the Department of Youth affairs  & sports during celebration of the International Youth Year, 1985.  It became a Ministry on 27^th May,2000.  Subsequently, the Ministry has been bifurcated in Deptt. of Youth Affairs and Deptt. of Sports under two separate Secretaries w.e.f. 30^th April,2008.   The specific subjects being dealt with by these two Departments are contained in the Order of the Govt. of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961.

The Youth, i.e. those falling within the age group of 15-35 years constitutes nearly 40% of the total population of India.  This group which is the most vibrant and dynamic segment of the country’s population constitutes potentially its most valuable human resource.  To optimally tap their constructive and creative energies, the Department pursues the twin objectives of personality building and nation building, i.e. developing the personality of youth and involving them in various nation-building activities.  As most of the issues concerning young people are the functions of other Ministries/Departments, like Education, Employment & Training, Health and Family Welfare, etc. the role of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports is to act as a facilitator and catalytic agent.

Source:-

http://yas.nic.in/

Green Games

Logo for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games being recognised as the first ever "Green Commonwealth Games"

The organisers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Environment Programme to show the intention to host a "sustainable games" and to take the environment into consideration when constructing and renovating venues. Thyagaraj Stadium is intended to be a key example of environmentally-considered construction.

In opposition to this intention, a number of environmental controversies arose and the adverse ecological impact of various aspects of the games have been protested by city residents. City residents filed a public interest petition to the Supreme Court of India against the felling of 'heritage' trees in the Siri Forest area to make way for Games facilities. The court appointed architect Charles Correa to assess the impact and he severely criticised the designs on ecological grounds. In spite of this, in April 2009 the Supreme Court allowed the construction on the grounds that "much time had been lost" and "the damage already caused to the environment could not be undone".

The Commonwealth Games village, located on the flood plains of the Yamuna, has also been the subject of controversies about the flouting of ecological norms. After a prolonged legal battle between city residents and the state, construction was permitted to continue on the basis of an order of the Supreme Court of India in July 2009, which held that the government had satisfied the requirements of "due process of the law" by issuing public notice of its intention to begin construction work in September 1999 (a date four years prior to the acceptance of Delhi's bid for the games).

Green Games Celebrations

Source :-

http://www.cwgdelhi2010.org/

Delhi Tourisum

Welcome To Delhi Tourism 

New Delhi, the capital and the third largest city of India is a fusion of the ancient and the modern. Standing along the West End of Gangetic Plain, the capital city, Delhi, unwinds a picture rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep in history, monuments, museums, galleries, gardens and exotic shows. Comprising of two contrasting yet harmonious parts, the Old Delhi and New Delhi, the city is a travel hub of Northern India.

Narrating the city's Mughal past, Old Delhi, takes you through the labyrinthine streets passing through formidable mosques, monuments and forts. You will also discover lively and colorful bazaars that boast to cater all sorts of good and items at mind-blowing prices amidst a barely controlled chaotic ambience. The imperial city of New Delhi displays the finely curved architecture of British Raj.

It generates a mesmerizing charm reflecting well-composed and spacious streets under the shade of beautifully lined avenues of trees and tall and imposing government buildings.

DELHI

Why Delhi

India Gate

New Delhi, the capital and the third largest city of India is a fusion of the ancient and the modern. Standing along the West End of Gangetic Plain, the capital city, Delhi, unwinds a picture rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep in history, monuments, museums, galleries, gardens and exotic shows. Comprising of two contrasting yet harmonious parts, the Old Delhi and New Delhi, the city is a travel hub of Northern India.

Narrating the city's Mughal past, Old Delhi, takes you through the labyrinthine streets passing through formidable mosques, monuments and forts. You will also discover lively and colorful bazaars that boast to cater all sorts of good and items at mind-blowing prices amidst a barely controlled chaotic ambience. The imperial city of New Delhi displays the finely curved architecture of British Raj.

It generates a mesmerizing charm reflecting well-composed and spacious streets under the shade of beautifully lined avenues of trees and tall and imposing government buildings.

New Delhi has expanded and now encompasses residential and commercial development to the west and south, plus the satellite towns of Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad.

Delhi has overtaken Mumbai & Kolkata in recent years to become the most vibrant creative art center in India. The city has more than twenty five galleries. Conducted tours, seminars, film shows and study classes on art appreciation, history and conservation are frequently organized. Most of the performing art centers are around Mandi House and Bhagwan Das Road.

