TT eyes 2018 Commonwealth Games bid.

[Flex]

TT eyes 2018 Commonwealth Games bid
By RHONDOR DOWLAT (TT Newsday).

PRIME MINISTER Patrick Manning yesterday announced to a closed-door CHOGM sports breakfast meeting that he wants to bid to have this country host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

This was revealed to reporters by chairman of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi, India Suresh Kalmadi at a media briefing at Level 5, International Financial Centre (IFC) Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.

Kalmadi said that along with TT’s bid, Nigeria and Australia are also bidding for the 2018 games.

Kalmadi expressed much pride at having New Delhi host the 2010 Commonwealth Games, saying: “in the 60 years of our Independence, this is the first time we are hosting the Commonwealth Games, so it is very special to us.”

He revealed that so far, the Indian government has spent US$2 billion to prepare for the games. He added that there will also be the creation of almost 2.5 million jobs as a result of hosting the games.

“The games are expected to create an enormous employment opportunity for close to 2.5 million jobs. Delhi will host over 100,000 tourists during the games.”

On the economic impact the games would have on India, Kalmadi estimated that between 2010 and 2012, India stands to earn approximately US$4.5 billion. “Truly, it is said a city moves ahead five to ten years when a global sports event takes place.

India will no doubt be firmly entrenched on the sports map of the world in the future,” Kalmadi said. “India is looking to further bolster trade and business relations with other Commonwealth nations via this mega sports event, through the formation of the Business Club India, which will conduct a series of events and road shows in important Commonwealth destinations coinciding with the travelling baton relay in major cities around the world,” he added.

Given the current downturn in the global economy, Kalmadi expressed no fear of a lack of sponsorship.

“We expect to pay our loans through sponsors and advertising. We are confident that we will be funded by sponsors because they have already come forward.” Commonwealth Delhi 2010 organising committee sports secretary Sindushree Khullar reassured that preparations were coming along for this major event. With respect to travelling arrangements and the addressing of the severe traffic issue that occurs in Delhi, Khullar said the games will run from June 3 to 14 and the Indian government has already declared June 14 a public holiday.

She added that they have asked all vehicle owners to leave their vehicles at home and make use of the bus and metro transportation.

With respect to security concerns, Kalmadi admitted that it was a serious concern and assured that they will be making the necessary security arrangements and anticipate that the event will be incident free.

When asked about whether or not Fiji (which has been suspended from the Commonwealth) will be allowed to participate in the games, Kalmadi said this issue was up to Michael Fennel, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, to decide.

[weary1969]

Dat go b sweettttttttt

[Flex]

Think big
...Backing for PM's Commonwealth Games vision
By: Kwame Laurence (T&T Express).

During the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), staged here in T&T late last month, it was reported that Manning-speaking at the CHOGM Sports Breakfast Meeting-declared that the country would bid for the 2018 Games.

The T&TOC, which also functions as the local Commonwealth Games Association, had previously expressed its interest in bidding for those Games, but shelved plans following the cancellation of the 2009 Caribbean Games because of the H1N1 virus (swine flu).

’We had second thoughts,’ T&TOC general secretary Brian Lewis told the Express, ’because we realised the negative fallout. After the Caribbean Games cancellation, we expressed reservation.’

But reservation has turned into optimism, following the Prime Minister’s CHOGM declaration.

’To me it was a statement that required a lot of courage,’ Lewis said. ’It means that you have to have a clear sense of how you see the vision for your country. I took a lot of heart from it. There’s a clear understanding of the role of sport and what sport can do for a country.’

Camacho, who served as T&TOC president between 1998 and 2005, told the Express that discussions about the possibility of T&T hosting the Commonwealth Games started about a decade ago. He said that while he is pleased that the Prime Minister shares the vision of the T&TOC, bidding to host the 2018 edition of the Games is not realistic.

Camacho said in order to be considered a worthy candidate for hosting the Commonwealth Games, T&T would have to prove its capability.

’Without the credibility of hosting a multi-discipline Games, I think 2018 is probably a little ambitious. I don’t think 2018 is likely. Subject to having the opportunity to demonstrate through the Caribbean Games or another multi-discipline Games, 2022 would certainly be realistic.

’The magnitude,’ Camacho continued, ’needs to be well understood. India have so far spent two billion (US) dollars. Unless we’re prepared to understand the cost, it remains remote. Airfares for participating teams, for example, are now a common part of the bid process. We would have to sit down and talk with the Prime Minister.’

The former T&TOC president said that winning the bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games would be ’no slam dunk’.

’It’s not politics. It’s sports people who vote, and sports people tend to seek the interest of athletes.’

Lewis believes T&T is very capable of winning a Commonwealth Games bid.

’With the kind of creativity and imagination in our country, we would have a compelling bid. There are advantages to the fact we’re an island. We have the capability to create a compelling narrative. What wins you a bid a lot of times is narrative. The theme and concept are important.

’We would not be able to put forward a bid along traditional lines,’ the T&TOC general secretary continued. ’If we went ahead, we would actually create a new approach to how you construct and present a bid.’

Lewis commended the Prime Minister for his Commonwealth Games pronouncement at CHOGM 2009.

’The self-confidence to make the statement cannot be taken lightly. It is seeing Trinidad and Tobago as we can be, instead of what it is now. Why not? This is more a challenge than something to fear. Stakeholders should seize the day and seize the moment.’