Delhi Commonwealth Games biggest challenge for me

With the controversies surrounding the 2010 Commonwealth Games, it’s understandable if Commonwealth Games Federation chief, Mike Fennell, felt staging the Games has been one of the greatest challenges.

During an exclusive interview with HT on Sunday, he said, “Hosting a Games is always challenging, but here it’s been different. With changes in environment globally, it’s been daunting.

“We faced different challenges in Kuala Lumpur, so in Manchester and Melbourne, but here it’s a little more. Things have changed. Security is a great challenge, so is technology on which we are so dependent,” said Fennell, who has been chief of the CGF since 1994. “This is how the world has changed. Maybe, a few years ago, security wouldn’t have given us nightmares, but this time we have to tackle this threat also,” he said.

Speaking on the areas that had irked the CGF for a while, he refused to give details but said, “Operational matters were a concern. Technology should have been procured long ago. Games information systems, management systems and result systems should have been acquired & put in place.”

On CGF CEO Mike Hooper and OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi’s spat in October:

Everybody knows my stand. It was rather unfortunate. Now I think they have understood their roles better. Such things don’t help anyone. Both of them realised that hosting a great Games is their priority.

On abolition of the Technical Review Commission (TRC):

We have seen considerable improvement. As you know, we review things as we go. We felt then it was necessary. Instead of the TRC, we will assist the OC with specific expertise. For example, there might be a lot of people who can train volunteers, but the expertise needed to host a multi-discipline event is different. So is technology.

It has grown in prestige, stature. It has set the benchmark for performance. Every regional Games has its charm. We try to live up to our motto of ‘friendly Games’. The last few Games have been great. We hope India provides a chance to further enhance the prestige of the Games. In this, we are on the right track.