CWG Redux: Is New Delhi ready to host another Commonwealth Games in 2022?

New Delhi had hosted one of the costliest CGW in 2010

When New Delhi hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games, it had seven years to prepare. It was awarded the Games rights in November 2003, but the authorities remained hard pressed to give finishing touches till the start of the Games in October, 2010. Though India managed to conduct the games smoothly, its success was marred by a series of corruption allegations.

Now officials in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appear keen to hosting another such mega event in 2022 after the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) took back the event from Durban, following the South African government failure to give financial assurance.

The Union government and the host state has to provide financial guarantees to win the rights of the Games. The IOA has sought Union government's response before bidding for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“It is easier said than done. It will require a lot of planning and cost budgeting before we decide to bid for it. Also, the state government has to agree to the same. Rajasthan government had once shown interest, but such games are held at prime locations only,” said Vijay Kumar Malhotra, president Archery Association of India, a leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre.

Malhotra said if Games were to be held in New Delhi again, the entire games village would have to be built from scratch. “Around 80 per cent village, used during the 2010 games, have been sold to private people. Around 15-20 per cent has been converted for residential purposes for government officers,” he added.

Five-year time would be less to prepare for the Games as all the stadiums in New Delhi would require major repair and overhaul, he said.

Dushyant Chautala, president table tennis association, believes that the Games can be hosted provided the Central government ropes in some independent agencies. “There is some infrastructure ready in cities like Pune and Delhi. But more is needed to be done to develop the sport,” he said.

The official said India has learnt lessons from the 2010 Games, but time in hand was too short. The run-up to the 2010 Games had exposed poor coordination between various departments including the Delhi government, Delhi Development Authority, municipalities and the Central government. The IOA had wrongly estimated the hosting and conducting cost to around Rs 1,200 crore whereas the overall expenditure was Rs 18,532 crore, excluding the investment made by the Delhi Metro Corporation, Airport Authority of India and Delhi International Airport Limited. The overall cost to the Games, including constructions of flyovers and beautification of the city, was pegged at Rs. 70,000 crore.

The Comptroller Auditor General in its various audit reports have found irregularities in award of contracts and tenders. It also found that cost of items were inflated as much as 110 per cent in some cases.