New Delhi, July 22: While concerns over tight deadlines and security for the 2010 Commonwealth Games remain, Mike Fennell, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said on Tuesday that he was happy with the progress made by the government.
During a whirlwind trip to the Capital to take stock after the fifth coordination committee of the Federation submitted its report in May, Fennell said, “Concern over deadlines and schedules remain, but I was satisfied to see that the government has paid a lot of attention to the preparations. They (authorities) have made good progress this time.”
Fennell said the coordination committee in its last review had identified key areas that needed constant monitoring. “My visit is in continuation of that as we need to ensure constant dialogue.
However, it would not be fair to single out the specifics, as preparation for the Games is very complex with a wide range of activities,” he said, adding that during his meeting with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, he was given a presentation on roads, electricity arrangements and how the city would look during the Games.
Commonwealth Games Organising Committee head Suresh Kalmadi was present at the meeting.
“There were presentations on signages, street furniture and landscaping, which were quite satisfactory,” he said, adding that he had met Minister of Sports M S Gill as well.
“We have set deadlines for the authorities and will be monitoring them constantly,” he said. Security too was part of the agenda which was outlined during the last visit, Fennel said.
“We have 71 countries participating in the Games, so security is a major concern. We have met the local authorities and officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and were assured of full support,” he said.
Asked if any of the participating countries had refused to be a part of the event over security, particularly after the attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan this March, Fennell said that the Federation ‘had not come across any such suggestion so far’.
Following concerns raised by Austin Sealy, the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Coordination Committee, last November on the dispute over the Commonwealth Games Village being built along the riverbed, Fennell said, “We have spoken to the government and have been informed that the matter is up for legal consideration (in the High Court).
They have assured us that this will not affect the Games at all,” he said. “I have seen the progress made on the construction and can assure you that the city of Delhi will have an excellent Games Village,” he said.
Fennell is set to visit the city again in September. The General Assembly meeting of the Federation will be held in October in which Federation executive members and delegations from participating countries will be given a tour of the venues.
–Agencies