Commonwealth Games: Stench of corruption mars India's preparations

THE Commonwealth Games organising committee has fired one of its top officials as it investigates alleged irregularities in funding for an event in London.
The organising committee's joint director TS Darbari was given his marching orders at the request of India's sports ministry and will be replaced by VL Saxena. Darbari was already suspended for alleged corruption during the Queen's Baton Relay launching ceremony in London.

PTI said the sports ministry had not been happy with the suspension and wanted Darbari's position terminated.

Corruption allegations and delays in construction of venues and infrastructure have dogged the Commonwealth Games, which will take place from 3-14 October in New Delhi.

Last week, organising committee treasurer Anil Khanna resigned following allegations that his son's firm was awarded a contract to lay synthetic surfaces at a tennis stadium for the games. Khanna denied the allegations. Games organisers are under severe pressure to complete the venues in time for the opening of the biggest sporting event in India since the 1982 Asian Games. Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell has asked for a full report on the corruption allegations

To add to the Games problems, India's sports ministry and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) have backed rival groups to run the game, casting doubt over the host country's participation at Games and other international events.

Two days after the FIH announced it had asked Hockey India (HI) to field a team for the women's World Cup in Argentina later this month, the ministry said yesterday HI could no longer represent the country.