Organising Commonwealth Games is a prestige issue for Delhi CM

fear of financial meltdown all over the world has put the brakes on world economy and a question mark on the fate of the much celebrated Commonwealth Games but Delhi's chief minister Sheila Dikshit is not perturbed with it and vowed to make it an event of a lifetime for denizens.
Terming the 2010 Games as a "prestige issue" Mrs. Dikshit said it is important to organise the games as it will showcase India's culture. Commonwealth Games has come under scanner due to many factors, specially the escalating cost to hold such events. Infact one of the Delhi-based NGO has gone on to say that the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth games preparation will act as a catalyst for the speedy destruction of the capital if proper mechanisms were not placed.
According to the report filed by the NGO leaving the Los Angeles Olympics no other sports meet has been successful but the chief minister has given her unflinching support to the Games and said, "money is not an issue to organize 2010 Commonwealth Games as it is a matter of national pride and prestige. We will go whole hog to prepare for the Games and will leave no stone unturned."
When asked about what the Delhi governments is planning to increase the medal prospect for the country, the CM was quick to point out that the only thing in there is to provide good facilities rest it depends on the athletes to make use of it.
"We are going to provide them with world class facilities and we are working on it but translating those into medals is the work of athletes," Mrs. Dikshit said.
Many critics have pointed out that given Delhi's reputation of being an unsafe city for its citizens in general and its women folks in particular it will be a herculean task for the Delhi government to provide security to the visiting delegation and athletes.
But the chief minister was not going to be bogged down with the criticism and when it was pointed to her, she said, the main reason for the lawlessness is Delhi's porous borders with the other states - Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, - because of which many anti-social elements took refuge in those places after committing the crime in the capital and get away."
"But we are working with the other states and we are going to come up with a plan to provide adequate security to the athletes," she said on the sidelines of a workshop by Women's Feature Service on 'Translating Politics Into Participatory Governance'.