The Cynosure of all Eyes

By Mary and Gargi

New Delhi: The cynosure of all eyes in the coming days will be the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi. The sprawling stadium has seating facility for 78,000 spectators. In terms of sitting capacity, it is the third biggest stadium in India.
It will host the most awaited Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games as well as the closing ceremony. The two ceremonies put together will showcase India’s great civilization, its history, cultural diversity, varied art forms, music, dance and much more.

The Nehru Stadium (as it is called in common parlance) is named after the first Prime Minister of the country, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. It is a multipurpose sports arena which also hosts a variety of cultural events.

The stadium had hosted the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in 1982 as well as the Asian Championships in Athletics in 1989. The stadium has got a complete facelift with the renovations costing reportedly about Rs. 960 crores for the Delhi edition of the Commonwealth Games.

Apart from the opening and closing ceremonies, the Stadium will be the venue for various competitions like athletics, lawn bowls and weightlifting.

Nehru Stadium Events: At a Glance

ATHELETICS
Capacity: 60,000
Competition Arena: 400 m 9 lane Conica Synthetic surface Athletic
track with 10 lanes in Home Straight,
60 m 4 lane Conica Synthetic
surface strip at Indoor hold up area
and two warm up areas - 8 lane Conica
synthetic surface track and for Long Throws
Competition Date: 6-12 October 2010
Entry Gate Numbers: 6, 9 and 14
Distance from Games Village: 12Km

LAWN BOWLS
Capacity: 2,111
Competition Arena: Four competition synthetic greens with flood
lights.
Competition Date 4-13 October 2010
Entry Gate Numbers: 14
Distance from Games Village: 12Km

WEIGHTLIFTING
Capacity: 2,500
Competition Arena: One competition platform; 12 warm-up platforms
Competition Date: 4 -12 October 2010
Entry Gate Numbers: 18
Distance from Games Village: 12Km

Among other important features of the stadium are high definition television transmission, state-of-art sports lighting and a specially designed underground tunnel for the opening and closing ceremonies.

The stadium has attracted the maximum amount of attention among all the venues. It will truly reflect Indian culture and history on the D-Day when the whole world will view the Opening Ceremony.

Nehru stadium is today a world class one which is a result of the hard work and perseverance of the many workers and organizers. All eyes are now set not just on the success of the Opening Ceremony but the Games as a whole.