Commonwealth Games- Myths and Realities

There are various prevalent myths about upcoming

commonwealth games, not only among masses but also among
some decision makers and intellectuals. Even while interacting with
young students and professionals I have found that most people
believe in these myths that were systematically spread using
propaganda.

From what is Commonwealth to how the city will be affected from

these games, from environmental aspects to economic outcomes,
there are myths associated with all dimensions of the games.

These myths are created over a period of time in a planned manner

and with selective approach. The purpose of these myths is to hide
the realities of CWG and real beneficiaries and also to avoid any
questioning regarding costs and liabilities.

These myths have created a sense of euphoria among people and

there are attempts to justify all exploitation of resources and people
behind these myths.

Here I have tried to list out common myths about these games. I
have also tried to discuss these myths and show the real side of the
picture briefly. After reading this chapter, anyone with open mind and
with no vested interest involved can easily see the real side of these
games.

1. Myth No. 1

Delhi should be proud that it is hosting Commonwealth

Games. It is a matter of national pride and honor.

The Truth

Commonwealth Nations are group of countries that were

colonized by Britishers and there is nothing to be proud of.
Why should any nation be proud of being colonized and why
do we need to celebrate that by spending hard earned money
of poor masses who are still struggling to recover from the
 loss and insult caused by Britishers to this great country.

2. Myth No. 2

Commonwealth Games are contest between countries.

The Truth

Article 5 –Commonwealth Games Federation Constitution

says
“The Commonwealth Games are contests between
athletes and not contests between countries.”

3. Myth No. 3

CWG 2010 is Green Games

The Truth

More than 50000 Trees have been cut for projects related to
Commonwealth Games. The Games Village itself is a case
of violation of existing Environmental laws and is situated on
ecologically sensitive river bed of Yamuna River. Plans are
there to kill street animals before the Games. The only thing
green about these games is the “money” involved.

4. Myth No. 4

These Games will benefit people of the City

The Truth

People of the city have already started paying the price and
cost of living in the city is going out of reach for middle class
and lower middle class citizen of the city. Livelihood of poor
people is being destroyed e.g. Rikshaw, Tongas are not
 allowed as they don’t look good. Yellow- black Taxis are on
their way out (more than 50,000 families are directly
dependent on these taxis for their living). The development
that is taking place is only for a selected class of people with
a particular life style. All Labors laws are being violated and
authorities are removing poor people from JJ Clusters and
slums in the name of beautification.

People of this city will be paying for these games for a very
long time to come in form of direct-indirect taxes, in form of
souring cost of living in the city, in form of depleting
resources, in form of losing the say in governance and
administration, in form of rising crime rates etc. There are
social, cultural and economic costs involved.

5. Myth No. 5

CWG 2010 will be profit making games

The Truth

The estimated cost of these games has gone from Rs. 1,899
Crores to Rs. 30,000 Crores and is still increasing. With
wrong estimates of tourists, sponsorship etc., there is no way
these Games will recover even 50% of the cost and taxpayer
will bear the burden of these games.

As a matter of fact no games in recent history has been profit

making in any country.

6. Myth No. 6

It will help the tourism industry.

The Truth

In previous Commonwealth Games held in Melborn,

Australia around 50,000 tourists came to watch the games.
The estimated number of 2,00,000 tourists visiting New Delhi
is clearly not realistic and all estimates of boom in tourism
 industry based on these estimates will fall flat. Instead of
filling up the gaps and providing much needed support to
tourism industry, authorities are talking about how games
can help tourism industry. Its is a short sighted vision with
“ready-fire-aim” approach.

7. Myth No. 7

These Games will boost sports culture in the city

The Truth

Not even one single investment is being made that will help
motivate children and youth to join sports. On the other
hand, various local venues and open spaces are encroached
by authorities to develop parking and other facilities for
CWG. Children in the city hardly have any place left to play
and city is facing acute crisis of play grounds and open
spaces. These games are in no way promoting the sports or
sports culture. The need is to invest at club level and district
level and to create spaces and platforms for promoting the
culture of sports and providing right infrastructure and
support for boys and girls who want to make career in sports.

Our players struggle for minimum money to ensure nutritious

meals that can keep them fit, there is complete absence of
required infrastructure to compete at international forums
and no source of motivation that should come from
recognition and encouragement.

We all have seen how selected individuals are sitting as

chairmen of various sports bodies and how any attempt to
remove them or demand result is backlashed. These
individuals who are exploiting the players and eating the
talents are now proudly declaring that CWG will boost the
sports culture.

8. Myth No. 8

Games are helping city in getting World Class infrastructure

 The Truth

Most of the infrastructure is being developed on the route of

players and visitors during the games (Flyover on Barapula
Nalah) and it will be of no value to common masses of the
city once the Games are over. Similarly the quality of
infrastructure is also very poor and unsustainable. No growth
projection for the city are being kept in mind before designing
these infrastructures and city will be required to invest again
within next 5 years to meet its need. In the name of
infrastructure only roads are being created, no investment is
being made on health, education, sanitation, water and other
important infrastructural needs.

9. Myth No. 9

Games will provide employment and livelihood to poor

The Truth

Thousands of people migrated to city during Asian Games

and settled here once the Games are over. All those people
were forcible removed and displaced to far away corners of
the city to clear land for Commonwealth Games venues.

Games projects have increased migration rates and it will

increase unauthorized colonies and slums with more people
unemployed after these games. Livelihoods of thousands of
people were snatched away in the name of games. For
almost one year the civic body MCD is not paying pension to
lakhs of poor, widows and disabled people to save money for
these games.

10. Myth No. 10

Delhi will be better city after these Games

The Truth

With lesser trees, no animals, dead river, unemployed work

force, sky rocketing cost of living and acute crisis of health,
education, water, sewages related infrastructure, Delhi will
not be better than a living hell. A perfect case study of how
development should not happen, but it will be too late to
learn.