More ambulances needed before Games

New Delhi: The partnership of delhi government with Fortis hospitals is off now after Delhi health minister finds first batch of ambulances ‘below par’. The Delhi government’s Health department is out shopping for basic and advanced life support ambulances after the partnership with Fortis hospitals fell through recently.

According to sources, the government will now have to source ambulances from “elsewhere” to meet the Commonwealth Games deadline.

The government had partnered with Fortis group of hospitals to roll out 150 fully equipped ambulances ahead of the Games — the first batch was to be delivered in January.

The public-private partnership, however, fell through after Delhi Health minister Kiran Walia inspected the fleet that was ready to be delivered. “I rode on an ambulance and found it inferior to the standards being expected,” Walia said. “We are now in negotiation with some companies who will be able to provide ambulances in time for the Games.”

Bharat Yatra Kendra to be developed for Commonwealth Games

Chandigarh: The Bharat Yatra Kendra developed by former Prime Minister Chander Shekhar at Bhondsi village in Gurgaon district would be developed as an attractive tourist spot, in view of the Commonwealth Games.

The task will be done by the Haryana Panchayat and Development department, Forest and Environment department in collaboration with the Haryana Tourism. The repair of existing buildings and structures at the Kendra would be taken up In first phase.

The decision was taken in a high level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dharambir Singh last evening, an official spokesman said.

The meeting was attended by financial commissioner of panchayat department P Raghvendra Rao, director panchayats Lajvir Singh, Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Rajender Kataria, office bearers of Bhondsi Gram Panchayat and officers from Forest and Environment department.

Since the ownership of the land measuring 588 acres under Bharat Yatra Kendra now vested with the Bhondsi Gram Panchayat, Mr Dharamvir Singh asked the officers to involve the panchayat in the works to be taken up on this land.

He said initially, the panchayat would provide funds for the development of the area and when the project got approved, those funds would be returned back to the panchayat by the Forest and Environment department.

Mr Dharamvir Singh, an MLA from Sohna, in which this Kendra fell, said funds allocated under the project would be operated through a joint account of the Gram Panchayat, forest and environment department so that transparency remained in the expenditure.

Commonwealth Games a big opportinity for India

New Delhi: Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja has described the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi as a big opportunity to showcase India's beauty and its rich cultural diversity.

Inaugurating the newly renovated Hotel Janpath in the Capital, the Minister said, "Commonwealth Games is a big opportunity for all of us in India. Thousands of athletes and tourists from all over the World will come to India during the Games and witness the country's rich cultural diversity and its beauty."

Addressing reporters at the inauguration of the hotel, which has been designated as the Games family hotel, the Minister, however, said all stakeholders involved in the Games had to pitch in for timely completion of the infrastructure pertaining to the Games.

"All the stakeholders have to pitch in for timely completion of tourist infrastructure for the Games" Ms Selja said.

Makeover of Hotel Janpath

• Hotel Janpath has undergone an extensive makeover, to bring it on par with global quality standards, to host the international delegates of the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
• The newly inaugurated hotel now boasts of 148 renovated rooms including 20 suites, which are functional yet luxurious.
• The lobby of the hotel has been completely re-designed to give an impression of a lavish entrance, and is reminiscent of Lutyen's architectural theme.
• To give a grand look, the double height lobby has been adorned with massive imported crystal chandeliers from Czech Republic and Italian marble flooring which adds to the hotel's exuberance.
• The entire look of the hotel has been designed to project Indian extravagance. While the original structure of Hotel Janpath is intact, several contemporary additions have been made to appeal to the world traveler.
• The hotel exterior has been adorned with tinted glasses to give a classy appearance to the entire façade.

To appeal to a global palette, Hotel Janpath will now offer extensive cuisines ranging from Italian and Mediterranean to Mangalorean and North Indian.

The renovation of Janpath Hotel is part of the endeavour by the India Tourism Development Corporation to renovate the state-run hotels Asoka, Samrat and Janpath to create a world class ambience to cater to the foreign tourists expected to throng the city during the International sporting event, scheduled to be held in October.

Talking to UNI on the occasion, Director (Commercial and Marketing) Rajiv Makkar said a total budget of of Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for the renovation of the three hotels.

The target date for completion of the renovation process is March 31, 2010, he said.

Central Bank of India gearing up for Commonwealth games

Mumbai: The Central Bank of India is gearing up for the 19th Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi in October as the exclusive banking partner of the Games.

The Bank in a release here said it would set up 25 ATMs, including some mobile, ATM, and a few new branches exclusively to cater to the needs of national and international players, besides delegates and vistors and others connected with the Games.

