Sunday, September 5, 2010

Comm Games building certificates arrive

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is relying on Indian officials to provide bona fide building certificates for all of the sporting venues suspected of dodgy construction.

CGF chief executive Mike Hooper has received certificates from the Indian government for the athletes village and the training facility at the village.

He has also received certificates for the Yamuna Sports Complex, where the table tennis competition will be held and for the Siri Fort Sports Complex, which will host the badminton and squash.

Teams from 71 Commonwealth countries compete in New Delhi from October 3-14.

But construction crews are working furiously to complete the venues which are months over due and slated to finish by September 15.

Last Thursday, Indian officials missed a second deadline to provide the building certificates for all 17 venues and the Games village.

The certificates began trickling in last weekend to Mr Hooper with more expected this week.

"They call them the occupancy certificates apparently," he told AAP from New Delhi on Sunday.

Mr Hooper said he trusted the government to provide the CGF with legitimate proof that the venues are of sound construction and safe to occupy.

"I'm sure they're not going to lie to me," he said.

But he himself was not sure that the documents he received met the federation's demands.

"I assume that's what is required," Mr Hooper said.

"It's just a language thing. Do you call them building certificates or occupancy certificates. I don't know the clarification because they've only just come over the weekend."

In late July, India's anti-corruption watchdog dropped a bombshell by citing suspected dodgy building practices at a number of Games' venues and making accusations that construction firms have inflated their costs.

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) inspected 15 roadway and sporting venues and found substandard concrete and steel works, and evidence that regulatory approvals had been forged.

Only 10 days remain before thousands of athletes begin to arrive to the Games village and only four weeks remain before the official start of the Games.

Mr Hooper said he was confident the certificates he has received and the ones he has yet to receive will be legitimate.

"It would probably be more odd if they just rocked up all on the same day, at the same time," he said.

"They're coming through as they're being completed."

"I'm sure they will come. But the sooner they do, the sooner we can allay people's fears. I still remain confident they will come."

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