There is an amazing range of activity from cultural walks, talks, theatre productions and art exhibitions to films by Indian and foreign directors. One can find an option at the Habitat World at Lodhi Road as well as Siri Fort at Khel Gaon.

Area : 1483 sq. Kms.

Altitude : 239 m above sea level

Population : 1,3782976 (2001 census)

Males : 51.21 million Females : 42.49 million

Literacy rate : 81.82%

Density : 9294 persons per sq. Km.

Languages : Hindi, English, Urdu and Punjabi

Climate : Extreme Hot in Summer and Cold in Winter

Maximum Temperature : 46 Degree Celcius

Minimum Temperature : 04 Degree Celcius

Winter : December - February

Spring : March to mid April

Summer : April end to August

Autumn : September to November

Best time to Visit : October to March

River : Yamuna

Source :-

http://www.delhitourism.nic.in

Venues

Competition venues

Existing and new stadiums in Delhi will be used to house the sports during the Games :

The opening and closing ceremonies will take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi.

• Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi – Athletics, lawn bowls, weightlifting
• Dhyan Chand National Stadium – Hockey
• Indira Gandhi Arena – Archery, cycling, gymnastics, wrestling
• Delhi University sports complex – Rugby sevens
• Thyagaraj Stadium – Netball
• Siri Fort Sports Complex – Badminton, Squash
• Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range – Shooting
• Talkatora Stadium – Boxing
• SPM Swimming Pool Complex – Aquatics
• RK Khanna Tennis Complex – Tennis
• Yamuna Sports Complex – Table tennis

The opening and closing ceremonies, athletics, lawn bowls, and weightlifting will take place at theJawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi, which will have a capacity of 75,000 spectators after renovation for the games.

Archery, cycling, gymnastics, and wrestling will take place at the Indira Gandhi Arena, the largest indoor sports arena in India and the second-largest in Asia, which seats 25,000 people. Located at the Indraprastha Estate in the eastern region of New Delhi, the arena will be connected to other venues via dedicated bus lanes and mass transportation. The arena will be renovated for the Games.

There are 26 new stadiums which will be utilised for the Commonwealth Games. Some older ones will be upgraded and some new will be constructed.

Nan-competition venues

• OC CWG Delhi 2010 Headquarters
• Main Media Centre

Source:-

http://www.cwgdelhi2010.org/

Transport Department

The Transport Department of Govt. of NCT of Delhi is entrusted with the responsibility of providing an efficient public transportation system, control of vehicular pollution, registration of vehicles in Delhi, issuance of Driving licences, issuance of various permits, collection of road taxes. The department also entrusted in policy-making, co-ordination, implementation, monitoring and regulatory functions of all the Transport related aspects of National Capital Territory of Delhi.

The Transport Department Comprises of three divisions as under:

1. Commissionerate of Transport
2. State Transport Authority
3. Mass Rapid Transit System

Delhi proposed a four-lane, 2.2 km underground stretch from Lodhi Road to trans-Yamuna, linking the Games Village to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and reducing travelling time between the Village and the Stadium to six minutes.

In response to concerns over the large number of trains that pass by the Delhi metropolitan region daily, construction of road under-bridges and over-bridges along railway lines has been started. To expand road infrastructure, flyovers, cloverleaf flyovers, and bridges have been planned to improve links for the Games and city in general. Road-widening projects have begun with an emphasis being placed on expanding national highways. To improve traffic flow on existing roads, plans are underway to make both the inner and outer Ring roads signal free.

To support its commitment to mass transport, nine corridors have been identified and are being constructed as High Capacity Bus Systems (for example, one from Ambedkar Nagar to Red Fort). Six of these corridors are expected to be operational in 2010. Additionally, The Delhi Metro will be expanded to accommodate more people and boost the use of public transport during the 2010 games. At 420 km long, it will be one of the world's longest networks and it will extend to Gurgaonand the Noida area.^[12] For this exponential increase of the network, Delhi Metro will deploy 14 tunnel boring machines, an unprecedented number in an Asian country.

Delhi Metro

Indira Gandhi International Airport

Indira Gandhi International Airport is being modernised, expanded, and upgraded. Costing nearly US$ 1.94 billion, Terminal 3 will improve airport passenger capacity to more than 37 million passengers a year by 2010. A new runway is being constructed, allowing for over 75 flights an hour and – at over 4400 metres long – it will be one of Asia's longest.