The first of such ATMs was inaugurataed at the NDMC premises, where the Organising Committee of Commonwealth Games was functioning, the Bank said.

The Bank will also make available several facilities through its existing Branch network as well as the proposed Branches.

Such facilities include:

• Opening of accounts
• Issue of Credit/Debit/Prepaid Cards
• Remittance through RTGS/NEFT
• Issue and payment of Travellers Cheques/International Currencies
• Forex remittance into and outside India
• Credit facilities in eligible cases

The unique prepaid card will facilitate purchases within the Games area or outside in Delhi without the need to carry cash and facilitate e-commerce through e-payment gateway to enable purchase of goods and services including purchase of air tickets.

England top badminton player targets Commonwealth Games medals

Housnlow: England’s number one men’s singles player, Rajiv Ouseph says this weekend’s English National Badminton Championships could be an important stepping stone en route to October's Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

The 23-year-old is top seed for the men’s singles at the Championships, which got under way today at Manchester Velodrome.

Rajiv, ranked 24th in the world, is aiming to win his third successive title - if successful, he would be the first person to achieve the feat since Darren Hall in 1991.

“It’s not something I’m going to think about much, I’m just going to take each match as it comes,” said Rajiv.

“The English Nationals are a good opportunity to test yourself against the other players in the country.

“There’s a bit of pressure, because you’re expected to win, but it’s good to have that pressure sometimes.

“We’ve had a period of hard training over the winter and I’m feeling good going into the championships.”

Rajiv, who trains at the Badminton England’s National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes, has his heart set on a place in the England team to compete at the Commonwealth Games.

Subject to selection, he thinks he would have a good chance of winning a medal in the men’s singles in India – despite the likely presence of Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei, current world number one and reigning Commonwealth Games champion.

“He’s just won a couple of big tournaments but, if you’re in the other half of the draw, realistically I think medalling would be quite achievable," said Rajiv, a member of England’s bronze medal winning badminton team at the Bendigo Commonwealth Youth Games in 2004.

“The Commonwealth Games are definitely up there for me. Playing at the Games would definitely be an experience for me.

"It’s just below the Olympics and it’s a multi-sport event - they don’t come around very often.”

Rajiv is coached by two-time national champion Aamir Ghaffar, who represented England in the men’s singles at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, finishing fourth.

England have won the Commonwealth Games men’s singles gold only once – that went to Stephen Baddeley in Edinburgh in the1986 Games.

England finished second to Malaysia in the badminton medals table at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games with two golds, a silver and two bronzes.

Game's Torch would enter India from Pakistan on June 25

AMRITSAR: Member Rajya Sabha Tarlochan Singh in a statement here today informed that the lighting torch of Common Wealth games would arrive in India on June 25 this year from Pakistan through the land transit route of Indo-Pak international Attari border. Games to be held at Delhi this year.

Talking to media persons, Tarlochan Singh who is also president media committee of Common Wealth Games informed that torch would reach India after passing through 70 countries. Torch would enter on Indian Territory 100 days earlier before the beginning of Common Wealth Games.

Anju Bobby George willn't participate in Commonwealth Games

Bangalore: India's medal chances in athletics at the Commonwealth Games in October received a blow on Friday with ace long jumper Anju Bobby George pulling out of the mega event.

The former World No.4, who has not competed since the Beijing Olympics, told TOI here that she will be skipping the whole of 2010 and hopes to return to action early next year. "I wanted to take part and win before my fans in Delhi. But I won't be able to compete due to personal reasons and I have already informed the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) officials," Anju said without revealing the details.

Asked if fans would be able to see her back in action again, as a comeback from a two-and-a-half-year sabbatical is difficult, Anju was very confident about her return. "No way I am quitting the sport as I still feel I can compete in one more Olympics. I'll try and be ready for the London Games in 2012. And If I compete there, I'll surely not go as a spectator. I'm sure with all my experience and with the help of Bobby (husband and coach), I can make a comeback," the 32-year-old Customs officer added.

Anju first hogged the limelight winning the bronze medal in the CWG in 2002 and then in the Busan Asian Games where she clinched the gold. The next year she created history in Paris becoming the first Indian to win a medal (bronze) in the World Athletics championship. In 2005, Anju was again basking in glory after winning the silver in the World Athletics final, an achievement rated by many as the high point of her career.

However, Anju's best performance came in the Athens Olympics when she led the field in the first round after touching down at 6.83 metres. In the end, the Indian couldn't improve further and settled for the sixth place.