New Delhi:
Indian Olympic Association senior vice-president V K Malhotra on Friday asked the Commonwealth Games organisers to make use of Hindi in official communications, publicity work and opening and closing declaration of the multi-sporting event to be held in Delhi from October 3-14.
In a letter to CWG OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi, Malhotra said Hindi should be given prominent place during the Commonwealth Games as it is the official language of Central as well as Delhi governments.
"All publicity work (of the Games), should also be done in Hindi along with English. All official information should be given both in English and Hindi. The declaration of opening of the Games as well as closing should also be done in Hindi.
The speeches should be translated into Hindi simultaneously on a big screen," Malhotra said.
Malhotra, also Archery Association of India President, demanded that official commentary must also be done in Hindi.
He cited the example of use of French along with English in the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada.