News; Bolt boost for 2010 Commonwealth Games

Usain Bolt will be the star attraction at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, according to Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi.

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Speaking at a Sports Breakfast held alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Port of Spain, Tobago, Kalmadi confirmed Bolt would take part in the October 3 to 14 event, the Times of India reports.The announcement is a shot in the arm for the event, which has been plagued by venue construction delays and organisational problems. Kalmadi said that the preparations were on track and venues would begin to be completed by May.

 

Moving athletes and officials around through heavy traffic in Delhi has also been flagged as a potential problem for the event, but India’s Sports Secretary Sindushree Khullar told the Sports Breakfast that dedicated lanes would be set up for the event, and the Delhi government would declare a holiday on October 14, the day of the closing ceremony, to reduce traffic on roads.

 

Kalmadi Kalmadi also said that the 2010 event would set environmental standards that would “become the benchmark for all multi-disciplinary games in future.”