India put under pressure by too many events says Minister
August 29 - India's preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games have been put under pressure by the country hosting so many other major events in the build-up, Sports Minister M.S Gill (pictured) claimed today.
The build-up to next year's Games in New Delhi, which open on October 3, have been overshadowed by fears that venues will not be ready in time.
Gill has repeatedly had to reassure the international community that India will get everything done in time.
Gill believes that having to get ready for other events has not helped.
He said: "We are hosting the hockey World Cup, the shooting World Cup, a four-nation hockey tournament early next year before the Commonwealth Games but these events could have been avoided till the Games."
India also recently hosted the World Badminton Championships in Hyderabad, an event overshadowed by England's withdrawal because of a security threat.
The event had originally been due to be staged in New Delhi as a major warm-up for the Commonwealth Games but was moved because the facilities were not ready in time.
Gill said: "I am not against test events but the Commonwealth Games is a huge burden and bringing more world events into the country is not sensible.
"I have seen all over the world the test events hardly have any significance.
"These are just to check whether the doors, timers of the stadiums are working."
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