Sep. 26:

CWG blues: Officials concede only few tourists may visit Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 26: Till two months ago, India's tourism ministry was confident that 100,000 foreign tourists would visit the national capital during the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games. But now they concede, albeit in hushed tones, that the number will be far, far less.
While some officials say most will be domestic tourists, others say dengue and swine flu cases as well as negative media about the Games are keeping foreign visitors away.

"We are still expecting around 100,000 visitors in the capital, but the majority of them would be domestic tourists," a highly placed source at the tourism ministry told IANS.

Until June this year, 2.63 million foreigners have visited the country. In 2008, 5.28 million tourists came to India, as compared to 5.11 million in 2009.

The city’s tour operators have slammed the tall claims of the tourism ministry.

The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), a premier travel and tourism association in the country, has gone to the extent of saying that only 10,000 tourists would turn up.

"We, as travel agents, have lost a lot of potential business owing to delays by the authorities in preparing the venues and meeting other deadlines. We are very disappointed," Rajji Rai, president of TAAI, told IANS.

In fact, the travel industry is not at all enthused about the Games drawing tourists. So much so that they have not even made special packages to promote the event. Most have the regular Delhi-Agra-Jaipur circuit to offer.

"October is the time when tourists generally visit the country. We are hoping that they will come. But not necessarily because of the Games," said another tour operator.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Foreign athletes pour in; African nations frown at CWG Village (Intro Night Lead)

New Delhi, Sep 26: The biggest group of foreign athletes and officials arrived here Sunday for the Commonwealth Games but complaints against conditions in the Games Village continued following the presence of a snake and prowling stray dogs in the area - with the African group giving the organisers till Monday evening to get their act together.
There was another hiccup on the organisational front as the security agencies could not complete the lockdown of all the venues and the Village with work still in progress at some of the sites.

The day also saw a flip-flop by Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper. He criticised the Indian government for the delay in infrastructure projects - only to later take back his words.

There were also pull outs. Australian Cyclist Travis Meyer and table tennis player Stephanie Sang withdrew citing security and health concerns.

On the brighter side, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the Rs.700 million ($15 million) sports injuries centre in the Safdarjung Hospital which will cater to sportspersons during the Games, and Swimmers Ashley Callus of Australia and England's Jenna Randall said they will definitely travel to New Delhi and the problems related to the Games have not had a negative impact on them.

Nearly 1,100 athletes and team officials, from Norfolk Islands, Canada, Kenya, Nigeria, Scotland, Canada, Tanzania, Lesotho, Rwanda, Wales, England, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the British Virgin Islands arrived here Sunday for the Oct 3-14 games.

The biggest delegations that arrived were from Kenya (112), Nigeria (69) and Scotland (60). The other arrivals were from countries like Canada, Tanzania, Lesotho, Norfolk Island, Rwanda, Wales, England, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the British Virgin Islands, a press statement from the Organising Committee said.

Diplomats of several Africa's Commonwealth nations Sunday said there was some improvement in the facilities for their players in the Village, but they will take a final decision on their teams' full-strength arrival only after another inspection Monday evening.

The snake was found Sunday in a room allotted to the South African contingent prompting the country's High Commissioner Harris Mbulelo Mejeke to declare the athletes will not stay in the Village until everything is put in place.

"A snake can be a threat to the lives of our athletes. Very disappointing. Basically, the basement was full of water and the staircase was also damp. If snakes are found we can't ask our athletes to stay in such dangerous situations," Mejeke told reporters.

Officials from Trinidad and Tobago praised the facilities at the Village though their team would stay in hotels till completion of remaining works.

"The facilities are excellent, but there is still a lot of work to do. That is the reason why we have opted to stay in hotels rather than the Village. This is very much similar to a big Indian wedding. But what bothers us are the mosquitoes. There is a fear of dengue," said John Melow, a team official.

A Scottish team official said stray dogs continue to pose a danger to the athletes in the Village.

"We have never seen stray dogs in any other Games Village. This is very strange for us and it poses a threat for the athletes as well," the official said.

