Inaugurating the cycling velodrome at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex here on Tuesday, Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill said the onus was now on the Organising Committee (OC) to deliver a successful Commonwealth Games.
“This velodrome is outstanding. Others like the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the swimming complex and weightlifting stadium are ready to be inaugurated. The Delhi infrastructure is done and I am sure the very little left will be done in time. Now it is the responsibility of Suresh Kalmadi (Chairman, OC) and his OC to organize the Games to perfection,” Mr. Gill said.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Mr. Kalmadi and Cycling Federation of India President S.S. Dhindsa were effusive in their praise of the Sports Authority of India and Central Public Works Department for erecting the world class cycling velodrome in just 17 months.
The velodrome has also won appreciation from Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President Mike Fennel and International Cycling Federation (UCI) Vice-President Ray Godkin.
“The Delhi velodrome is an absolutely marvelous facility of the highest standard and on completion probably would only be surpassed by the Beijing Olympic velodrome (built at a cost of $235 mn),” Mr. Godkin had said in a recent communication to SAI.