Commonwealth Games 2010: Great Opening Ceremony Renewed Interest in the Games

Commonwealth Games opening on the 3rd October 2010 has left many a critics flabbergasted and bedazzled. India opened this multi-sports event for the first time ever and by the looks of it, the country is well on its way to make it a super success. The opening ceremony that took place in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium has been highly applauded throughout the world and is said have set a certain benchmark for future hosts.
The huge participation and excitement surrounding the CWG has created a great deal of interest in the host city, Delhi. Thousands of foreign visitors have landed up in the city to take part in or witness the great spectacle. Commonwealth Games 2010 has been in the international news for both good and bad reasons. Let’s have a look at the various aspects of the games and the necessary information.

Budget and the Games Village

The estimated budget for hosting the CWG 2010 has exceeded one billion pounds, excluding the development of non-sports related infrastructure like airports and roadways. This makes it the costliest Commonwealth Games ever. A big chunk of that budget has been spent on the Commonwealth Games Village. The games village includes nearly 30 apartments and more than 1200 flats for athletes and officials. It is a state-of-the-art residential project that features world class security system and two level basement car parking, as well as a number of shopping and recreational facilities.

Transport

The Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is renovated and modernised to match excellent standard, The airport’s recently build Terminal 3 has enhanced the airport’s passenger capacity to nearly 40 million commuters a year. The city has extended road infrastructure with new flyovers and bridges. Additionally, the Delhi Metro has increased its operations to put up with more people and encourage the usage of public transportation during the ongoing CWG 2010 in Delhi.

Venues

Several stadiums are being used to hold various sporting events. These stadiums are Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Siri Fort Sports Complex, Thyagaraj Stadium, SPM Swimming Pool Complex, Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Indira Gandhi Arena, Delhi University Sports Complex, Talkatora Stadium, Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range, RK Khanna Tennis Complex and Yamuna Sports Complex.


Events

Athletes from more than 70 countries are in Delhi and are competing in a variety of sporting events, such as archery, aquatics, athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, netball, rugby, lawn bowls, squash, shooting, tennis, table tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.


Tourist Attractions in Delhi

Apart from the Commonwealth Games, the city of Delhi itself is a great tourist attraction that charms visitors with its unique mystique and intrigue. The city offers numerous interesting things to do and to see for travellers on holidays. The history of this place has affected the history text books around the world. The Old Delhi is full of beautiful Islamic structures, whereas the New Delhi is a majestic reflection of the glorious British Empire days. The greenery of Lodhi Gardens, the tranquillity of Lotus Temple and the Grandeur of Red Fort all blend together to make Delhi tourism such a big hit.