Advertisement

I will try and broker peace between Kalmadi, Fennell: Gill

Sports Minister MS Gill Monday said he will try to broker peace between Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief Michael Fennell and Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi.

New Delhi: Sports Minister MS Gill Monday said he will try to broker peace between Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chief Michael Fennell and Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi."Whatever has happened is not right and shouldn`t have happened," Gill told reporters here Monday after arriving from Kochi.
"I just want to say that on October 29, I am going to London for the Queen`s Baton Relay and there I will meet Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell and Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi. I will talk to them and try to resolve the matter. I will listen to both the sides," he said. Fennell has rejected all the demands of the CGOC, including recall of CWG chief operating officer Mike Hooper. CGOC is also against CWG setting up an independent review panel to monitor the monthly progress of the preparations. "Fennell has raised some questions about the functioning and management of this organising committee. Those issues have been addressed and we have made certain changes in the management. We have done the required work," Gill said. Gill also informed that three new officials "of cabinet rank" would be inducted in the committee soon. "Jarnail Singh has been appointed as the new CEO for the Organising Committee and three more senior officers of cabinet rank will also join soon. Among them, will be a chief financial officer who will look after all this Games related matter. So, the management issues have been addressed," he said. "We are confident of holding a successful Games and even the Prime Minister assured Fennell about it," Gill said. IANS