Fennell agrees to include swimming, wrestling, table tennis in CYG

Pune, Jun 5 (UNI) Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Michael Fennell has acceded to the demand for holding the additional disciplines of swimming, wrestling and table tennis during the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games to be hosted at the Shiv Chatrapati Sports city at Mahalunge-Balewadi here.

Earlier, it had been decided to hold only the six disciplines of athletics, boxing, weightlifting, shooting, badminton and tennis.

A total of nine disciplines of sports will now be competed at the third edition of the games to be held at Balewadi from October 12 to 18, 2008.

Mr Fennell, who was in the city to assess the facilities for the games, reacted with the words ''Mission accomplished'' while addressing a press conference here today.

He said he was satisfied with the existing infrastructure which could be renovated and completed before the start of the games.

The 71 member countries had demanded the inclusion of the swimming event at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games itself. Mr Fennell however clarified that a final decision on including the three additional disciplines would be taken at the Commonwealth Games Federation Board meeting to be held in November.

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who unveiled the 2008 CYG logo, assured the CGF president that adequate finance would be raised to get the venue not only renovated but a few new ones would be added to have the best of facilities.

Mr Deshmukh expressed happiness over Mr Fennell agreeing to add the three new disciplines.

Mr Deshmukh said the State will contribute Rs 100 crore while an equal amount will come from the Centre towards hosting of the 2008 CYG. The Chief Minister said he was in constant touch with the Planning Commission and the Urban Development Ministry in this regard.

The games organising committee had submitted a budget of Rs 200 crore towards hosting of the games.

Mr Deshmukh also lauded the efforts of city MP Suresh Kalmadi and expressed confidence that Mr Kalmadi's organisational skills will go a long way towards making the 2008 CYG a huge success.

UNI IS MAZ RL HT2230