Some 7,000 participants and officials from 71 teams are expected to attend the Commonwealth Games, India's biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

African group gives CWG officials 24 hours for improvements (Lead)

New Delhi, Sep 26: Diplomats of Africa's Commonwealth nations Sunday said there was some improvement in the facilities for their players in the Commonwealth Games Village, but they will take a final decision on their teams' full-strength arrival only after another inspection Monday evening.
Diplomats from all the participating Commonwealth nations were Saturday taken for a visit to the Games Village, but the African countries had complained that accommodation for their players were not clean and up to par, as compared to that of other major nations.

The African diplomats had then gone on another visit to see the living areas for their teams Sunday evening.

After the visit, a senior African diplomat said that they had seen some improvement, but there was still work to be done. "We will take a final call after another visit to the village at seven tomorrow (Monday) evening," the diplomat told IANS.

The diplomat noted that there had been some progress in the last 24 hours. "They are working hard," he added.

Earlier, Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi had assured that there will be "no discrimination" against the African countries in the allotment of accommodation.

But, the condition of the residential areas for the African countries was starkly highlighted by South African High Commissioner Harris Mbulelo Sithembile Majeke, who revealed that a snake had been found in one of the apartments.

"Yesterday (Saturday), we found a snake in one of the apartments," Majeke told reporters outside the Games Village where he arrived for another look at the residential area.

"I don't know if it was Indian snake or not," he said jokingly, as he entered the Village, armed with a vuvuzela.

"We have serious conditions about the facilities. It is really disappointing," said Majeke, noting the living facilities were still "very dirty", with the basement being still full of water.

But, he said that the teams were "on the way". "We are definitely participating in the Commonwealth Games," he said.

According to the diplomats, besides the accommodation, the rest of the facilities at the Games Village such as the training centre and dining hall were extremely good.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

CWG Village: Dogs, snakes, unfinished work cause concern

New Delhi, Sep 26: Despite frantic efforts by the Commonwealth Games organisers to improve faciliities at the Games Village, stray dogs, last minute work and the discovery of a snake in one of the aprartments Sunday drew howls of protests from the visiting teams.
Some 60 members of the Scotland team and a 50-strong Welsh contingent finally moved into the Games Village, but expressed displeasure at the unfinished facilities.

Scotland’s chef de mission Jon Doig, who had arrived here last week, said things should have turned out better as India had seven years to prepare for the Oct 3-14 event.

"We had arrived here earlier and had it not been the case, our athletes would have had a tough time in the Games Village. Since we arrived here earlier, we could identify the problems at the right time. But there are still a few things that are needed to be fixed," he said.

The Scottish advance team has been in the forefront in criticising the unhygienic conditions at the Village earlier this week.

Another team official said stray dogs continue to pose a danger to the athletes in the Village.

"We have never seen stray dogs in any other Games Village. This is very strange for us and it poses a threat for the athletes as well," the official said.

A top South African diplomat warned his country's athletes would not put up in the village after a snake was discovered in one of the rooms reserved for them.

An infuriated South African High Commissioner Harris Mbulelo Mejeke said the athletes will not stay in the Village until everything is put in place.

"A snake can be a threat to the lives of our athletes. Very disappointing. Basically, the basement was full of water and the staircase was also damp. If snakes are found we can't ask our athletes to stay in such dangerous situations," Mejeke told reporters.

In fact, diplomats of Africa's Commonwealth nations Sunday said there was some improvement in the facilities for their players in the Village, but they will take a final decision on their teams' full-strength arrival only after another inspection Monday evening.

Diplomats from all the participating Commonwealth nations were Saturday taken for a visit to the Games Village, but the African countries had complained that accommodation for their players was not clean and up to par, as compared to that of other major nations.

The African diplomats had then gone on another visit to see the living areas for their teams Sunday evening.

Even so, Trinidad and Tobago officials praised the facilities, but said their team would stay in hotels for the time being as a lot of finishing work remained.

"The facilities are excellent, but there is still a lot of work to do. That is the reason why we have opted to stay in hotels rather than the Village. This is very much similar to a big Indian wedding. But what bothers us are the mosquitoes. There is a fear of dengue," said John Melow, a team official.

