Trying to catch up with lost time: Gill

Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill on Sunday asserted that the government and organisers of the 2010 Commonwealth Games were busy doing the catching-up job and came out with the promise that everything would be in place well before the October 3-14 games next year.

Mr. Gill’s declaration came a day after Commonwealth Games Federation president, Michael Fennell said he was “distressed,” as some of the venues would not be ready before next June. “Whatever time has been lost since 2003, we are trying to make it up,” Mr. Gill told journalists after a meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) here.

Mr. Gill said, “Mr. Fennell had said repeatedly that a lot of progress was made of late and we are doing the catching up job. Engineers are working hard; give them some credit. Workers from Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal are working hard and it is these people who are putting up the game and not me. God willing, I am sure we will get there in good time.” A clear direction would be given on the final plans after the next GoM meeting on December 29, he said.