Holding of major events before CWG annoys Gill

New Delhi: Sports Minister M S Gill on Saturday lashed out at national Federations for overburdening the government by hosting mega events, such as hockey World Cup and shooting World Cup ahead of next year`s Commonwealth Games.

"We are hosting the hockey World Cup, the shooting World Cup, a four-nation hockey tournament early next year before the Commonwealth Games but these events could have been avoided till the Games," Gill said at a function to mark hockey legend Major Dhyanchand`s birthday, celebrated as National Sports Day. "I am not against test events but the Commonwealth Games is a huge burden and bringing more world events into the country is not sensible.” "I have seen all over the world the test events hardly have any significance. These are just to check whether the doors, timers of the stadiums are working. I am little dissappointed with the Federations because they could have avoided bringing these events to the country before the Commonwealth Games," he said. "It has put additional pressure on all the concerned authorities associated with the Games because now we have to complete the infrastructure of some of the stadiums by December-January," he added. The organisers of the Commonwealth Games, scheduled from October 3 to 14 next year, are running against time and are facing a tough challenge to complete all the infrastructure required for the Games within the deadline. Even the contruction work of the National Stadium, the main venue for hockey during the Commonwealth Games, was far from over and the World Cup scheduled to be held there from February 28-March 13 and the four-nation test event in January has further compounded the problem. The capital is also scheduled to host the shooting test event -- the Commonwealth championship from February 17 followed by the World Cup in rifle and pistol competitions in March but the contruction work at the venue -- Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range -- was way behind schedule. Last month, the Wrestling Federation of India was forced to move the December-slated Commonwealth Wrestling event out of the capital to Jalandhar because of the delay in construction of the venue. Even though contruction work at most of the venues were running behind schedule, the Sports Minister assured that everything will be completed in time and the Games will be an overwhelming success. "We are constantly working to ensure the smooth conduct of the Games and we will do whatever it takes to make it a success," Gill said. Gill also said he would ensure that from now onwards all other athletes representing India apart from the Asian Games and Olympic-bound athletes were provided with daily allowance during international tournaments. "After I took up the position, I felt embarrased to see that government doesn`t give daily allowance to other athletes who represent India apart from those who participate in Asian Games and in Olympics. "It is disgusting. I am going to take up the matter with the govenment in a day or two and ensure that they get USD 20-25 as daily allowance," he said. On reports about Indian Weightlifting Federation threatening to close down the training camp for lifters preparing for the 2010 Commonwealth Games if the Sports Authority of India failed to provide enough barbells, Gill said, "He will look into the matter and ensure that such a situation never arises." Bureau Report