Delhi’s preparations on test again as crucial meet begins

The 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee will face another tough test when the Commonwealth Games Federation’s seven-member Coordination Commission meets in New Delhi from Monday to evaluate and assess Delhi’s preparation. Operation and venues were two functional areas of concern to the COCOM that had met in May this year. Their concern was due to paucity of time.

The OC officials, however, seemed upbeat. OC vice chairman Randhir Singh, who has been entrusted with the job to coordinate with the COCOM, was ‘satisfied’ with the presentation. Though he did believe that operation has been a concern area, he said, “Everything has been addressed and we have tried to plug all loopholes.”

Singh, who is also in the Singapore Youth Olympic COCOM, believed the COCOM will be impressed with the presentation this time around, which will be in three parts and cover 13 functional areas.

“As far as operational part goes, I am satisfied with our preparation,” said Singh.

“In most of the areas, we are bang on deadline. In those in which we are likely to need more time, we shall put in extra efforts. The COCOM will see the difference.”

The three COCOM members, chairman Austin Sealy (Barbados), Chris Jenkins (Wales) and Sharad Rao (Kenya), have got down to business and have already visited the SP Mukherjee Swimming Complex and the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on Sunday.

The COCOM members also met Suresh Kalmadi, OC chairman, at the OC headquarters.