Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: A day after Sports minister MS Gill summoned him over the delay in preparations for the Commonwealth Games 2010, Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi defended the alleged slow pace of the work, saying that the capital was on its way to deliver a grand event.
“We are working as a team to deliver a great event,” he said.
Reacting to allegations of the ongoing slow pace of the work at Commonwealth Games site, Kalmadi said:
“We are doing work in good pace. I have a great team, who have the ability to pull of an event of such magnitude,” he added.
Addressing a press conference in the backdrop of CWG Federation Michael Fennell's warning of a "partial failure" to the Games, Kalmadi said all the stakeholders, including foreign consultants, were working in tandem.
"The Government of India, I must say, is backing the Organising Committee to the hilt. The Sports Minister, the Delhi Chief Minister and the Governor and my colleagues are working as a team to deliver a great Games," he said.
"All of us are working at a great pace. We also have experienced technical people who have expertise of hosting Afro-Asian Games, Badminton World Champions and several National Games.
"On the advice of the Commonwealth Games Federation we
had also hired foreign consultants so that we do not slip up.
I think we have 30-40 of them. So all of us are working
together to stage one of the most successful Games," said
Kalmadi, also CWG Organising Committee chairman.
He also pointed out that CGF chief Fennell had earlier
this month said that "overall the preparations are under
control" and the OC would take the 'wake up calls'
constructively.
"Mr Fennell is an able administrator. He had said on
September in the Wall Street Journal that 'there is never
satisfaction till the finishing work is done. Overall they are
under control'," Kalmadi said
Kalmadi said the OC have decided to "cut down the frills"
and some events in the run up to the Games would be cancelled.
"We have cancelled the AR Rehman show to be held next
month at the India Gate to mark the 'one year to go event' as
well as the cultural programme at the Trafalgar Square after
the Queens Baton Relay handing over ceremony at Buckingham
Palace in London on October 29. We are also going to travel by
economy class," he said.
IOA General Secretary Randhir Singh said the "wake up
call" from the CGF was well accepted by the OC.
"There is no way we are taking the criticism in a wrong
way. The wake up calls by CGF are well accepted," said
Randhir, who is also the CWG OC vice-chairman.
"2010 CWG is not a one-off Games. We have to present well
our sporting excellence to the outside world. We are hoping to
host Asian and Olympic Games. So we have to ensure a
successful Games," he added.
First Published: Thursday, September 17, 2009, 08:57