Games Village to be handed over to OC on August 1: Suresh Kalmadi

Allaying fears of missing the deadline, chairman of the 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi today said the Games Village will be handed over to them on August 1.

Kalmadi said that the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) was informed about the date of handover yesterday during a meeting presided over by CGF president Michael Fennell.

During the meeting, also attended, among others, by Games Coordination Commission chairman Austin Sealy, the CGF was
assured that the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium - venue of the opening and closing ceremonies - and the swimming complex will
be ready on time.

"The CGF was informed that the Games Village will be handed over to the Organising Committee on August 1, 2010 and both JN Stadium and swimming complex will be ready by the end of June," Kalmadi told PTI.

Earlier, Fennell had expressed his concern about the progress of some venues including these two.

Kalmadi, however, claimed that the CGF is no more worried about the pace of Delhi's preparation for the quadrennial sporting extravaganza to be held from October 3-14.

"After going through the presentations of various functional areas, the CGF expressed happiness and satisfaction on the pace and progress of the preparation," said Kalmadi, also the chief of Indian Olympic Association.

A day earlier, CGF Sports Committee met and "expressed complete satisfaction about the arrangements and planning done by the OC for the Games", Kalmadi claimed.

"Things are on track. We hope it will be the best Commonwealth Games ever," Kalmadi said.

Kalmadi also brought to the notice of the Federation that Prince Charles as well as Prince Edward will be present at the
inauguration of the Games on October 3.

"OC has now entered the operational mode wherein venue teams have been finalised and details of the opening and closing ceremonies have also been worked out," Kalmadi told the CGF.