WATCH: Streetboys show off slick dance moves in Vhong Navarro’s wedding SEA Games in Calabarzon safe, secure – Solcom chief MOST READ Read Next Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH Takahashi finally gets to be No. 1 Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Catriona Gray spends Thanksgiving by preparing meals for people with illnesses UPLB exempted from SEA Games class suspension LOOK: Venues for 2019 SEA Games LATEST STORIES Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC Onyok Velasco see bright future for PH boxing in Olympics PLAY LIST 00:45Onyok Velasco see bright future for PH boxing in Olympics01:27Filipino athletes get grand send-off ahead of SEA Games03:07PH billiards team upbeat about gold medal chances in SEA Games00:50Trending Articles01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games05:25PH boxing team determined to deliver gold medals for PH03:04Filipino athletes share their expectations for 2019 SEA Games02:25PH women’s volleyball team motivated to deliver in front of hometown crowd Unfortunately for the 21-year-old Aragon, she fought on the defensive early against her Indonesian foe, struggling to recover from a 3-6 deficit in the second round as she settled for a silver medal in the women’s bantamweight division.Despite the defeat, Aragon’s was the second silver medal bagged by the Philippine taekwondo team, increasing the sport’s haul to seven medals.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutout Kammuri turning to super typhoon less likely but possible — Pagasa Rhezie Aragon fought the good fight, but in the end, fell to Mariska Halinda of Indonesia, 4-9, in the gold medal match of the women’s 53kg division in taekwondo in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games Monday at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Hall 1.With only three competitors in the weight class, Aragon was instantly slotted in the Finals while Halinda had to fight off Malaysian bet Jasmin Nabilla to earn the right to face the Filipina jin.ADVERTISEMENT View comments read more
Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, returns a shot from Pablo Carreno Busta, of Spain, during the semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)South African tennis player Kevin Anderson advanced to his first Grand Slam final on Friday after beating Spanish 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.Anderson, seeded 28th, will play for the $3.7 million (3.07 million euros) top prize this Sunday at the Arthur Ashe Stadium against the later winner between world number one Rafael Nadal of Spain and Argentina’s 24th-seeded Juan Martin del Potro. KGAADVERTISEMENT LOOK: Loisa Andalio, Ronnie Alonte unwind in Amanpulo for 3rd anniversary Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. LATEST STORIES FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutout Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC Frontrow holds fun run to raise funds for young cancer patients BSP sees higher prices in November, but expects stronger peso, low rice costs to put up fight Nonong Araneta re-elected as PFF president MOST READ WATCH: Streetboys show off slick dance moves in Vhong Navarro’s wedding E.T. returns to earth, reunites with grown-up Elliott in new ad Fire hits houses in Mandaluyong City U.S. urges Japan, South Korea to share intel PLAY LIST 01:35U.S. urges Japan, South Korea to share intel00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles01:37Protesters burn down Iran consulate in Najaf01:47Panelo casts doubts on Robredo’s drug war ‘discoveries’01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games Read Next UAAP gets going View comments read more
Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC LATEST STORIES The clinics are projected to care for nearly 35,000 children and adults who do not currently have access toprimary and preventive care or who use the emergency room for non-urgent medical needs. MOST READ LOOK: Loisa Andalio, Ronnie Alonte unwind in Amanpulo for 3rd anniversary Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles02:20Hidden healers treat Hong Kong protesters00:50Trending Articles01:37Protesters burn down Iran consulate in Najaf01:47Panelo casts doubts on Robredo’s drug war ‘discoveries’01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH Frontrow holds fun run to raise funds for young cancer patients Wade to start at guard for Cavaliers, Smith coming off bench Fire hits houses in Mandaluyong City Nonong Araneta re-elected as PFF president BSP sees higher prices in November, but expects stronger peso, low rice costs to put up fight Read Next Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Kammuri turning to super typhoon less likely but possible — Pagasa View comments Former NBA star Michael Jordan. AP FILE PHOTOCHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Hornets owner Michael Jordan is donating $7 million to launch medical clinics that he hopes will help at-risk communities in Charlotte.It’s the largest philanthropic donation ever by the former NBA champion.ADVERTISEMENT The donation will fund two Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Clinics, which are projected to open in 2020.“It is my hope that these clinics will help provide a brighter and healthier future for the children and families they serve,” Jordan, who grew up in North Carolina, said in a release Monday.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutJordan’s spokeswoman Estee Portnoy said the 54-year-old NBA great was motivated by a study that found poor children in Charlotte have the worst odds of those of any of the top 50 cities in the United States to lift themselves out of poverty.Novant said the clinics will provide an avenue to affordable, high-quality care — including behavioral health, physical therapy, social work, oral health and family planning — to individuals in the community who have little or no health care. read more
