The Union Minister for Urban Development Mr. S. Jaipal Reddy earlier stated that the successful conduct of the Commonwealth Games here this year would convey to the world at large that India has already arrived on the global stage. “Organising the Games is a great national task and I am sure we will deliver the best Games,” he said.

Mr. Reddy, heads the Group of Ministers managing the co-ordination and development work for the Commonwealth Games to be held here in Delhi from October 3 this year, was visiting the headquarters of the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi and assured it of the Government’s full support.

“I am sure we will be able to get all venues ready well in time for the Games,” he said, assuring Organising Committee Chairman Mr Suresh Kalmadi, MP, that the Government was totally behind him and his team to deliver a great Games. “The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is totally committed to the conduct of the Games,” he said.

Mr. Reddy complimented Mr. Kalmadi as a great organiser and a doer and said, as the head of the Group of Ministers overseeing the Games, his job was to provide fillip to the process, strengthen the OC Chairman’s hands and the hands of the Organising Committee. “I am sure you will deliver the best Commonwealth Games ever in history,” he said.

The Union Minister said it was important for India to make the most of the awareness created by the Commonwealth Games and sustain support for Olympic sport after the Games. “We did not follow up the 1982 Asian Games very well and we must do it now,” he said.

Mr. Kalmadi thanked Mr. Reddy for his support and guidance and said that things had started moving quickly after he was named to lead the Group of Ministers overseeing the preparation for the Commonwealth Games.