"Olympic" Dreams!!

With exactly an year to go before New Delhi hosts the “Commonwealth Games”, Brazil, which is one of the fastest growin economies of the world has been announced as the venue for the 2016 Olympics. This comes as a surprise to many who thought with Obama lobbying for Chicago, his adopted hometown, it would be tough for the other 3 contenders. But, as Rogge’s and his committee members would ve it, Chicago lost in the first round of the voting itself. And, thus “Rio Di Janiero”, was awarded its first ever Olympics. Obviously, it is Rio’s first and Brazil’s first but it is “Latin America’s” first too!!


So, what exactly turned it around for the “Sambas”?? True, their President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva was present in Denmark lobbying for the games to be held in Rio, but that cannot be the only reason with the presence of other big-wig’s like US President, Spain’s King and Japanese Prime Minister too, since Madrid and Tokyo were also in the race, apart from Chicago. I do feel for Spain who had lost out in the bidding for 2012 Olympics as well, when Tony Blair took the games to London. But, that amazes me more of how much IOC expects from Brazil and most of the developing nations should be encouraged by these signs. Obviously, IOC took a gamble by givin it to Beijing in 2008, though m bein very rude to China by callin it as “IOC’s” gamble, but with the grand success of the ’08 games, IOC’s faith in developin nations has surely been given a boost.


Brazil will be put to test when they host the 2014 FIFA World Cup. They will be havin their work cut out to host world’s two biggest sportin events inside two years. That will be a really note worthy achievement if they do it, though it seems quite a reality as of now. So, Brazil havin put forward a very convincing proposal of a successful ’16 Games, their main worry will be the pumping of millions and millions of dollars for the show- piece event. Though, one might argue Brazil got the games mainly because of the sympathy factor and the fact that Latin America has never hosted the Games, they will surely try to prove their critics’ wrong.



So, is India ready for 2020 bid? Obviously, Delhi will be the obvious choice if by any means India wants to bid for 2020 games. But, the situation that has arised for holdin the CWG aint very promising. Accordin to the report 13 out of the 19 stadiums are running behind the schedule. Also, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main venue of CWG, is yet to undergo refurbishing. With the CWG team constantly warnin India about their lack of effort to meet the schedule and Mr. Suresh Kalamadi regularly assuring them of 100% successful games, it remains to be seen if the Govt. can keep up to the pace and stage an event so big as the CWG. Obviously, India’s chances of 2020 will surely get a boost if CWG ’10 goes as per planned. But, another thing that may also be a hindrance, is the country’s performance itself in the Games. India ranked 50th in Beijing ’08 with total 3 medals of each variant. That is an amazingly poor performance of a country which boasts of the largest population in the world, second only to China. Lack of proper infrastructure is the main reason for Indian athletes’ poor show time and again but all that may change pretty soon with India finally getting an individual Gold at Beijing ‘08.




On the other hand India seriously needs to pull up its socks and try to complete the unfinished projects as soon as possible. I am sure the Govt and its team are workin day and night to make this possible. Even the work for Delhi Metro has been quickened to make it accessible and operational to the tourists from the Games’ Village to other areas of the city and provide quick and better connectivity at nominal rates. But, with the biddings for 2020 games startin in 2011, India, firstly needs to stage a successful CWG.
Even then I guess 2020 games will be a distant dream as India will have stiff competition from other cities of the likes of Madrid and Chicago. So, as the Indian Army asks, “Do you have it in you”??...., I would like to ask all those involved in Indian Sports Ministry and those holdin high offices for the welfare of the nation, “Do You Have It In You”??.
“Can you give India and its sports’ fanatics like me the Games of the stature of the OLYMPICS in 2020”??

If yes, I would be more than grateful to you.



A true “Indian Sports’” fan.