2010 Commonwealth Game venue delay disappoints CGF chief

Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell says he is disappointed that two major venues for the 2010 games have missed construction deadlines.

All venues being built for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi are supposed to be completed by March 31 next year, but the CGF coordination commission recently said the venues for athletics and swimming will not be ready until June.

The games are due to begin on Oct. 3.

"We have continuously received assurances on the delivery timelines for these projects, and to now hear that there are further delays is distressing," Fennell said Saturday.

"These delays will have an impact upon the Organizing Committee's operational planning," Fennel said. "There can be no further delays."

New Delhi's 2010 Organizing Committee's chairman, Suresh Kalmadi said all other stadiums would be ready by the March deadline.

Fennell said the recent inspection visit "was the best to date, citing significant progress with operational planning."

"While I note improvement in operational areas, the Organizing Committee and its partners must maintain the momentum that they have now gained across all functional areas," he added.

Fennell said he was happy that India had given "security a very high priority and allocated resources to make adequate security arrangements."

The Commonwealth Games are set to be the biggest multiple-sport event staged in India since the 1982 Asian Games. It is expected to feature more than 5,000 athletes and officials from 71 nations and territories which comprised or were linked to the former British empire.