Tim Cone. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.netBarangay Ginebra’s character was tested on Sunday when a motivated Meralco crew threw everything it had to equalize the series on Sunday.“It was a struggle. [Meralco is] mentally very tough and they’re hard to crack. But I’m just truly happy with our guys, just hanging in there, battling and finding a way,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.ADVERTISEMENT Read Next Nonong Araneta re-elected as PFF president Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Mbala locks down Desiderio in DLSU rout of UP Frontrow holds fun run to raise funds for young cancer patients LATEST STORIES Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles05:25PH boxing team determined to deliver gold medals for PH00:50Trending Articles01:37Protesters burn down Iran consulate in Najaf01:47Panelo casts doubts on Robredo’s drug war ‘discoveries’01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games LOOK: Loisa Andalio, Ronnie Alonte unwind in Amanpulo for 3rd anniversary MOST READ “Our energy went up in the last three minutes of the game when we tied the basketball game and we just kind of fed off that energy the rest of the way, emotionally. Seeing that the opportunity was there for us to win that game.”The triumph gave the Gin Kings to a 2-0 series lead in the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals, two wins away from retaining their title in the season-ending conference.It was an uplifting win given the situation both teams had to go through stemming from Game 1 in Lucena, but Cone knows the Gin Kings have their work cut out for them with a desperate Meralco side fighting for its life on Wednesday.“I think they have a lot of punches left to throw us. This is a real trying game because of the out-of-town experience that we had 48 hours ago. We didn’t get back to Manila until 3 o’ clock in the morning and guys weren’t asleep until 3:30 or 4 a.m,” Cone said.“So it was a real trying weekend for us and for them as well. It just looked like at the end, we just had a little more than they did. Now they got two days to refresh, and I think that extra day in a series is really valuable to the teams,” he added. “They’re gonna come out with full punches in Game 3.“ADVERTISEMENT “We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well tonight, but we played the game in other areas and made it up there,” said coach Tim Cone.The Gin Kings anticipated a huge fightback from the Bolts as they saw themselves down early, 8-17 to start the game. But they put themselves within striking distance as they waited for the right time to strike.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutWith Meralco holding a 75-69 edge in the final 5:56, that was when Ginebra made its rally, with Japeth Aguilar’s thunderous dunk igniting what would be a deciding 17-1 finishing kick as the Kings came away with the 86-76 Game 2 win.“We took a big punch from them early in the game. We kind of survived that and we were able to kind of make it into a possession-by-possession game. No one really got up in front, then we had a real good closing kick,” Cone said. Fire hits houses in Mandaluyong City Kammuri turning to super typhoon less likely but possible — Pagasa Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC BSP sees higher prices in November, but expects stronger peso, low rice costs to put up fight View comments read more
Kin of Misamis Oriental hero cop to get death benefits, award — PNP Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns, center, shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder’s Paul George, left, Carmelo Anthony, right, watch during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)MINNEAPOLIS — When Jimmy Butler was sidelined for two games with an upper respiratory infection, the Minnesota Timberwolves lacked energy and struggled on defense. The end result was a pair of losses by an average of 22 points.In Butler’s return Friday night against Oklahoma City, it was evident just how different a team Minnesota is with him on the court.ADVERTISEMENT LATEST STORIES QC cops nab robbery gang leader, cohort Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:29DOH kicks off nationwide polio vaccination drive01:37Protesters burn down Iran consulate in Najaf01:47Panelo casts doubts on Robredo’s drug war ‘discoveries’01:29Police teams find crossbows, bows in HK university01:35Panelo suggests