Indian sports federations asked to renew contracts with foreign coaches India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee has asked all National Sports Federations (NSFs) in India to renew their contracts with foreign coaches well in time to avoid discontinuity. The committee met 17 NSFs, of the disciplines that would feature in next year's Games, and advised them to ensure that no foreign coach departs midway that might affect the athletes' preparations. "We discussed this point with the Joint Secretary as well. What happens normally is that even till the last moment we have to renew the contract and many times the coaches get picked up by some other country. But this time the Joint Secretary said that they are going to renew them much in advance so that ambiguity does not take place," said Randhir Singh, Vice- Chairman, Commonwealth Games Organising Committee. Randhir Singh also said that the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's assurance that India would host grand Games next year has raised the spirits of the Organising Committee. "It has really given us tremendous confidence and the support of the government. It has really raised the spirits of all the members of the Organising Committee," he added. He also said that procurement of equipments would be completed on time. 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.