Adequate funds will be available for 2008 CYG: Pawar

Pune, May 29 (UNI) Union Minister Sharad Pawar today assured that adequate funds will be raised to revamp and modernise the Shiv Chhatarapati Sports City at Balewadi near here, the venue for the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG).

Mr Pawar visited the sprawling complex at Balewadi today and chaired the first meeting of the 2008 CYG Presentation Committee as its Chief Patron.

Talking to reporters later, Mr Pawar, while admitting that the stadia were in bad shape, said necessary funds would be raised to give a facelift to the whole complex and modernise the infrastructure in time for the games.

Mr Pawar lauded city MP Suresh Kalmadi, who is also president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), for his efforts in bringing the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2008 CYG to the country.

Citing the various obstacles and difficulties faced during the creation of the Balewadi complex, Mr Pawar said people from Maharashtra had extended every support in its creation and would continue to do so.

Meanwhile, while responding to queries from reporters, Mr Pawar said extending financial benefits to prospective young talent is on the cards. Mr Pawar, who is also president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said the BCCI proposes to allocate funds for training young talented sportspersons under foreign coaches and enable them to gain exposure in foreign countries from time to time. The scheme will be finalised at the Board's next working committee meeting, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, the 2008 CYG president, Mr Kalmadi, informed that the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had demanded that the two disciplines be included in the games. The 2008 CYG is to be competed in six disciplines -- athletics, archery, tennis, badminton, boxing and weightlifting.

When the games were alloted to Pune during the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, it was also mooted by council members that swimming too be included, Mr Kalmadi said. But, the decision to include other disciplines will rest on CommonWwalth Games President Michael Fennell who will be visiting Pune on June 4 and 5 to assess the facilities at the Balewadi complex.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh will have a meeting with Mr Fennell on June 5 when the TTFI and WFI demands would also be put forth, Mr Kalmadi said.

The 2008 CYG Organising Committee has put up a demand for raising Rs 300 crore towards hosting of the games which includes the amount required to give the complex a facelift and modernise the infrastructure, Mr Kalmadi informed.

Meanwhile, Mr Kalmadi, who is also president of the Asian Athletic Association (AAA), said the Government is considering to establish an international standard dope testing laboratory at NIS, Patiala.

India, he said, will make a strong bid to host the 2014 Asian Games and also the 2016 Olympic Games.

UNI IS MAZ LR RK2307