CWG 2010: Federation chief seeks PM`s intervention

New Delhi: Miffed with the capital`s tardy preparation for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, CGF President Michael Fennel has sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh`s intervention to put things in order.With barely a year to go for the October 3-14 event, Fennell has shot a letter to the Organising Committee of Delhi

Games, saying he has asked Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi to arrange next month a meeting with the Prime Minister. "With only a year to run until the Games, I feel I must personally brief the Prime Minister of India on the lack of preparations and to seek his input in developing an appropriate recovery plan," wrote a furious Fennell. "As you know, I have asked the Chairman of the Organising Committee to facilitate such a meeting on my return to Delhi in early October for our General Assembly," he said. "I am looking forward to some urgent actions in order to bring about the successful celebration of the Games in 2010," Fennell wrote. Fennells` fear was substantiated by a CGF Coordination Commission report which predicted partial failure of the Games. "Given it is 27 years since India hosted an international multi-sport event, why is there such a reluctance to recruit experience from overseas?" the report said. The Commission said if CGF did not intervene, the Games was bound to see particla failure. "The Coordination Commission is of the view that Games` failure in part is now likely should the CGF not intervene... It is reasonable to further conclude that the current situation poses a serious risk to the Commonwealth Games in 2010, the Commonwealth Games brand and the image of the CGF," the report had said. Fennell, in his letter, stated that reality was the Federation had consistently expressed serious concerns to the Organising Committee on preparations for the Games. "The Government of India has committed significant resources towards the operational delivery of the Games (1,620 crores) and as I said at the meeting it would be irresponsible and negligent of the Federation not to share its concerns openly with the Government." The CGF chief also said he was "extremely worried" about the Organising Committee`s capability to deliver a successful Games, as it was promised. "Our main concern relates to capacity of the Organising Committee to deliver operationally, as I said at the Board meeting preparations for the Games are significantly behind," the letter said. "The Commonwealth Games Federation is extremely worried about the Organising Committee`s ability to deliver the Games to any comparable standard to that of the last two editions of the Games in Manchester and Melbourne," it added. "Our concerns are such that unless there is significant change in the management culture and operation of the Organising Committee these Games will fail from an operational perspective," it added. "The procurement processes within the Committee are stagnant and lack of empowerment of functional area management is retarding progress. Report of our Coordination Commission highlights a range of areas that need addressing... The only way to address matters going forward is to openly share information and concerns both amongst ourselves as Board Members and with our key stakeholders," the letter said. Bureau Report