Question : VISIT OF DELEGATION DURING BEIJING OLYMPIC

(a) whether a delegation formed by the Commonwealth Games (CWG) Organising Committee (OC) visited Beijing during the Beijing Olympic, 2008;

(b) if so, the names of the members of the delegation and the purpose of the visit alongwith the outcome thereof;

(c) the total expenditure incurred on the visit of the said delegation;

(d) whether any investigation/inquiry has been conducted by the Government agencies to probe the alleged irregularities into the matter; and

(e) if so, the finding thereof and the action taken/being taken by the Government on the basis of the findings made by said agencies?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS(SHRI AJAY MAKEN)

(a) & (b) :Yes, Madam. OC, CWG has informed that a delegation visited Beijing during Beijing Olympic, 2008 under Beijing Olympic Observer Programme. The names of 161 persons, who visited Beijing are given in Annexure. The purpose of the visit was to obtain first hand knowledge and experience of various activities in the context of ensuing CWG. The members of the delegation attended workshops in Beijing and on return to India, de-briefing sessions were also held.

(c) The total expenditure incurred by the OC during the visit of the delegation was Rs.8.15 Cr.

(d) & (e): A High Level Committee headed by Shri V.K. Shunglu has been constituted to look into issues relating to the organizing and conduct of the Commonwealth Games, 2010 and their final report is awaited.