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Commonwealth Youth Games 2008 Pune
Pune hosted the National Games in 1994 and Suresh Kalmadi was Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Games. The Commonwealth Youth Games in 2008, with participation from all the 71 countries of Commonwealth were successfully held here. Kalmadi is Chairman of the Organizing Committee.
• Under his leadership and effort, a 200 - acre sports city was set up at Mhalunge- Balewadi. Kalmadi has named the sports complex as Shiv Chatrapati Kridanagari.
• The Pune Games had events like athletics, swimming, tennis, badminton, table tennis, boxing, wrestling, shooting and weight lifting.
• About 5000 volunteers worked for the event. It was an organizational feat for Pune, as CYG turned out to be a grand success.
• The National games had popularized Shri Chatrapati Kreedanagari in the entire nation, but CYG gave it a global recognition as the games were telecast live across 125 countries.
• A Youth Baton Relay (YBR) of the Commonwealth Youth Games was organized ahead of the CYG. YBR was flagged off on August 1, 2008, birth anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak, from the Delhi University. The baton traversed a distance of 8000 km across 9 states including Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Karnatak and Maharashtra. A total of 199 cities were visitied under this. It got an overwhelming response through its circuitous journey across states and also in Pune. Students from about 450 schools greeted YBR as it entered the city.
• Beijing Olympics was a turning point where India won 3 individual medals. Soon after, India swept the medals tally at CYG with 33 gold medals and a total of 76 medals in all.
• Rs 2,500 cr were allocated under JNNURM for infrastructure development in Pune and another Rs 500 cr were made available for upgradation of Shiv Chatarpati Sports city. The city infrastructure got a permanent uplift. President International Olympics Committee, Dr. Jacques Rogge , President of Olympic Council of Asia HH Sheikh Al Fahad Al Sabah, President, Commonwealth Games Federation Mr. Michael Fennell were few of the international dignitaries who visited Pune for the Youth Games. They all commended the successful organization of CYG. The Commonwealth Games are to be held in New Delhi in 2010.
• India is also trying hard to bag the 2020 Olympic Games. It was Kalmadi who first initiated the idea that Olympics can be held in Pune. He relied heavily on the cooperation of Puneites when he brought in the CYG and now he is sure of their support to bag the Olympics.
• Kalmadi was felicitated with an award to popularizing Olympic by the Association of National Olympic Committees prior to the Beijing Olympics. Kalmadi considers his prime aim to spread the popularity of Olympic Sports and is constantly striving in this direction. He was first elected President of the Indian Olympic Association in 1996 and for the second time in 2002. He was also elected unopposed for the post in 2008.
• The CYG came to be known as the Green Games. A contract was signed with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) of the UNO, during the games, the first ever of its kind in the history of Commonwealth games. A total of 71 schools took part in a special programme called Bond Forever, in which they studied the history, heritage and culture of the 71 participating nations in CYG. Jigrr, the mascot for games became very popular in the city. Pune also witnessed a rise in sports tourism during the event.
• Kalmadi is Chairman of the Organizing Committee Commonwealth Games New Delhi, 2010.
• Under his leadership and effort, a 200 - acre sports city was set up at Mhalunge- Balewadi. Kalmadi has named the sports complex as Shiv Chatrapati Kridanagari.
• The Pune Games had events like athletics, swimming, tennis, badminton, table tennis, boxing, wrestling, shooting and weight lifting.
• About 5000 volunteers worked for the event. It was an organizational feat for Pune, as CYG turned out to be a grand success.
• The National games had popularized Shri Chatrapati Kreedanagari in the entire nation, but CYG gave it a global recognition as the games were telecast live across 125 countries.
• A Youth Baton Relay (YBR) of the Commonwealth Youth Games was organized ahead of the CYG. YBR was flagged off on August 1, 2008, birth anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak, from the Delhi University. The baton traversed a distance of 8000 km across 9 states including Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Karnatak and Maharashtra. A total of 199 cities were visitied under this. It got an overwhelming response through its circuitous journey across states and also in Pune. Students from about 450 schools greeted YBR as it entered the city.
• Beijing Olympics was a turning point where India won 3 individual medals. Soon after, India swept the medals tally at CYG with 33 gold medals and a total of 76 medals in all.
• Rs 2,500 cr were allocated under JNNURM for infrastructure development in Pune and another Rs 500 cr were made available for upgradation of Shiv Chatarpati Sports city. The city infrastructure got a permanent uplift. President International Olympics Committee, Dr. Jacques Rogge , President of Olympic Council of Asia HH Sheikh Al Fahad Al Sabah, President, Commonwealth Games Federation Mr. Michael Fennell were few of the international dignitaries who visited Pune for the Youth Games. They all commended the successful organization of CYG. The Commonwealth Games are to be held in New Delhi in 2010.
• India is also trying hard to bag the 2020 Olympic Games. It was Kalmadi who first initiated the idea that Olympics can be held in Pune. He relied heavily on the cooperation of Puneites when he brought in the CYG and now he is sure of their support to bag the Olympics.
• Kalmadi was felicitated with an award to popularizing Olympic by the Association of National Olympic Committees prior to the Beijing Olympics. Kalmadi considers his prime aim to spread the popularity of Olympic Sports and is constantly striving in this direction. He was first elected President of the Indian Olympic Association in 1996 and for the second time in 2002. He was also elected unopposed for the post in 2008.
• The CYG came to be known as the Green Games. A contract was signed with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) of the UNO, during the games, the first ever of its kind in the history of Commonwealth games. A total of 71 schools took part in a special programme called Bond Forever, in which they studied the history, heritage and culture of the 71 participating nations in CYG. Jigrr, the mascot for games became very popular in the city. Pune also witnessed a rise in sports tourism during the event.
• Kalmadi is Chairman of the Organizing Committee Commonwealth Games New Delhi, 2010.
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