New Delhi:
Giving thumbs-up to Suresh Kalmadi's far-fetched dream of bringing the Olympics to India, Delhi's first citizen Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna on Thursday said the facilities for the Commonwealth Games were world-class and at par with Olympics standard.
The Lieutenant Governor, who received the Queen's Baton at a function at the Organising Committee's office, echoed Kalmadi and said India was now prepared to bid for the biggest sporting extravaganza on the planet.
"The Games Village that we have is the finest ever and is ready to host Olympics or any other multi-discipline world class meet... I am not only saying this... Many foreign delegates during their visit were so impressed with our facility that they have told me that we should bid for
Olympics now," Khanna said.
Talking about the controversies leading up to the Games, he said, "I am not looking into the superficial aspects that have been highlighted in the past. Having seeing the facilities myself, I am giving a thumbs-up to the Commonwealth Games," he said.
Khanna, along with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, received the Queen's Baton from Dronacharya awardee Satpal Singh at the function.
Welcoming the Baton, Dixit said, "Happy Commonwealth Games, happy days ahead."
Earlier, speaking at the Global Sports Summit, under-fire OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi said, "The biggest legacy (of CWG) is Olympics. Cricket is the most popular sport in our country but it is played by just 10 countries. Olympics has all sports. We have to ensure that Olympics comes up.
This is our opportunity and CWG will help."
As a matter of fact, India intends to bid for the 2020 Games but the Indian Olympic Association and the Sports Ministry have been at loggerheads on the issue.
The Sports Ministry has said it's not aware about India's bid for the Olympic Games and no such effort can go ahead without the government's nod.
The Lieutenant Governor, who received the Queen's Baton at a function at the Organising Committee's office, echoed Kalmadi and said India was now prepared to bid for the biggest sporting extravaganza on the planet.
"The Games Village that we have is the finest ever and is ready to host Olympics or any other multi-discipline world class meet... I am not only saying this... Many foreign delegates during their visit were so impressed with our facility that they have told me that we should bid for
Olympics now," Khanna said.
Talking about the controversies leading up to the Games, he said, "I am not looking into the superficial aspects that have been highlighted in the past. Having seeing the facilities myself, I am giving a thumbs-up to the Commonwealth Games," he said.
Khanna, along with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit, received the Queen's Baton from Dronacharya awardee Satpal Singh at the function.
Welcoming the Baton, Dixit said, "Happy Commonwealth Games, happy days ahead."
Earlier, speaking at the Global Sports Summit, under-fire OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi said, "The biggest legacy (of CWG) is Olympics. Cricket is the most popular sport in our country but it is played by just 10 countries. Olympics has all sports. We have to ensure that Olympics comes up.
This is our opportunity and CWG will help."
As a matter of fact, India intends to bid for the 2020 Games but the Indian Olympic Association and the Sports Ministry have been at loggerheads on the issue.
The Sports Ministry has said it's not aware about India's bid for the Olympic Games and no such effort can go ahead without the government's nod.
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