Kalmadi, also the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman, reiterated that the preparations are on schedule.

"We are bang on schedule and all the infrastructure development would be over by December 2009," Kalmadi said. The IOA chief also oozed confidence on India winning the bid to host the 2020 Olympics.

"The bid will be decided in 2013 and I think we are well on course to showcasing ourselves as a good venue to host the Olympics," he said.

Kalmadi said the first step towards showcasing India as a world-class venue was the Commonwealth Youth Games scheduled from October 12 to 18 in Pune.

"The Youth Games are a build-up to CWG 2010 which are just 800 days away. This will be the third edition of the Youth Games but it is for the first time that all the Commonwealth countries have confirmed participation," he said.

The previous two editions of the Youth Games were held in England and Australia and not even half of the Commonwealth nations participated in them.

The Pune Games will be the biggest in terms of participation with over 1300 athletes competing in nine disciplines - Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling.

And in an initiative to take the Games to all parts of the country, the organisers have planned a 74-day Baton Relay, first ever in the Games, starting August 1.

The relay will cover nine states, 199 cities and cover a distance of 8000 kms and the baton will be carried through to Pune by 6000 athletes and 7500 volunteers.

The relay would be flagged off from the capital at the Delhi University.

"Pune has everything ready and rest assured it will be a very successful Games. The city has all the infrastructure in place," assured Kalmadi.

Kalmadi said the Pune Games would be promoted as Green Games and the baton will be used to collect water from every city that it would travel.

On reaching Pune, the collected water from the Indian cities would be added to the water brought from the other 71 nations to create a 'Fountain of Youth'.

CYG 2008 will be held at Balewadi in October. Preparations are on in full swing. The Pune Municipal Corporation and PCMC are developing infrastructure in the areas close to it.

According to Dumbre, the decision on giving Rs 25 crore to CYG will be taken by municipal commissioner Ashish Sharma. CYG officials called for keeping the roads in good condition before the games begin. They also demanded that the PCMC erect advertisement boards along the roads, showing the number of days remaining for the start of the games.

"Our senior team was the runners up in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and the juniors have won the Asia Cup just a few days back. We have to now sit up and make the roadmap for hockey," he said.

"Things are otherwise also moving well in Indian sports but don't expect too many medals in China," said Kalmadi at the book release of 'Olympics: The India Story' by Boria Majumdar and Nalin Mehta.

Chief intensivist at the Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital and pioneer of emergency medical services (EMS) in India, Prasad Rajhans, started the workshop by spelling out the objective and giving an overview of the training. The volunteers were then briefed about the overview of the youth games by Nishigandha Mathur, co-convenor of the CYG medical committee.

S. Bhamare, orthopedic surgeon and polyclinic manager for the CYG gave an insight into various sports injuries and orthopedic emergencies. Lt Col S.K. Ghai of the Army Sports Institute spoke about the significance of dope control.

Other emergency management techniques involved like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CRP) and shock, chest and abdominal trauma and ear, nose, tongue, eye and spinal injuries were also covered during the training conducted by eminent doctors from the city.

Chairman of the CYG organising committee and MP Suresh Kalmadi opened the programme. He said the medical services team will be performing one of the most noble tasks during the games as they will not only look after the athletes and other entitled groups but also be alert for disaster management and all other eventualities. He also appreciated the fact that so many doctors had volunteered to be a part of the medical services team for the CYG.

The medical services committee consists of prominent doctors in the city with Purvez Grant of the Ruby Hall clinic as chairman, Parag Sancheti of the Sancheti hospital as convenor and Y.H. Doiphode, deputy director, health services, government of Maharashtra as the chief medical officer.

Meanwhile, the games technical conduct committee also organised a three-day workshop on competition venue operations planning for technical delegates, competition managers and venue managers under the chairmanship of Brig K.P. Singh Deo (Retd), assisted by A.S.V. Prasad.

