New Delhi: Indian Olympic Association
President Suresh Kalmadi today met Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and assured him that the preparations for next year's
Commonwealth Games were on track despite mounting concerns
about the tardy pace of work.
Kalmadi, also the chairman of the Commonwealth Games
Organising Committee, said the Prime Minister promised all
support for the successful conduct of the event, scheduled in
October next year.
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Government was fully
aware that it was a matter of pride for India to be hosting
the Commonwealth Games here next year and that it would leave
no stone unturned to ensure the successful conduct of the
Games," the IOA chief said in a statement.
Kalmadi said Singh described hosting the Games as a
matter of "national prestige".
He assured the Prime Minister that the Organising
Committee was working round the clock to ensure that India
delivers a memorable and successful Games.
Kalmadi also briefed the Prime Minister about the recent
security conference for the Heads of Missions and the
International Security Liaison Conference to be held in the
Capital from tomorrow.
"I have never had doubts about Government's commitment to
the conduct of the Commonwealth Games and I came away very
satisfied with the meeting today," said Kalmadi.
The IOA chief has also invited Singh to visit the
headquarters of the Organising Committee.
The meeting assumes significance as preparations for the
Games have been criticised by the Commonwealth Games
Federation chief Mike Fennell in a letter to the organising
committee.
Fennell has also sought a audience with Prime Minister to
discuss Delhi's preparations.
In a damning report on the capital's preparations, the
CGF has expressed fears that the Games could end up being a
partial failure.
A defiant Kalmadi has, however, maintained all along that
the city would be ready to host the event despite admitting
that Fennell's letter has served as a wake-up call.
Even Delhi's chief minister Sheila Dikshit has conceded
to being nervous about the Games' build-up.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 20:01