With country’s pride at stake, need to focus on C’wealth Games’ success: Chavan

NEW DELHI - Minister of State for Science and Technology Prithviraj Chavan said here on Saturday that with the Commonwealth Games being around, the country’s pride is at stake.

He said the mistakes that have occurred during the preparation of the Games could be discussed later, but the country’s prime focus should be on ensuring the success of the Games.

Addressing reporters during a press meet at the office of the paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Chavan said: “Well, we all hope that the Commonwealth Games happen on time with a lot of success. There is a lot of national pride at stake. This is the largest-ever project we undertook. There have been hiccups, there have been mistakes, there have been missed deadlines, but I think everybody now, after Prime Minister has reviewed and the Cabinet Secretary has been reviewed regularly, whatever, we look at the errors and the mistakes and the charges later on. But our first priority now is to deliver good Games, because a lot of national prestige is on stake.”

India is expecting about two million tourists in New Delhi for the Games, as well as about 10,000 athletes from 71 teams representing 54 Commonwealth member states which will be held from 3 to 14 October in New Delhi.

The 12-day extravaganza will be India’s and national capital’s biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games. (ANI)