Mumbai: Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi today 'regretted' not bringing the Commonwealth Games to Mumbai.
Addressing a function to felicitate winners of Commonwealth and World Gojukai Karate Championship held recently in South Africa, Kalmadi said, "The scenario would have been different if Maharashtra government had thought otherwise about Commonwealth Games in Mumbai."
Kalmadi, who is also Chairman of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, said Mumbai lacked sport infrastructure and that's why he wanted to bring the Games here.
Asked who betrayed his plan to bring the Games to Mumbai, he told that Maharashtra Cabinet had turned down the proposal long ago.
"They did so may be because of paucity of funds." Kalmadi said the Commonwealth baton will reach India hundred days before the game via Wagah border, Pakistan.
To a query, he said the differences of opinion between him and the Commonwealth Games Federation "have been sorted out."
On the preparation of Commonwealth Games, slated to be held in New Delhi in October 2010, he said all preparations have been completed. "The flyover, Metro train-line and the Games village have boosted the infrastructure of New Delhi."
The MP from Pune expressed confidence that the 15-day sport event would be a huge success.
The Delhi Games had run into a bad weather due to its tardy pace of preparations.
The situation worsened when the OC and CGF waged a public spat after the organisers shot down the parent body's idea of a Technical Review Panel for monitoring the progress.
To add to the crisis, Kalmadi and CGF chief executive officer Mike Hooper were engaged in war of words after the OC had sought the New Zealander's transfer out of Delhi calling him "useless" and "impediment" to the smooth functioning of the OC.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, November 03, 2009, 21:23