Q: What is your contribution towards making Pune a Sports City?
Suresh Kalmadi : The creation of the Shiv Chhatrapati Kreedanagari at Mhalunge, Balewadi near Pune is the first step towards this goal. This is the second time Pune again got developed The then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Sharad Pawar supported me in this effort and the National Games were organized in 1994. The Sanas Sports Ground at Pune, an athletes track was built and is reserved for sports alone and the Asian Grand Prix Athletic Meets are organized here. Developing sports culture and facilities in Pune has been my relentless effort. I succeeded in getting the III Commonwealth Youth Games to Pune with the very thought in mind and you can see for yourself the world class sports facilities that have been created. These will be a legacy for the city and will be served as a major training and competition venue for promising Indian athletes, and athletes from Pune. This is the third time Pune’s development got a boost and 2500 crores was pumped in for development of Pune’s road, riverside development and slums through the JNNURM from Central Government and State Government.
Q: Is it right to say that the Commonwealth Games in India is the first step to holding the Olympics here?
Suresh Kalmadi : Certainly, our country is emerging high in the sports map. After the successful conclusion of the Afro Asian Games at Hyderabad, we strived hard to bring the III Commonwealth Youth Games to Pune. The XIX Commonwealth Games will be held in Delhi in 2010 for the first ever time. We have already held the Asian Games twice. Our grit to bag the Olympics for 2020 is strong. While we vie for these international sports events, we consider it our own responsibility to create the right ambience for sports in the country as also to create sporting facilities. We have an ambitious scheme for Rs.1500 crores sanctioned by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh on behalf of the Indian Olympic Association to see to it that the sportspersons are groomed from a very young age. I consider the Commonwealth Games at Delhi important in terms of giving exposure to our athletes. This will help them emerge successful at future international events. The III Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune was also immensely successful. 71 Countries attended the III Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune. This has raised our confidence of holding the Olympics in the country.
Q: Do you mean to say that the campaign for bagging the 2020 Olympics has gained momentum due to the organization of the III Commonwealth Youth Games Pune 2008?
Suresh Kalmadi : Indeed, the CYG Pune 2008 was a huge success because of massive support from the Punekars , the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra and cooperation of all political parties in Pune. All the 71 Commonwealth nations participated in the Games with more than 2000 athletes, coaches and officials. Television broadcast was given to 125 countries across the Globe. Many international sports personalities like President, International Olympic Committee, Dr. Jacques Rogge, President, Olympic Committee of Asia, HH Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad-Al-Sabha, President, Commonwealth Games Federation, Mr. Michael Fennel, and many other international federations Presidents visited Pune during the Games. All these dignitaries commended our efforts to bag the 2020 Olympics. We are now more hopeful and the possibility of the Olympic Games being held in the country can’t be ruled out. I sincerely feel that the Pune can be an Olympic City.
Q: What is the possibility of holding the Olympics in Pune city?
Suresh Kalmadi : I am greatly hopeful about that. There are world class multi sport facilities available at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports City. Badminton originates from Pune. The birth of the Indian Olympic Association can be traced back to Pune where the first meeting was held at Deccan Gymkhana Club in 1980. Besides, the city is home to Olympian’s like Balkrishna Akotkar, Joe Philips, Maruti Adkar, Harishchandra Birajdar, Manoj Pingle, Dhanraj Pillay, Rekha Bhide, Anajli Ved Pathak. An environment suitable for the Olympic Games prevails in the city. Organising of games is a legacy here (to review again). Also thanks to the grant of Rs.2500 crores from the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission from Government of India and Rs.500 crore from the Government of Maharashtra for the III CYG Pune 2008. This is a legacy of CYG and Pune will always remember that there was a major upgradation in Pune city and sports infrastructure. For an Olympic Games the budgets will be to the tune of Rs.50,000 crores. Can you imagine the scale of development that will happen in Pune. The Metro, Flyover, Green Pune, Mumbai – Pune Bullet train, an International Airport and what not – will make it truly a Global City.
Q: Along with organizing of Olympics do you also stress on popularizing Olympic Sports and our success of Indian Athletes in International Sports events?
Suresh Kalmadi : It is our main goal. I am President of the Indian Olympic Association from 1996. Technical training of sportsmen, training by foreign coaches, practice of sports medicine, a sport science centre for latest techniques, scholarship for sportsmen, training camps, encouraging medal winners with generous prizes to popularize the game etc., have encouraged popularity of the games. I thank Prime Minister. Dr. Manmohan Singh to have sanctioned Rs.1600 crores for training of sportsperson for the first ever time in the country. We have bagged 3 individual medals at the Beijing Olympics and this is a historical achievement. India swept the medals tally with a whopping 76 medals in the III Commonwealth Youth Games Pune 2008 including 33 Gold. We were the leaders among a group of 71 Commonwealth nations and this is a great achievement.
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