Nearly 1,100 athletes and team officials, from Norfolk Islands, Canada, Kenya, Nigeria, Scotland, Canada, Tanzania, Lesotho, Rwanda, Wales, England, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the British Virgin Islands arrived here Sunday.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Canadian sports minister terms CWG media reports "exaggerated"

New Delhi, Sep 26: Canadian Sports Minister Gary Lunn telephoned his Indian counterpart M.S. Gill Sunday, saying he was not perturbed by the negative reports in the international media and a full contingent would be sent for the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games.
"We are not worried by international media report on CWG Delhi which are often exaggerated. Difficulties do come at such large events. We had them in the Vancouver Winter Games. We are confident that you will overcome them. We are coming with full force and looking forward to meeting you in Delhi," Lunn told Gill in a late night telephonic conversation.

In response, Gill told him that Indian authorities are working very hard to overcome the shortcomings
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Citizens seek details of elected representatives' spending

New Delhi, Sep 26: "A hue and cry is being made because of the dirty rooms in the Commonwealth Games Village, but no one is concerned about the filthy conditions that we live in," said Rajesh Kumar, a slum dweller, at a meeting here Sunday to question the spendings of elected leaders.
The slum dweller from Sangam Vihar in south Delhi was one of the 500 people from over 30 constituencies of Delhi who were present at a public hearing organized by Satark Nagrik Sangathan, (SNS) an NGO, in Malviya Nagar Sunday to promote accountability among elected representatives.

The participants demanded that details of local area development funds provided to elected representatives - MPs, legislators and municipal councillors - be displayed by the government on boards placed in their constituencies.

At the hearing, citizens testified about the importance and relevance of the local area development funds for them. The people discussed the several problems that they were facing in their localities, right from the lack of drinking water to open manholes and power cuts.

Another troubled participant from Malviya Nagar, Rekha, said that despite repeated requests to the member of legislative assembly and councillor highlighting the filthy state of the only public toilet in the slum, the elected representatives always turned them away.

"They only come to ask for votes and then never meet with us to consult about our needs. We did not even know that they get funds for the development of their constituency," she said.

Similar were the views expressed by residents of Sangam Vihar, Dwarka, Munirka and Shahdara.

There is some information about the utilization of development funds on government websites, but this is not easily accessible to the poor as they neither have easy access to the Internet nor can they read English, said Anjali Bhardwaj, founder of SNS.

"Under Section 4 of the RTI Act, this kind of information has to be provided to people by the government in such form and manner which is easily accessible to the public and in the local language," she added.

Shailesh Gandhi, central information commissioner, assured he would take up the matter in the Central Information Commission and ensure that details of development funds provided to elected representatives is put up on boards in Hindi in each constituency.

A complaint, signed by over a 1,000 people, was submitted to Gandhi demanding that boards should be put up in each constituency.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Foreign athletes pour in; African nations frown at CWG Village (Intro Night Lead)

New Delhi, Sep 26: The biggest group of foreign athletes and officials arrived here Sunday for the Commonwealth Games but complaints against conditions in the Games Village continued following the presence of a snake and prowling stray dogs in the area - with the African group giving the organisers till Monday evening to get their act together.
There was another hiccup on the organisational front as the security agencies could not complete the lockdown of all the venues and the Village with work still in progress at some of the sites.

The day also saw a flip-flop by Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper. He criticised the Indian government for the delay in infrastructure projects - only to later take back his words.

There were also pull outs. Australian Cyclist Travis Meyer and table tennis player Stephanie Sang withdrew citing security and health concerns.

On the brighter side, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh inaugurated the Rs.700 million ($15 million) sports injuries centre in the Safdarjung Hospital which will cater to sportspersons during the Games, and Swimmers Ashley Callus of Australia and England's Jenna Randall said they will definitely travel to New Delhi and the problems related to the Games have not had a negative impact on them.

Nearly 1,100 athletes and team officials, from Norfolk Islands, Canada, Kenya, Nigeria, Scotland, Canada, Tanzania, Lesotho, Rwanda, Wales, England, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the British Virgin Islands arrived here Sunday for the Oct 3-14 games.

The biggest delegations that arrived were from Kenya (112), Nigeria (69) and Scotland (60). The other arrivals were from countries like Canada, Tanzania, Lesotho, Norfolk Island, Rwanda, Wales, England, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and the British Virgin Islands, a press statement from the Organising Committee said.

Diplomats of several Africa's Commonwealth nations Sunday said there was some improvement in the facilities for their players in the Village, but they will take a final decision on their teams' full-strength arrival only after another inspection Monday evening.