Detailed discussions were held with the officials of the directorate of sports, GoM and the project management consultants on locations of various constituent groups, layout of field of play, spectator services, requirements for media and broadcasters and sports medal presentation ceremony.

A decision to this effect was taken and players can now contribute through a bank account especially created for the purpose, a press release issued by the Maharashtra Olympic Association on Saturday said.

MP Suresh Kalmadi, also chairman of the CYG organising committee, had been receiving requests from former Olympians, Arjuna awardees, Shiv Chhatrapati, Dhanchand and Padmashree recipients to include their contribution in installing the statue. These players and various sports associations in the state had conducted a meeting in this regard and submitted their request to Kalmadi and so a committee, under the chairmanship of the MP was formed.

A special account for collection of this contribution has been opened with the Bank of Maharashtra and willing players can deposit their contribution in Shri Shiv Chhatrapati Statue Committee, Sports city, Pune, account no 60008771966 at any BOM branch across the country.

Sporting greats from the state, including Harishchandra Birajdar, Padmashree Gopalrao Phadke, shooter Anjali Vedpathak, former Olympian Kamlesh Mehta, Dhyanchand awardee Smita shirole-Yadav, Shiv Chhatrapati awardee Manisha Ghate, Gurbans Kaur, Nita Talavlikar among others will be contributing for the cause, added the communiqué.

The stadium was constructed in 1994 and named after Shivaji, however, the stadium never had any indicative structure after his name. In view of the same, it was decided to install a statue of Shivaji at the backdrop of the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) to be conducted at the stadium in October.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi said last year that Formula One Management had signed a 10-year deal with them and had approved two sites on the outskirts of New Delhi to build a circuit.

Mallya told a news conference in Germany on Friday that the land to build the track had already been bought and that construction would begin in October.

"The news is quite positive. I happened to be having lunch with the CEO of one of India's biggest banks and he confirmed that they had sanctioned a facility to the developer of the Indian track," Mallya said.

"He has actually bought the land and on October 1 construction of a brand new track will begin.

"So for the first time now I think I feel very confident to be able to say to you that there will be a brand new track and that we will have our first grand prix in 2010," added the Force India owner, who is also the chairman of the Motorsports Association of India.

Gill, who is one of the five vice-presidents of Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), attended the council meeting of the Asian federation here Thursday. He was sacked as the president of the IHF after the IOA dissolved it, following its general secretary K. Jyothikumaran's involvement in a bribery scandal in April.

Kalmadi toed the line of AHF secretary P. Alagendra, who said Thursday that the members are elected in their individual capacity and as per the constitution Gill will continue to serve his tenure till 2010.

"He has been elected as an individual in AHF and he will continue to be there. Even Jyothikumaran is a member, and we cannot stop them from attending council meeting as per the constitution," said Kalmadi, who is also the ad-hoc committee chairman, which is now running the men's sport in the country.

Asked how is it possible as IHF has been dissolved, Kalmadi said: "The Asian body has its its own rule but he (Gill) will not represent India. Amrit Bose and Vidya Stokes, the president and secretary of Indian Women's Hockey Federation respectively, will represent India in the AHF council."

Asked if Gill is not representing India what will be his role in the AHF, Kalmadi said: "They will talk about the developments in Asian hockey."

The FIH also decided in principle to host the Men's Champions Trophy in 2011 or 2012 in India, subject to sponsorship and other arrangements being arranged and also to hold a women's tournament in India in the next few years.

The FIH also approved the conversion of Indian Hockey Confederation (IHC) as the sole governing body for both men and women hockey in India as `Hockey India'.

FIH president Els van Breda Vriesman confirmed that she had positive discussions with the officials of the Indian Olympic Association here and only after that FIH decided to award the rights of 2010 World Cup Hockey to India.

`I am very much satisfied with the working of the ad hoc committee, currently running the game in India,' she said, adding, `FIH recognition to Hockey India is provisional and an official confirmation to is expected at the IOA General assembly in November.' Both FIH and IOA has agreed for the conduct of the 2010 World Cup in New Delhi at the National Hockey Stadium, which was being renovated now to create one of the finest stadiums in the world. The stadium will also be the venue of the 2010 Commonwealth Games competitions.

