China backs India to successfully host CWG

Beijing: China on Tuesday backed India`s ability to conduct the Commonwealth Games successfully saying that the Indian government has made "great efforts" to host them. "No matter which country host such large scale Games, it is quite a challenge," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Jiang Yu told a media briefing when asked about the allegations that poor facilities were being provided for Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi. "I think the Indian government has made great efforts to prepare for the Games. I wish it will be a successful one," she said.The unsavoury drama relating to the poor preparations of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and claims by its officials that the facilities would be better than that of 2008 Beijing Olympics which won international acclaim for China, generated considerable interest in the Games in Chinese official media. China itself is preparing to host yet another mega sports event, the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou in November this year, which the organisers claim would be shade better than 2008 Beijing Olympics. The construction of all the facilities, including accommodation for more than 8000 athletes was finished and handed over to the Organising Committee on September 20. After more than two years of construction, Games Town is ready to accommodate the expected 40,000 athletes, coaches, technical officials and members of the media from around the world for the games to be held from November 12 to 27. In addition to an athletes` village with 13 apartment buildings, the Games Town includes a media village, technical officials` village, international broadcast centre and the main press centre. Xu Ruisheng, vice-mayor of Guangzhou and executive deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee was quoted by the official media here recently as saying that "the facilities for the athletes at the Asian Games are much better than at the Beijing Summer Olympic Games. There is lot of green areas and it is a very good environment for the athletes," he said. PTI