Gill takes stock of Commonwealth Games preparations India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Union Sports Minister M S Gill visited Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday to take stock of preparation for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. After visiting the stadium, Gill said that the entire work would be completed on time. Gill was accompanied by officials of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the Sports Authority of India, the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and representatives of Organising Committee, who made presentations to the Minister, and briefed him about the progress. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which will host the opening and closing ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, is one of the stadiums in need of maximum renovation. The 2010 Commonwealth Games will be India's first major international sports event after the 1982 Asian Games. New Delhi hosted the inaugural Asian Games in 1951 and again in 1982. Delhi had bagged the contract after beating the Canadian city Hamilton in the bid for rights to host the games. The Games will be staged in India for the first time and in Asia for the second time. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1998.