Budget for Commonwealth Games OC doubled to Rs 1620 crore

The Union Cabinet today approved a proposal from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for providing a revised budget of Rs 1620 crore as loan to the Organising Committee (OC) of the Commonwealth Games 2010 which Delhi will host in October next year.

The loan will be at the prevailing government rate of interest. The budget approved earlier was Rs 767 crore.

According to an official press release, the factors that have contributed to the increase in the amounts proposed in the revised estimates included inclusion of new items which were essential for the successful delivery of the Games but were not provided in the initial budget of the OC.

These are accreditation, city operations, sponsorship and television rights, security, sustainability and environment and ticketing.

The other factors included change in the scope of the work and cost escalation in reslpect of accommodaton, catering, opening and closing ceremonies, protocol and Commonwealth Games Federation relations, Queen's Baton Relay (QBR), rent for office of OC, communications, image and look, technology, risk management-insurance, and technical conduct of the Games.

Another factor was the increase in the number of days of QBR's international leg from 136 to 240 days and domestic leg from 60 to 100 days. The revised QBR route now covers all Commonwealth Games Association nations and territories and all States in India.

The release said the number of volunteers had gone up to nearly 30,000 and hence the cost of accreditation, catering, uniform and so on on this account had increased.

The components of rent for the OC headquarters and technology, which were practically "nil" in the initial budget, are now around Rs 175 crore and Rs 200 crore, respectively and have contributed substantially to the increase, it said.

Against the revised estimate of Rs 1620 crore, the OC is expected to generate revenue of about Rs 1708 crore, it added.

India will host the XIX Commonwealth Games from October 3-14, 2010, in 17 sporting disciplines. In addition, competitions will also be held for Elite Athletes with Disability (EAD).

The OC is responsible for the conduct and delivery of CWG- D 2010. The activities of the OC covers 34 Functional Areas, including Accreditation, Games Family, Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Publicity, Reception, Results, Management, Sponsorship, Stay and Transportation of Sportspersons, Technical Conduct of the Games, Ticketing, and so on. All activities during the operational phase of the Games will be managed by the Organising Committee.

NNN