CWG 2010 - Showtime in Delhi ??

The most amazing argument being circulated in favour of hosting CWG is of "putting the city on the world map". I don't know about what world maps other people use but i for one do not like to use the world map sans Delhi. If anyone was using that I suggest get a better map like this one ... yes, they are available.

The second is of the 'pride' of hosting the games. The honour of being a gracious host after inviting the former colonies of Britain, along with Britain, to play games in our stadiums. Doing 'Mehman-nawzi' and showing them the concept of 'Atithi devo bhavah'.
Fat chance! A quick reality check here. And the image of Delhi we have been able to generate looks like this.
The best of them have already refused the invitation. And here is how good is the residential facility for the athletes.

Nevertheless, these games remain an emergency for the city ... one whose exigency is more than that of the floods affecting 5 states plus the NCT of Delhi itself. To their credit even tabloids of US has been able to notice this.
The capital expanded till now is around 2% of India's GDP for this year ... one might think of starting a new city from scratch from this over 8 years ... the actual actionable time that was available to the govt.
Not to speak of the almost atrocious sacrifices that have been asked from Delhites. For example, many colleges of DU are not giving hostel facilities to their students this year as the hostels will be used as CWG residences ... the students have not been compensated in any way till i last heard of it.
The city's schools and offices will be closed for 15 days in to avoid the kind of traffic situation that happens whenever CWG lanes are treated like CWG lanes.
The "infrastructure" developement that is happening is largely a scam. One can see dividers being taken apart and the same material put again the same place, healthy roads being rebuilt into their less healthier cousins ... roads that have already starting coming off two days into their completion, and in a couple of places the traditional dabur road being made over existing cement roads.
The stadiums their roofs already drip and require patching before even becoming functional. Expect them to lose any purpose before the first anniversary of games.

What we would be showing them instead is that Indians don't mind being treated as second class citizens in their own land. They do not need imperialist colonist for that.... not anymore.

P.S. (27/9/10) :> Met a couple of Aussies at C.P. today asking for directions to Domino's. They thanked me with a 'Dhanyawad'. It looked like the touring athletes are more prepared for the games then we are.