The snake was found Sunday in a room allotted to the South African contingent prompting the country's High Commissioner Harris Mbulelo Mejeke to declare the athletes will not stay in the Village until everything is put in place.

"A snake can be a threat to the lives of our athletes. Very disappointing. Basically, the basement was full of water and the staircase was also damp. If snakes are found we can't ask our athletes to stay in such dangerous situations," Mejeke told reporters.

Officials from Trinidad and Tobago praised the facilities at the Village though their team would stay in hotels till completion of remaining works.

"The facilities are excellent, but there is still a lot of work to do. That is the reason why we have opted to stay in hotels rather than the Village. This is very much similar to a big Indian wedding. But what bothers us are the mosquitoes. There is a fear of dengue," said John Melow, a team official.

A Scottish team official said stray dogs continue to pose a danger to the athletes in the Village.

"We have never seen stray dogs in any other Games Village. This is very strange for us and it poses a threat for the athletes as well," the official said.

Some 7,000 participants and officials from 71 teams are expected to attend the Commonwealth Games, India's biggest sporting event since the 1982 Asian Games.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Indian shooters' practice delayed

New Delhi, Sep 26: Indian shooters had to delay their practice Sunday as their guns and ammunition could not reach the Karni Singh Shooting Range due to lack of co-ordination among the Organising Committee officials.
There was utter chaos at the airport Saturday night when 18 Indian shooters, comprising the rifle and pistol shooters, arrived and officials from the Organising Committee were in fix on how to transport the guns and the ammunition.

National coach Sunny Thomas told IANS that the team was made to wait at the airport for nearly two hours and there was lack of co-ordination among the officials.

"The rule is that the guns and the ammunition would be escorted directly to the range. But due to lack of co-ordination the shooters themselves wanted to take their guns and ammunition to the range and by the time they came to the Games Village, it was 3 a.m. in the morning. So we had to postpone our practice that was scheduled for Sunday morning to the afternoon," said Thomas.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Home secretary reviews CWG, Delhi security (Lead)

New Delhi, Sept 26: Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai Sunday met senior Delhi Police and other security officials to review the preparedness for the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games.
Speaking to reporters, Pillai said that a review meeting took place with Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S.Dadwal, the Delhi chief secretary, the National Security Guard (NSG) director general and senior police officers, including the venue commanders.

"In the complete review, we looked at various issues. Our aim is to ensure that the whole of Delhi is safe and not alone the CWG venues," Pillai said.

"I have also visited the C4I control room. Except for one venue, all venues have been linked with C4I," he said. C4i is an integrated control room of the Delhi Police.

Pillai said that if the venues were handed over earlier, the ministry would have ensured a more foolproof arrangement.

"Even otherwise, we have made elaborate arrangements to ensure that the city is safe," he added.

The meeting at the Delhi Police headquarters, also attended by special commissioners, joint commissioners and deputy commissioners, discussed steps needed to finetune the security preparations in the capital that is gearing up to host some 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories who will be attending the Games.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

India beat England in hockey practice match

New Delhi, Sep 26: The Indian men's hockey team defeated England 3-1 in a practice match ahead of the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games.
For India, Dhananjay Mahadik and Danish Mujtaba scored through penalty corners, while Vikram Pillay slotted a field goal.

India will play their second practice match against England Tuesday.

India is placed with Australia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Scotland in Group A. England, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago form Group B.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

FICCI for a separate law to check corruption in sports

New Delhi, Sep 26: Amid a spate of allegations of corruption surrounding the upcoming Commonwealth Games, a leading industry lobby Sunday demanded a separate law to deal with corruption in sports.
Seeking wide-ranging, structural reforms in the business of sports, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry stressed the need for a law to deal with malpractices and corruption.

In a paper "India's Sports Scenario", FICCI said the proposed law "should encompass proper regulation of sports and governing bodies, ensure minimum qualification criteria, fix a cap on the tenure of office-bearers of sporting federations and age restrictions."

Referring to the report by global ratings agency Moody's, which said "concerns regarding safety, security and site preparedness are tarnishing the country's global image", FICCI said India's reputation as a tourist and investment destination could be damaged.

"The law should also take care that there is meritocracy and equal opportunity in selection process," it added.

