Four years ago, while watching the closing ceremony of Common Wealth Game 2006, Melbourne, I was full of emotion and chauvinistic feelings. Sitting in a cosy hotel in Antrewp, Belgium I was overwhelm by the Idea of my current living city is going to host this Mega event in four years time. Film stars from Bollywood presented an extravaganza of event featuring Aishwarya Rai. The Indian extravaganza continued with golden rays unfurling all around the stage to represent the sun in all its glory, as monuments of India and Delhi were projected onto the main stage.A high-energy Bhangra performance followed - a lively form of north Indian folk music and dance - featuring Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukherjee and hundreds of brightly costumed dancers.As a grand finale, the theme song for Delhi 2010 was performed by some of India’s finest singers including Sonu Nigam, Shiamak Davar, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal, before the MCG erupted in a dramatic pyrotechnics display, featuring the three colours of the Indian flag - saffron, white and green.Nameste! See you in Delhi 2010! Swagatam!
It was a promise, opportunity, vision, aspiration of developing country to portray boisterous presence in the world but fast forward to four years, what we have now. A mess, uncertainty, fragility, irresponsibility and ugly face of Indian political system of power carving people.Possibly the most crucial for us as a nation was to have used the opportunity to showcase to the world the strides the country has made in many spheres of modern life, and seek to attract gains in diverse areas on the basis of the favourable impression created. China should serve as an object lesson in this regard. The breathtaking show it put up when it hosted the Beijing Olympics in 2008 guaranteed its status as a nation and society that can deliver quality, and on schedule. The Olympics more than confirmed China’s position and image as a manufacturing megapower, and the envy of other leading nations.
The Commonwealth Games are much smaller in scale than the Olympics, and yet the privilege to host it is not easy to come by. Experts take a close look at a country’s ability to execute the Games infrastructure. India came through the scrutiny but runs the risk of faltering at the execution stage. This is a poor advertisement for its political executive, especially with those entrusted with overseeing the Games preparations. A little over two months to go for the opening of the Games a day after Gandhi Jayanti, and the nation’s capital is choking with uncleared debris, unfinished stadiums and other facilities associated with the Games. News reports highlight the last-minute rush and confusion to meet deadlines, and of passing the buck. Long before now, the dry runs should have commenced to ensure the success of the event on which about Rs 35,000 crores are said to have been spent. The plain reason for this not happening is that Delhi is virtually run by builder cabals that are in league with corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. These thrive on delays. When schedules are slipping, no questions are asked and cart blanche is given to take shortcuts, to cover up the use of below-par materials and shoddy execution through quick fixes, even if these will be exposed in weeks if not days.
There are many in our sports establishments who claim: Yes, we can. As far as claims are concerned, we have been the most fantastic claimers on this planet! No one can say Indian’s do not have commitment but when that comes to behaving as a nation, we are at a disadvantage, as we remain mired in politics more than economics; in speech more than action; in the game of playing ‘games’, than sports.
As a sports lover and die-hard chauvinist I wish for a magic wand that will sweep all everything away and a successful CW games that will enrich Indian status in the world.
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