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International broadcasters for CWG

Principal Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Despite being the host broadcaster for the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games, Doordarshan will eventually be handling only three of the 17 sports disciplines, wrestling being one of them.

“Doordarshan will be giving out 14 disciplines to international broadcasters including the BBC because we are aiming at quality production to cater to vast viewers across the Commonwealth countries,” the chairman of the Delhi 2010 Organising Committee (OC), Suresh Kalmadi, said here on Friday.

Doordarshan would also be doing the opening and closing ceremonies, but Mr. Kalmadi refused to reveal the revenue the OC is expected to earn from the National broadcaster.

He, however, said that the OC had struck a massive deal with the Network 10 of Australia and Television New Zealand as international rights holders.

Revenue-neutral

“We got more than double of our expectation and that augurs well for our revenue-neutral budget,” added Mr. Suresh Kalmadi.

He was speaking at a media briefing at the end of the third review meeting of the Coordination Commission that comprises the OC and the various government agencies.

The acting chairman of the CGF Coordination Commission Delhi 2010, Bruce Robertson, showed his satisfaction with the way the OC had made progress in various aspects of infrastructure building for the Delhi Games.

He was, however, critical on the accommodation part.

Area of concern

“Accommodation for tourists and those who would travel to watch the games is an area of concern,” said Robertson.

“Given the anticipated number of domestic and international visitors to Delhi for the Games, the current Delhi accommodation shortage and resultant high hotel prices requires both a development and managed solution,” he added.

Replying to Robertson’s concern, Mr. Kalmadi said that this indeed was an area of worry, but he said there was enough time to get hotel rooms ready.Mr. Robertson, who visited Pune, which will be hosting the Youth Games later this year, said the success of Youth Games would eventually help India to attract more visitors during 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The CGF Coordination Commission visited Pune for the first time and oversaw the build up of infrastructure at the Balewadi Complex, which hosted the 1994 National Games.

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