FICCI also wanted the law to provide for a mechanism for quick redressal of grievances of various stakeholders like players, teams, federations and sponsors.

It said a Court of Arbitration for various sports in India, similar to the one based in Laussane, Switzerland, can be set up.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

South Africa is having a ball - with World Cup (Comment)

By Rajiv BhatiaThe World Cup 2010, a historic first for Africa, is set to begin in a few days. For host nation South Africa, it is about football and much more. The recent photograph of 91-year-old Nelson Mandela, caressing the 18-carat gold trophy and beaming with joy, said it all. Regardless of who lifts the World Cup, South Africa is already a winner.

South Africans proudly remember Feb 11, 1990, the day Mandela was released from prison after 27 years, and May 10, 1994,when he was inaugurated as the first president after democratic elections. June 11, the day the tournament begins this year, is now being hailed as a similar milestone. President Jacob Zuma has described the occasion as "a defining moment comparable to the end of apartheid".

In May 2004, South Africa won the right to hold the tournament, defeating the claims of Morocco and Egypt. Immediately its self-confidence and elation touched a new high. The triumph resulted from a brilliantly executed campaign that had received valuable assistance from Nobel laureates Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It was a positive nod to South Africans who had projected 2010 as "Africa's World Cup".

But doubts surfaced soon enough. They persisted for long as the media carried stories of glitches and delays in infrastructure development as well as horror stories about crime in major cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria. FIFA's alleged 'Plan B', the possibility of hosting the World Cup in Australia, received some traction until Stepp Blater, FIFA president, categorically dismissed it.

Meanwhile, South Africans managed to get their act together, speeding up construction and restoration work on their roads, hotels, airports and stadiums. Living in Pretoria from December 2006 to December 2009, I witnessed a steady and impressive rise in the tempo of preparations in all relevant domains.

Now, as Barry Moody, a respected columnist, puts it: "After years of doubt, soul-searching and criticism, South Africa stands on the threshold of a unique World Cup that looks likely to confound pessimists."

Football fever is at its zenith, touching all walks of life. It seems that the entire nation, from cabinet ministers down to schoolchildren, is busy mastering steps of the Diski Dance, a series of rhythmic soccer moves, which showcases the country's passion for the sport.

It does not mean that all worries have disappeared. Ticket sales were rather slow. They have picked up recently after the authorities took measures to push domestic sales. Anxiety about a terrorist attack remains, with presumably the well-known international outfits being kept under a close scanner. A cartoon of Prophet Mohammed by the controversial cartoonist Zapiro in the prestigious weekly Mail and Guardian and its strong condemnation by the Muslim community posed a potential problem, but it seems to have been overcome. South Africans are hopeful of staging a trouble-free World Cup.

It will be a tournament marked by razzmatazz, African colours, dance and music. Sitting next to President Zuma at the Indian Premier League-II finals in Johannesburg last year, I saw him and tens of thousands of his countrymen watching spellbound the combination of Bollywood tamasha, African rhythm and spectacular fireworks. Festivities relating to the World Cup are certain to surpass anything that preceded them. And, for sure, there will be parties galore.

South Africans are, of course, unhappy to be placed in Group 'A' that includes majors like France, Mexico and Uruguay. 'Bafana Bafana' (The Boys), as the South African team is known, will need much luck to get through its first match with Mexico. What it will certainly get is massive support from highly charged local fans, each armed with his 'vuvuzela'. It is a plastic trumpet which emits a noise similar to a swarm of bees or a dying elephant. It has been described as the South African team's '12th man.' Vuvuzela music is viewed as a nuisance by some Western teams, but South Africa's head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has appealed to fans: "Make them louder, louder, louder!"

With South Africa now placed at 90 in world rankings, no one is betting on its victory. But their triumph is already assured through their ability to be the first country in Africa to stage it on global standards. Besides, the World Cup is attracting extra tourists, foreign investments and unprecedented publicity. Renewed infrastructure is a major plus. The opportunity to cement national sentiments, bridge the black-white chasm and project a 'we have arrived' message is important. There is unspoken regret that African neighbouring nations have not fully accepted the tournament as "Africa's World Cup." But, objectively speaking, the tournament is a boost for self-confidence not only of South Africa but Africa as a whole. "We must rise," said President Zuma, "and tell the story of a continent which is alive with possibilities."

