Gill, Kalmadi meet Prez, invite her to be chief guest at CWG

Union Sports Minister M S Gill and Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi today met President Pratibha Patil and invited her to be the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

Union Sports Minister M S Gill and Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi today met President Pratibha Patil and invited her to be the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

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"The President has accepted the invitation", a Rashtrapati Bhavan press release said this evening.

Under a compromise reportedly reached between New Delhi and London, Prince Charles will declare the games open while President Patil will say 'let the Games begin'.

Official sources said Gill and Kalmadi met Patil for about 10 minutes at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and invited her to be the chief guest on Sunday when the sporting extravaganza begins.

Later while introducing the Games mascot Shera to the President, Kalmadi said "the stadiums are all complete. They are world class. Games are on track."

Kalmadi said that despite some criticism about the Games Village, he had spoken to many athletes and they have expressed their satisfaction about it.