CGF drops plans to form monitoring panel

Bowing to strong opposition from the Organising Committee, the Commonwealth Games Federation on Saturday dropped its controversial proposal of constituting a monitoring panel to oversee the preparation of the 2010 Delhi Games.

The CGF said it had decided not to go ahead with its Technical Review Committee in view of the current improved status but would provide additional support to the OC through its existing Commonwealth Games Knowledge Management Programme.

“In October, I announced the CGF would be instituting a TRC that would visit monthly. However, in view of the current improved status we have agreed it is now more appropriate for the CGF to provide additional ongoing support to the OC through its Games Knowledge Management Programme,” CGF President Michael Fennell told a press conference here.

The decision to drop TRC is widely seen as a thumbs up to the OC Chairman Suresh Kalmadi who and his team had vehemently opposed such a proposal.

The development is also likely to bring about a temporary truce between the OC and its parent body who had been engaged in a public spat a few months back over organisational issues relating to the October 3-14 Games.

While Fennell lauded the positive progress made on mainly operational fronts, he warned the organisers that further delays in the construction of stadia would seriously impact on the conduct of test events.

“We have continuously received assurances on the delivery timelines for these projects, and to now hear that there are further delays is distressing,” Fennell, who is here on an inspection tour, said.

“These delays will have impact upon the OC’s operational planning, particularly in relation to conduct of test events and overlay installation.

“There can be no further delays and I was pleased to receive directly from the sports minster Dr Gill, his assurance today, that the venues will not encounter any further delays,” he said.

Fennell expressed great disappointment at the Coordination Commission’s report on the delayed delivery of the venues and in particular how the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and S P Mukherjee Swimming Complex were so far behind schedule.

“While I note improvement in operational areas, the OC and its partners must maintain the momentum that they have now gained across all functional areas,” Fennel said.

The CGF chief said that in the backdrop of the CoCom’s draft report and the “positive progress” made in operational planning, he and Kalmadi have agreed to an alternative approach to interaction and monitoring work.

“This approach will provide the OC with a constant access to specific expertise in areas where both the CGF and the OC agree additional support is required. The CGF will through expansion of its support programme assist the OC and its delivery partners to maintain the necessary momentum,” he said.

“When I announced the formation of the TRC just over two months ago, I noted that these group would monitor ‘progress against promise’. I also said this group would be empowered to call in other technical experts as required,” Fennell said.

“So the first part of this progress against promise will now be delivered in two ways. Firstly it will through the work of now expanded Coordination Commission (with the addition of four members) which as scheduled will visit Delhi on two further occasions ahead of the Games. Secondly, it will be through the ongoing work with the OC of our CEO Michael Hooper who is predominantly based in Delhi,” Fennell said.

“The second aspect which was to come under the TRC – assisting the OC through access to functional area Games expertise in specific areas – will now be provided through the expansion of our existing support programme with the OC. The cost associated with providing the OC with access to such support will be met by the CGF,” he explained.

Fennell also thanked the Indian government for their unequivocal support for the Games including the recent approvals of the revised budgets.

“We will provide the OC access to appropriate expertise to assist them with three key areas – venue operations, volunteer programme and Games readiness.

OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi admitted there were delays in the construction of venues but promised Fennell that the increased tempo of the preparation work will be sustained to ensure a successful Games.