discounted SEA Games tickets for students02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games MOST READ View comments Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Brace for potentially devastating typhoon approaching PH – NDRRMC Japan ex-PM Nakasone who boosted ties with US dies at 101 Timberwolves: Wiggins shot 5 of 15 from the floor. . C Gorgui Dieng hit a long 2-point shot that beat the buzzer to end the third quarter. That gave Minnesota a 90-89 lead to start the fourth.ANTHONY GETS LAST LOOKWestbrook has often been the one to take the last shot for the Thunder, but he deferred to Anthony late in this game. With Oklahoma City trailing by three, it was Anthony who had a look at a potential tying 3-pointer.His shot in the final seconds was no good and Minnesota grabbed the rebound to seal it.“We had to push the ball at that point in time and I think Russell was just surveying the field and trying to find a way maybe to get Carmelo trailing a little bit there,” Donovan said. “I’ll see the film, but I do think that Russell is going to try in those situations to get the best shot, and if he can get Carmelo a shot, I think he’s going to try to generate a shot for him.”UP NEXTThunder: At Chicago on Saturday night.Timberwolves: At Miami on Monday night. “Obviously, they’re a very talented team and we’ve got a talented team as well,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “Both games have been hard-fought.”Minnesota point guard Jeff Teague had 16 points and 10 assists for his first double-double of the season. Teague hit a free throw with 12.4 seconds to play, giving the Wolves a three-point lead.Minnesota overcame an 11-point deficit to enter halftime with the game tied at 59. A three-point play by Towns put the Wolves up two with just under a minute to play in the half.There were 31 lead changes in all, and the game was tied 15 times.Anthony couldn’t miss from the floor in the second quarter, scoring the Thunder’s first nine points of the period on several long jumpers.The Timberwolves used an 8-0 run in the third to go ahead 83-78. Towns and Taj Gibson each had four points during that stretch, which was capped by Gibson’s dunk in transition.The win helped Minnesota move past a pair of blowout losses to Indiana and Detroit.“We got humbled the last few games,” Gibson said. “You just saw a completely different team today.”TIP-INSThunder: Steven Adams scored the Thunder’s first eight points after halftime, including a pair of free throws and an alley-oop dunk. . Oklahoma City entered with the worst free throw percentage in the NBA (67.5 percent), but was 22 of 25 from the line against Minnesota. Butler scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and helped the Timberwolves hold on for a 119-116 win over the Thunder. His veteran leadership was felt on both ends of the floor for Minnesota, which improved to 3-2.“He makes a big difference,” Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Just having his presence — he’s a great leader, does the right things on the floor.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSWATCH: Drones light up sky in final leg of SEA Games torch runSPORTSSEA Games: Philippines picks up 1st win in men’s water poloSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutKarl-Anthony Towns had 33 points and 19 rebounds to lead Minnesota. Towns also had arguably his best defensive game of the young season, posting a season-high four blocks.While Towns and other Timberwolves fed off Butler’s energy, Butler did what he could at both ends to keep the Thunder at bay in the final minutes. He scored nine points in the final 4:09 to help the Wolves close it out. He also played a team-high 38 minutes in his return from illness. Typhoon Kammuri accelerates, gains strength en route to PH Stronger peso trims PH debt value to P7.9 trillion Kammuri turning to super typhoon less likely but possible — Pagasa “I just wanted to win, man,” Butler said. “These guys out there with me, they just played so incredibly hard. When we’re playing like that, we look really good, we feel really good, and we end up winning games.”Russell Westbrook led the way for Oklahoma City with 27 points. He had nine assists and eight rebounds, falling just shy of a triple-double. Carmelo Anthony added 23 points for the Thunder.It was the second time in a week the Timberwolves edged the Thunder in a close game. Minnesota won Sunday in Oklahoma City on a buzzer-beater by Andrew Wiggins.READ: Wiggins banks in buzzer-beater, Wolves stun ThunderThis time, Anthony’s 3-point attempt to tie it at the end of regulation was no good.ADVERTISEMENT CPP denies ‘Ka Diego’ arrest caused ‘mass panic’ among S. Tagalog NPA Read Next Darvish left spinning as Dodgers fall into World Series deficit read more
