‘All stadiums will be ready by August 25’

The Commonwealth Games organisers have taken over most of the competition venues for the event and expect all the stadiums to be “Games ready” by August 25 — just nine days away.

The Commonwealth Games organisers have taken over most of the competition venues for the event and expect all the stadiums to be “Games ready” by August 25 — just nine days away.

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Organising Committee vice chairman Randhir Singh told reporters on Monday that after inspection of the venues by Singh and OC Secretary General Lalit Bhanot, and going by reports from the venue operations teams, the organisers have sent specific requisitions to various stadium owners.

“We have given a kind of ‘to-do’ list to each venue owner. These are minor works to be done before the final finishing. They will be done by August 25,” Singh said.

With the Games mired in corruption charges, Singh and Bhanot along with OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi visited the Major Dhyan Chand National Hockey Stadium, Jawaharal Nehru Stadium, Talkatora Stadium, Siri Fort Sports Complex, Karni Singh Shooting Range, Indira Gandhi Sports Complex and Yamuna Sports Complex in the last one week to take stock of the works.

“The fields of play in all the stadiums were already in shape but now most of the rubbles have been cleaned. The beautification is going on,” he said.

One of the training venues, Shivani stadium, will probably be delayed in getting ready because, Bhanot said, alitigation had halted its work. “Now it is on track and in any case we have Yamuna sports complex and other places as substitute,” he told HT. "The officials of the venue developers will be out of the venues by August 25."

The OC top brass will be visiting the Games Village next week for similar stock taking exercise. Foreign athletes start arriving at the Village from September 15.