BRIEF-Games-India allots $717 million for Commonwealth Games

NEW DELHI, July 6 (Reuters) - India has allotted 34.72 billion rupees ($717 million) over the next year to finish projects for the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday.

The government as well as the organising committee are under pressure following delays in completing the venues and cost overruns, with the global financial crisis adding to concerns.

"The Commonwealth Games present the country with an opportunity to showcase our potential as an emerging Asian power," Mukherjee added while presenting the federal budget for 2009-10 in parliament.

The amount is a sharp increase from the 21.12 billion rupees ($436.4 million) initially allotted for the period until March end next year. (Reporting by N.Ananthanarayanan, editing by Justin Palmer; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)