Pocari Sweat shook off pesky Perlas to pull off a 25-23, 25-15, 25-18 victory and nailed the third semifinal berth while Creamline took the last Final Four seat with a 25-16, 26-24, 25-17 romp over Air Force at the close of the quarterfinal round of the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan on Thursday night.ADVERTISEMENT Top seed BaliPure will thus take on No. 4 Creamline while the No. 2 Power Smashers and the third seed Lady Warriors will tangle in the other pairing of the best-of-three semifinal series starting Saturday.Winners will dispute the crown in another best-of-three affair.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSSEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completionSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSMalditas save PH from shutoutPerlas ended up fifth with a 1-2 mark and Air Force wound up sixth with a 0-3 slate.Smarting from its five-set setback to Pocari Sweat on Tuesday, Creamline overwhelmed Air Force at the net and cashed in on its rival’s sloppy reception to fashion out the straight-sets victory in the Sports Vision-organized tournament.Alyssa Valdez fired 19 hits, including 14 attack points and four service aces, while Thai import Kuttika Kaewpin added 17 hits and Laura Schaudt scored three block hits for an eight-point output.Iari Yong topscored for Air Force with seven hits, Mae Antipuesto and Jocemer Tapic each scored six points while Thai reinforcement Patcharee Saengmuang struggled for five points. BSP survey: PH banks see bright horizon amid dark global recession clouds Every 18 seconds someone is diagnosed with HIV Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss PLAY LIST 02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games Cayetano dares Lacson, Drilon to take lie-detector test: Wala akong kinita sa SEA Games Palace: Duterte to hear out security execs on alleged China control of NGCP MOST READ The Jet Spikers kept it close in the second set but Valdez unleashed back-to-back hits to shatter the 24-all count and make it 2-0 for Creamline on deuce points.Air Force also threatened at 11-13 in the third but Creamline took nine of the next 11 points, including five straight hits, to pull away at 22-13.Pau Soriano then scored off a block to finish off the Jet Spikers.Earlier, Army held off Instituto Estetico Manila, 25-16, 21-25, 25-15, 25-23, to clinch the fourth and last semifinal berth in the men’s side.As No. 4, the Troopers will face the top-seed Air Force Jet Spikers in the semifinals.Cignal HD and Sta. Elena will dispute the other finals slot.ADVERTISEMENT LATEST STORIES Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Pagasa: Storm intensifies as it nears PAR BREAKING: Cop killed, 11 hurt in Misamis Oriental grenade blast Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Lacson: SEA Games fund put in foundation like ‘Napoles case’ Del Rosario pads Orchard lead to 2 strokes BREAKING: Cop killed, 11 hurt in Misamis Oriental grenade blast View comments read more
Ethel Booba on hotel’s clarification that ‘kikiam’ is ‘chicken sausage’: ‘Kung di pa pansinin, baka isipin nila ok lang’ Through the course of the six-game championship series, the KaTropa drew huge contributions from their upstarts like Roger Pogoy, RR Garcia, and Troy Rosario — all of whom have carved their niche in coach Nash Racela’s system.Castro had high praise for Pogoy, who emerged as a vital piece for TNT this conference.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSSEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completionSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hostingSPORTSWin or don’t eat: the Philippines’ poverty-driven, world-beating pool starsAnd though losing in the Finals stings, Castro thinks these kinds of experiences could only help their young guns grow.“This conference, I’m happy with their performance. Like with Pogoy, I tell it to him to stay confident. Even though we lost, it’s a huge boost for him to play in the finals and it will only be huge for us for the next conference. I hope they bring the lessons they get from this when we make it again in the Finals,” he said. MOST READ Pogoy heard Castro’s message loud and clear, and if there’s one thing he could take away from this bitter memory, it’s that just like in any level of basketball competition, championships could only be achieved through teamwork.“We can’t win it if we think of ourselves individually. Just like what San Miguel did, we have to share the ball and work as a team,” he said.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next China furious as Trump signs bills in support of Hong Kong View comments TNT KaTropa. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.netTNT lost the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals but Jayson Castro believes that his team learned a lot from its clash with a powerhouse squad like San Miguel.“We had a lot of young guys in this team. We only have five remaining from the old core that we had, so the finals was a great learning experience for us all,” Castro said in Filipino.ADVERTISEMENT Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss PLAY LIST 02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games Pagasa: Kammuri now a typhoon, may enter PAR by weekend Another vape smoker nabbed in Lucena LATEST STORIES Cayetano to unmask people behind ‘smear campaign’ vs him, SEA Games What ‘missteps’? LOOK: Jane De Leon meets fellow ‘Darna’ Marian Rivera Lacson: SEA Games fund put in foundation like ‘Napoles case’ Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Injured Kyrgios pulls out of Wimbledon opener read more
Success has many parents and failure none. Cliched as that may sound, there is no doubt that after the resounding success of the Commonwealth Games, the new itch is that India should bid for the 2019 Asian Games (if not the 2020 Olympics).Members of the England team pose with Indian artistes and officials during the flag hoisting of their country at the Commonwealth Games Village in New Delhi.In 2005, when Asian countries with money bags in tow had assembled to vote for the 2014 Asian Games venue, New Delhi had projected itself as a candidate city. Thanks to the then sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar’s loose talk (he kept bemoaning that the country had no money for a sporting extravaganza, a stand he took even for the CWG), India lost the bid. Senior officials, notably Randhir Singh, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary-general, who’s also the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) secretary-general, were left red-faced after being outvoted in favour of Incheon, South Korea.In less than six months, it will again be time for the 2019 Asiad bid, though insiders say not too many host cities want to come forward as some of them are still reeling under the aftermath of global recession. Even before the CWG preparations had hit top gear, the IOA had tested the waters by writing to the sports ministry that it wanted to bid for the 2019 Asiad.Till date, there has been no forward movement on this. Those in the know, however, say that this is the time for India to make a big push to establish its credentials as the emerging sporting superpower. Nobody had imagined that at the 2010 CWG, where 71 nations and dependencies participated, India would finish ahead of England with a record haul of 38 gold medals. Everyone knows that the Rs 700 crore that the athletes received to prepare for the Games have paid off.advertisementBut to pre-empt any talk of the cost of hosting a mega-event such as the Asian Games, seen as the second most prestigious international sporting event after the Olympics, let me share some figures. Nobody knows how much Beijing spent officially on the 2008 Olympics, but it is being speculated that the Chinese city of Guangzhou will spend $420 million next month and expects to earn a revenue of $450 million.Randhir Singh says that to be seen as a serious bidder for the 2019 Asian Games, india needs to emphatically convey that it is ready. “this is a huge project and the indian government fully needs to be behind new delhi. let’s not forget that the asian games gets substantial sponsorship from the Olympic Council of Asia,” says the man who first distinguished himself by being the first indian to get a gold medal at an asian games (bangkok, 1978).Within the Sports Ministry and other government agencies there’s the popular theory that India overspent on the CWG. Agreed, there’s been wasteful expenditure,but to say that the Asian Games will be a waste of money is nowhere near the truth.It is well-known that for any country wanting to project itself as a superpower, hosting an international, multi-disciplinary sporting extravaganza is one of the seals of authority. The western world never wanted China to host an Olympics and even when the Olympic Games were on, European papers just did not stop writing about the atrocities committed by China on the Tibetan people. Beijing wowed the world with its clinical precision and Guangzhou is set for an encore. With 42 countries in the fray and 476 events, Guangzhou has a challenge, but it seems to be prepared for it.New Delhi must learn from the mistakes of the CWG. The biggest flaw was in the command structure,where no single person could be held accountable for the progress of the preparations or the lack of it. You can continue blaming CWG Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, Sports Minister M.S. Gill, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and company till the cows come home, but this is the time for us to look forward and think big. The Asian Games bid cannot be a half-hearted venture, where most of the parties involved will suspect the IOA’s intentions. It will have to be a national endeavour, with no place for people like ‘Motormouth Mani’ and others who consider sporting extravaganzas a waste of money.Unless we bid for an Asian Games and win, we will have no ground to imagine that we would ever be able to host an Olympics. Bidding for the Olympics is serious business and host cities start getting ready at least eight years before they get into the fray. One may be tempted to believe that India can bid for the 2020 Olympics. But it as Randhir Singh, whose father, Raja Bhalendra Singh, incidentally, was a key figure in the organisation of the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, says “I think 2024 is a realistic target. If India is serious, the effort has to be 100 per cent.”advertisementIt is well-known that when countries bid for the Olympics, what really matters is not what it will cost but what it will take to put in the best effort. Even Barack Obama went to Copenhagen for the 2016 Olympic bidding process at the last minute because he had been