Commonwealth Games becoming more Delhi-centric, complain bloggers, experts

As the Commonwealth Games draws near with all the multitude of problems associated with it, a lot of people say they feel the event is now becoming more of a Delhi Games instead of a national event.

With advertisements like Go Dilli, Let Sports Win and singer Palash Sen's Dilli Meri Jaan, approved by chief minister Sheila Dikshit and being hailed as the theme song for New Delhi itself seems to all point at CWG 2010 as just Delhi Games.

"When Hamilton bid for the Commonwealth Games, 87% people wanted the CWG to take place in India, even though they went for the bid. Unfortunately, the event seems to have sunk to a club level game now," says author and director Sunil Yash Kalra, who was in the capital recently to launch his book 'Road to Commonwealth Games 2010'.

A journalist from a leading newspaper says, "CWG has become a Delhi game rather than India game because if you look at the local newspapers in Delhi, almost all of them have a CWG section."

He adds, dailies outside and the National Capital Region especially Mumbai or Kolkata do not have such sections."

Former Indian women's cricket team captain Anjum Chopra is of the view that Games has become more of Delhi Games than a national event.

"I don't know why this has happened but probably because it is happening in Delhi and may be other people are feeling a sense of disconnect. I am a Delhiite and so naturally I will relate to it," says Chopra.

"Probably other cities are feeling disconnect because the word is also going around, "My Delhi, my games". So people who are not from Delhi will probably not connect. But it is not easy as well when you say it is city specific," she adds.

On the cyberspace discussions and debates go back and forth on whether the CWG is India's or just Delhi's.

A blogger writes, "It's like the Games are being held in Delhi for Delhi, and not for the country. The songs and the anthems are not inspiring enough. Where is the enthusiasm needed for games like this."

Another blogger writes, "Are you sure it is India who is hosting the Games?"

Even within the capital there seems to be a lack of enthusiasm amidst the people.

"It does not feel like the Games belong to us. True there are volunteers but more should be done to get people involved," writes blogger Divyanshu Boora.