`The World Cup will be organized as a joint venture between the FIH and the IOA. Both organizations have agreed that all profits will be reinvested in the project promoting Indian hockey,' she added.  While refusing to be dragged into any controversy, especially relating to the KPS Gill, former IHF chief, Vriesman claimed that it was an issue related to the Indian Olympic Association and she had nothing to do with it.  She also confirmed the resignation of the hockey legend Ric Charlesworth from the post of technical advisor to Indian hockey.  `Charlesworth's era in Indian hockey is over now after the acceptance of his resignation by the Sports Authority of India.' IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi too claimed that Charlesworth's tenure as Indian hockey technical advisor was no more existing.'

The assistance will be given for each year of their college studies.

The financial support will be to the extent of Rs 15,000 for those who've passed standard X and Rs 25,000 for those who have passed standard XII.

Speaking to reporters, leader of the house Anil Bhosale and Congress party leader in PMC Aba Bagul said that it was a historic decision taken by the PMC.

NCP corporator Ajit Apte said one of the important criteria is that the student getting the assistance should perform consistently and score 80 per cent marks every year of college.

"And the amount of Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000 is a ceiling amount. The support will depend on the fees of the respective college the students studies in. It could be less than the amount fixed," Apte said.

He also pointed out that students who are already availing benefit through a similar scheme of the state government will not be entertained.

"Application forms for the scheme will be available at all the 14 ward offices within a few days," Apte said.

The other conditions laid by the civic body is that the students should be a resident in the PMC limits for last three years, that only one child in the family will be able to avail the benefit and that there should not be more than two children in the family born after June 1, 2001. There are no castebased conditions put forth.

The PMC plans to implement the scheme under its Maulana Abul Kalam Azad education scheme and Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe education scheme for which Rs 4 crore have been set aside in the municipal budget for 2008-09.

Although a section of the corporators were irked over the plan to provide support from the schemes meant for the backward classes, they were assured by party leaders that funds will be diverted for the scheme from other projects.

Kunchagi said the committee would take all precautions to maintain hygiene at the sports venues and accommodation facilities of delegates.

He further said the personal hygiene of workers at the catering facilities will also be monitored. "They will also have to undergo a medical examination to ensure that they are not suffering from any diseases. Besides, caterers will be instructed to spray insecticide in their premises," Kunchagi informed.

He further said that he will be getting a list of all caterers who would be supplying food to the sportspersons, delegates and technical representatives during the CYG.

A meeting of the committee would be held in a few days to prepare the list of precautions to be taken to ensure hygienic conditions during the games.

It is now clear that Charlesworth does not fit into the scheme of things of the Suresh Kalmadi-headed ad hoc panel which is ready with a charge-sheet against him along with an action plan for discussion with FIH chief Els van Breda Vriesman here July 17.

Charlesworth, who was thrust upon the K.P.S. Gill regime as technical adviser for Indian hockey as part of FIH project Promoting Indian Hockey, put in his papers before flying out of Hyderabad on the eve of the junior Asia Cup now on here.

What has irked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) more is his long wish list and an equally long list of imaginary, unsubstantiated grievances he has sent to it and then freely e-mailed to the media.

A senior IOA official said that the ad hoc committee has had enough of Charlesworth and the FIH chief has already been informed that the Australian need no longer waste his time here.

The IOA's stand is that it can look after Indian hockey better without these so-called advisers and that it is also not interested in getting another foreign coach after Charleworth packs up.

"We have spoken to FIH chief and told her about Charlesworth's ways of functioning and the problems the ad hoc panel faces working with him. We will discuss all the issue with FIH chief when she is here, but there is no question of keeping Charleworth in India. Things have come to such a pass that neither can work with the other and hopefully FIH appreciates our stand," said an highly influential IOA source and ad-hoc committee member refusing to be named.