convinced that Chicago would win it. The number of votes the city got was abysmal – and the winner was Rio de Janeiro. This is proof that for hosting an Olympics, no country, not even a superpower, can take anything for granted.The US has lost two successive Olympic bids, which is a clear message from the International Olympic Committee that when an Olympic host city is voted for, a number of factors are at play. In the case of India, conflicting voices will only cause damage. There’s no room for politics in this national effort – and it is impossible to predict the political scene in the country in 2024. We can only mount a national effort driven by a national vision to bid first for the 2019 Asian Games, and then prepare the ground for the 2024 Olympic bid. Sounds impossible? Nothing does anymore after the Commonwealth Games.Six lessons Delhi must learn from the Games (By – Maneesh Pandey)Look beyond New Delhi The infrastructure developed for CWG is not going to last forever. The Lutyens’ Zone, moreover, cannot keep getting injections of hefty resources at the expense of the rest of the Capital. Nor can East Delhi keep getting preferential treatment because it is the parliamentary constituency of CM Sheila Dikshit’s son, Sandeep. Delhi must look beyond New Delhi and view an international sporting event as an opportunity to develop one of its neglected rural outcrops, such as Bawana, Narela or Najafgarh. Look at London for example. Even before London bid for the 2012 Olympics, it zeroed in on Stratford in East London, which had gone to seed, for an ambitious redevelopment project. And the results are there for everybody to see.No last-minute miracles Our reliance on the ‘Big Fat Indian Wedding’ formula only caused a lot of grief, and needless negative publicity, in the run-up to the Games. The CWG Organising Committee knew it was behind schedule, yet it did not move fast enough either to put technical support systems in place, or to farm out the job of damage control (like it did when it brought the army to bail it out of the foot overbridge collapse mess). We have only our athletes to thank for the world media overlooking the security scanners that failed, Doordarshan’s late feeds, the ticketing mess and eleventh-hour jitters over the scoreboards. There was very little time for systems checks. Thankfully, the weather gods were on our side.advertisementDon’t overcommit THE many civic agencies that manage Delhi’s affairs planned projects that were way beyond their capacity to complete within the time frame. The covered-up, yet unfinished Connaught Place and never-to-be-used Shivaji Stadium are just two examples of the messy development legacy. Delhizens couldn’t use two key CWG-related public utility projects – Barapullah Elevated Corridor and the Metro’s Badarpur leg. Just two of the 33 new promised hotels have got completion certificates; and the Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid and Paharganj development plans are yet to see the light of day.Too many generals…? YES, the Games went off without a major snafu, but the country’s high and mighty must learn to value the importance of a unified command for an international sporting extravaganza. The Games were like the rope in a tug-of-war, with organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, sports minister M.S. Gill, Delhi lt-governor Tejinder Khanna and CM Sheila Dikshit pulling in different directions, and even squabbling over who should take the credit for what. Even on the day of the closing ceremony, Khanna’s office leaked a letter he’d written to the Prime Minister protesting against Dikshit hogging the credit for the last-minute completion of the Games Village.No more weak excuses The Games organising committee secretary-general Lalit Bhanot’s laughable defence of the pathetic sanitary conditions at the Village in the days when it had just started receiving foreign athletes and delegates won’t stand in any international forum. If Delhi wishes to host an international multi-disciplinary sporting event, or to become a world-class city, it must measure up to the highest global standards in hygiene and sanitation. The Capital may have got the athletes for the Games (they had no choice) despite snakes, unmanaged garbage and stale food in the Village, but the expected number of additional tourists did not show up because they had been scared away by reports of Delhi’s poor hygiene standards.Nurture on-ground talent We may hire the best brains to design ambitious projects, but what we lack is the ability to execute them on the ground. We don’t realise that it is the junior engineers who hold the key to the success and timely completion of infrastructure projects, and they invariably turn out to be the weakest links in the organisational chain. In the run-up to the CWG, it became apparent that engineers down the line had never been exposed to the projects they were expected to implement. They didn’t benefit from exposure to international projects because the people who went on study junkets abroad were the bureaucrats at the top – many were not involved with the projects eventually. read more
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