Delhi Airport Metro Express

The airport will be connected to the city via a six-lane expressway (Delhi–Gurgaon Expressway) and the $580 million Delhi Airport Metro Express line.

Delhi Transport Corporation

AC Low Floor DTC Bus

Govt. of India, Ministry of Transport took over the local bus services in Delhi in May 1948 in the name of Delhi Transport Service when they found that the services offered by Gawalior and Northern India Transport Company Ltd., the then licensee, were inadequate. A Delhi Road Transport Authority was constituted under the Road Transport Corporation Act, 1950. This Authority became undertaking of Municipal Corporation of Delhi by an Act of Parliament in April, 1958.

On the recommendation of a Working Group of Planning Commission which concluded that Delhi Transport as an extension of Municipal Corporation of Delhi had not been functioning efficiently and adequately resulting in leakage of revenue and very high operation cost, Govt. of India took over the management of the undertaking by passing the Delhi Road Transport Laws (Amendment) Act, in 1971. It took over the assets and liabilities from the erstwhile Delhi Transport Undertaking (DTU) operated by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi till 2nd Nov,1971. Thus the DTC was set up in 1971.

Source:- 

http://www.delhi.gov.in

http://www.delhimetrorail.com

http://www.dtc.nic.in

http://www.newdelhiairport.in 

Organisation

Organising Committee

The organisation was beset by delays: in January 2005, the Indian Olympic Association vice-chairman Raja Randhir Singh expressed concern that Delhi was not up to speed in forming and organising its games committee and, following a 2009 Indian Government report showing two thirds of venues were behind schedule, Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell stated that the slow progress of preparations represented a serious risk to the event. Singh called for a revamp of the games' organising committees:  Jarnail Singh, a former Secretary of the Government of India, was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi was appointed as head of the committee. In spite of delays, commentators stated that they are confident that India will successfully host the games and do so on time.

At the launch of the Queen’s Baton Relay in October 2009, the Business Club of India (BCI) was formed through the partnership of the organising committee, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The BCI was formed to both market the Games and promote Indian business interests internationally.

Costs

The total budget estimated for hosting the Games is US$ 1.6 billion and this amount excludes non-sports-related infrastructure development in the city like airports, roads and other structures. This will likely make the 2010 Commonwealth Games the most expensive Commonwealth Games ever, being larger than the previous games in Melbourne 2006 (approx. US$ 1.1 billion).

Source :- 

http://www.thecgf.com/

http://www.olympic.ind.in/

Traditions

Queen's Baton Relay

The Queen's Baton Relay, similar to the Olympic Torch Relay, is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Relay traditionally begins at Buckingham Palace in London as a part of the city's Commonwealth Day festivities. The Queen entrusts the baton to the first relay runner. At the Opening Ceremony of the Games, the final relay runner hands the baton back to the Queen or her representative, who reads the message aloud to officially open the Games.

Queen's Baton Relay,Kings Park Western Australia February 11, 2006.

The 2006 relay passing through Wagga Wagga, Australia

Source : - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen's_Baton_Relay

History

A sporting competition bringing together the members of the British Empire was first proposed by the Reverend Astley Cooper in 1891 when he wrote an article in The Times suggesting a "Pan-Britannic-Pan-Anglican Contest and Festival every four years as a means of increasing the goodwill and good understanding of the British Empire".

In 1911, the Festival of the Empire was held in London to celebrate the coronation of King George V. As part of the festival an Inter-Empire Championships was held in which teams from Australia, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom competed in events such as boxing, wrestling, swimming and athletics.

In 1928, Melville Marks Robinson of Canada was asked to organise the first ever British Empire Games. These were held in Hamilton, Canada two years later.

The first Games were held in 1930 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The name changed to British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1954, to British Commonwealth Games in 1970 and assumed the current name of the Commonwealth Games in 1978.

At the 1930 games, women competed in the swimming events only. From 1934, women also competed in some athletics events.

The Empire Games flag was donated in 1931 by the British Empire Games Association of Canada. The year and location of subsequent games were added until the 1950 games. The name of the event was changed to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games and the flag was retired as a result.

• Commonwealth Winter Games
• Commonwealth Youth Games
• Commonwealth Summer Games