Commonwealth to be shifed to Melbourne?

Melbourne is ready to step in and host the 2010 Commonwealth Games if the event is pulled from New Delhi, a report said Sunday.

The four-yearly Games, featuring 71 teams from Commonwealth countries, are due to be held in the Indian capital from October 3-14, 2010, but concerns remain over construction of its sporting and transport infrastructure.

Building delays have already forced this year’s world badminton championships to be shifted to the southern city of Hyderabad.

In November, Commonwealth Games Federation co-ordination committee chairman Austin Sealy said India could miss out on hosting the Games if a dispute over the construction of the athletes’ village was not resolved.

The Melbourne Age, citing senior sports officials, said the Victorian state government had discussed contingency plans to host the event which it last held just three years ago.

One of the officials, who declined to be named, said that while Melbourne had not been asked to step in, “if things don’t improve (in Delhi), we will.”

Another official added that if Delhi was unable to host the Games, Melbourne would likely be asked to do so.

“It would be an obvious thing to do. Melbourne had it last, so they know we’ve got the infrastructure and facilities,” the official said.

But Lalit Bhanot, general secretary of the Delhi Games organising committee, bristled at the suggestions.

“There is no possibility of a shift in venue for the Commonwealth Games and there is no reason to do it,” he told the newspaper.

“I don’t know why this issue comes up. There should not be one percent of doubt about Delhi staging the Games.”

Delhi is already facing accomodation shortage and therefore bed and breakfast Delhi scheme has been launched many, many moons ago. Still the bed and breakfast's are finding it hard to fill their rooms. Hopefully commonwealth games will chamnge all that.