CoCom concerned over delay in completion of projects

The Commonwealth Games Federation's Coordination Commission (CoCom) today expressed concerns that the timetable for venue completion for the Games, in most cases, been extended by at least three months and, in some cases, it seems venues will not be handed over to the Organising Committee (OC) until June.

After completing its evaluation of the on going work for the Games, CoCom, chaired by CGF Honorary Treasurer from Barbados, Austin Sealy said,''We urge the construction agencies to ensure that no further delays are encountered as this will place the OC in a difficult position and compromise final preparations and Games readiness.'' ''As for the other outcomes of our meetings, a series of action items have been identified by the CoCom and will be summarised in the Commission's final report on this meeting,'' he added.

The CoCom, however, admitted that,''There has been noticeable progress over the last two months, however, with effectively only nine months remaining, the intensity must continue, and in fact, works must be further accelerated.'' ''We received detailed reports from the Organising Committee (OC) across key areas where we had previously identified delivery risks. These reports show an increased awareness of the work that must be undertaken,'' Sealy said. ''There was a sense of energy and urgency from Suresh Kalmadi, the Chairman of the OC, and the entire Delhi team about getting on with the job, which is a positive, and it is clear that everyone is committed to making these Games a success.

''Each session was extensive, with opportunities for us to question the OC and government and to provide feedback. There was a sharing of information. It was very much a two-way street.

''It was certainly helpful to have the representatives of the Commonwealth Games Associations who will bring their athletes to Delhi as part of this CoCom. Each of them has vast experience of what are the specific needs of their athletes and their teams during the lead-in and competition period,'' he added.

The CoCom will now report to the CGF and the Organising Committee (OC). The CGF President, Michael Fennell, will be arriving here on Friday to have discussions with the key members of the OC on the critical issues that have been identified by the Commission.