NEW DELHI: Facilities during the 2010 Commonwealth Games here will be on par with those obtained at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth, at least in regard to weather forecasts and information system.

The National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast (NCMRWF) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) under the Ministry of Science and Technology have firmed up a plan to set up a system that will provide venue-specific forecast.

Parameters

Announcing the plan, Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said the system would provide real time display of weather observations and five-day forecasts for each venue on a series of parameters — from cloud cover, temperatures, wind direction and speed, and visibility to humidity, heat/cold indices, comfort indices and wind gusts — for the benefit of sportspersons participating in the 12-day programme from October 3 to 14, 2010.

There would be an exclusive weather information booth in each venue, where athletes and their coaches could go to get latest weather forecasts. In addition, there would be hourly update and display of weather information on the official television channel of the Commonwealth Games.

Arrangements would also be made for providing information through mobile service providers.

Automatic systems

The system would involve the setting up of a dense network of automatic weather systems, Doppler radars, and wind profilers and use of high-end computing systems, and hardware for visualisation and product display systems.

Mr. Sibal said the project would also involve participation by private agencies. He, however, declined to give details on this aspect.

"Though weather conditions were known to have significant potential to influence sport activities, it is only since the Atlanta Olympics that specific weather forecast systems were developed and pressed into service to provide customised products, covering all aspects and catering to all the major needs of the sporting events. India will be following upon that initiative and would provide a world class facility."

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