I phoned a European diplomat in Delhi a few days back with a request for visa assistance to a friend. She had served in Johannesburg until recently and was feeling sad at the prospect of watching the World Cup on television. "I understand and share your anguish." My words established an immediate connection. The assistance was given in a jiffy.

Friends of South Africa in India sincerely hope the World Cup will pass off peacefully and joyously. Only one regret though: If only our squad had been there, flying the tricolour!
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Commonwealth nations showcase power textiles in Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) A showcase of textiles from the Commonwealth countries has brought the distinctive dress choices of historical leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Kwame Nkrumah and Queen Victoria in an exposition at the Delhi Crafts Museum.
The exhibition, "Power Cloths of the Commonwealth", will be inaugurated by Australian High Commissioner Peter Varghese, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, and minister of state for textiles Panabaka Lakshmi Sunday as part of the arts and cultural package for the Commonwealth Games 2010.

The textiles and apparel will be on display till Oct 20.

"Power Cloths of the Commonwealth" follows an exhibition held in Melbourne on the margins of the 2006 Commonwealth Games, co-curators Suzanne Davies and Jasleen Dhamija said Saturday.

Outlining the concept of the exhibition, Davies said: "Textiles here signify the political power or political positions of resistance and independence like Gandhiji's Khaddar Chadar, Gandhi Topi and Khadi as the livery of the freedom fighters; and first president of Ghana Kwame Nkrumah's 'kente' cloth as the dress of Ghanaian independence and identity."

"The boldly embroidered Nigeria's Hausa community traditional called the riga; Nelson Mandela's shirt; Kenyan leader Jomo Kenyata's fly whisk (fly swatter) or Queen Victoria's garment representing the centralised power of the Commonwealth also find place here," she added.

The exhibition is a partnership between the Crafts Musuem and Australia's RMIT University Gallery, supported by the Delhi government and the high commissions of the Commonwealth countries.

Announcing the exhibition in the capital, Varghese said: "The Commonwealth Games are about sporting excellence, but they are also a celebration of the many bonds that unite Commonwealth countries."

"This showcase of fine textiles from across the Commonwealth is a spectacular expression of our cultural diversity," he added.

Davies, director of the RMIT Gallery in Melbourne, Australia, said: "For Commonwealth countries, textiles provide an irresistible opportunity to explore our shared experiences and differences through rich, visceral materials. They highlight our cultural wealth and diversity."

Drawn from major museum and private collections from around the globe and covering all the five continents, the exhibition presents a tight selection of "key historical and contemporary works, many of which have never been shown before".

The project is being overseen by an advisory committee that includes Ruchira Ghose, Ashok Dhawan, Sudhakar Rao and Anita Saran.

"In relation to textiles, the idea of 'power' has many intriguing connotations. Power refers to a number of qualities and dimensions, including the power embodied in a garment by virtue of the excellence of technique in its making and/or the value of materials from which it is made," according to the curators.

These include cloths of high aesthetic value which were traded around the world, they added.

The highlights in the Indian segment are a rare printed 16th Kalamkari created by Gujarati masters complimented by a large trade processional "patola" in Moghul brocade.

The textiles have been donated by Shilpa and Praful Shah of Mumbai. C.L. Bharany of Delhi has lent a brocaded "Jama", a brocaded "khilat", exquisite Kashmiri shawls, which was a part of the tribute paid by Kashmir to Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

The Mohatta Museum in Karachi has loaned an extraordinary "pugree turban" worn by a Baluchi chief.

Robes of honour from the states in northwest frontier province in Pakistan loaned by Sumant Dhamija merit attention for their richness of colours and fabrics.

The Crafts Museum has contributed a gold embroidered late Mughal khillat, a robe of honour and turban; along with a neelambari and koniya executed on the gossamer jamdanis of Dhaka in Bangladesh which represent the finest of muslin weaves coveted across the world.

"The idea of power also stems from the spiritual, mystical or symbolic cultural status of the garment or cloth, like the clothing of a shaman," Davies said.

"Such powers may also be embodied in the configuration of particular forms, shapes and images such as in the shaman's wrapper, Iban from Malaysia, or the Naga head hunters shawl," she added.