ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/27/2005 21 November 2005
Australia-India sports forum inaugurated in lead up to Commonwealth Games
The President of the Indian Olympic Association and Chairman, Executive Board of the Commonwealth Games 2010, Delhi, Mr Suresh Kalmadi today inaugurated an Australia-India sports forum organised by the Australia-India Council (AIC) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for collaboration in sports and major sporting events. The Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, will deliver the valedictory address.
"Australians and Indians are intensely interested in sport in general (and cricket in particular!) and it is only natural that we come together to share our experience and expertise to develop further our sporting capabilities", said Mr John McCarthy, Australian High Commissioner to India.
"The Sports Forum will provide an opportunity for the Australian and Indian stakeholders to discuss issues in sports administration, games planning and operations and strengthening India-Australia cooperation", he added.
The conference will provide an opportunity to discuss experiences from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and preparations for the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games. It will cover topics including sport and venues management, project management and the marketing, public relations and commercial aspects of organising major sporting events.
Speakers at the two-day program will include Mr Tarun Das, Chief Mentor, Confederation of Indian Industry and Mr Sandy Hollway AO, former CEO of the Sydney Organising Committee for the 2000 Olympic Games. Topics such as needs and opportunities in India for sports development, planning for the games and Australian approaches towards administration and development of sport will also be discussed.
The Sports Forum coincides with India's preparations for the New Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and New Delhi's bid for the 2014 Asian Games. This event is being organised in collaboration with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Australian States of New South Wales and Victoria.
The Australia-India Council (AIC) is a non-statutory body that helps broaden and deepen bilateral relations through contacts and exchanges in a range of fields including public health, volunteering, education, film, literature and arts management. Efforts to enhance bilateral relationship in sports have also been encouraged through cooperation in areas such as swimming, triathlon, women's cricket and dialogues on drugs in sport, sports science and medicine.
The event will be held on 21-22 November 2005 at the Silver Oak, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 (entry from Gate 3). For further information, please contact Ms Asha Das on 9810860451.