"We know the requirements of Indian hockey and if need be we can find a foreign coach ourselves," he said.

IOA will also tell the world body that Charlesworth's long wishlist in his resignation letter and his repeated interaction with the media is part of his "pressure tactics" to get whatever he wants.

"We did offer him the coach's job and FIH knows that. He refused it because he wanted a bigger say in the Indian hockey affairs, whatever that may mean because he is not clear what exactly he wants," the official said.

IOA is also confident that the Charlesworth issue will not have any bearing on India hosting the 2010 World Cup. FIH had provisionally allotted the tournament to India and threatened to take it back in the wake of the bribery scandal involving the then IHF secretary-general Kandaswamy Jothikumaran.

IOA's confidence stems from the fact that it has acted swiftly after the bribery scandal by superseding the Indian Hockey Federation and the immediate offshoot was that the India team finished runners-up at the Azlan Shan Cup tournament.

"I know you do not interfere in the party affairs at local level, but can definitely give political advice to the local leaders," Kalmadi said, urging Pawar to interfere in resolving the differences between the Congress and NCP in the city. Kalmadi and Pawar shared the dais at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the bio-diversity park at Taljai hill organised by the PMC. It is a joint project of the civic body and the state government.

To everyone's surprise, the dais was occupied by city legislators and corporators of Congress and NCP. However, Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar, the architect of Pune Pattern was missing from the function. BJP corporators were conspicuous by their absence. Shiv Sena leader and standing committee chairman Shyam Deshpande attended the function.

Kalmadi, in an indirect offer for re-alliance with the NCP, said the Congress was ready to provide helping hand in carrying out meaningful development of the city.

"There have been speculations over changing political equations in the city. The Pune Pattern has been in discussion, but the Mumbai pattern and Delhi pattern holds more importance and should be implemented in the city," Kalmadi added.

For the purpose of this beautification, PMC has allocated Rs 40 crore in the budget and many of the beautification tasks are going to be carried on BOT basis.

Pune mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale held a joint meeting on Thursday with the heads of political parties in PMC. While explaining what measures the PMC is going to undertake she urged the citizens to give a positive image of the city before the foreign delegates and participants, who will be landing in the city from over 72 countries.

"During the CYG event, Pune is going to represent India before the foreign delegates. Therefore, more than the PMC, the onus is on the citizens to keep the city clean and leave a positive imprint of the country in the minds of foreign delegates. Among many other things, not spitting at public places and on roads, helping the foreign delegates are some of the things that the citizens can come forward to," Bhosale said.

"We want to make use of the CYG event for bringing in good things for the city, which will be of use in the long run, even after the CYG event," she said. Major roads, chowks, gardens and parks, flyovers are going to be adorned for the event. PMC will also install signages, LCD screens at 25 places, 50 CYG countdown clocks, hoardings, which will propagate about the mega-event. The PMC is also going to plant 10 lakh saplings.

The decision was made by the General Committee, the apex body for managing the "Sports Fund for Pension to meritorious sportspersons", which met here under the chairmanship of Sports Minister M S Gill.

"The Government has made 100 per cent increase in the pension of meritorious sportspersons," said a press statement issued by the Ministry.

"The enhanced rates of pension will be applicable to both existing meritorious sportspersons drawing pension as well as sportspersons eligible in future. The new rates will be effective from July 1, 2008," it added.

As per the revised rates of pension the medalists at the Olympic Games will get Rs 10,000 in place of Rs 5000 and gold medalists at the World Cup/World Championships in Olympic and Asian Games disciplines will draw Rs 8000 instead of Rs 4000 per month.

Silver and bronze medallists at the World Cup/World Championships, Olympic and Asian Games disciplines and the gold winners of the Asian/Commonwealth Games will get Rs 7000 in place of Rs 3500.

It would be Rs 6000 for silver and bronze medalists of the Asian/Commonwealth Games.

The Para-Olympic Games medal winners will also be benefitted getting Rs 5000, Rs 4000 and Rs 3000 per month.