Make sure certificates come on time: Hooper

Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Mike Hooper has once again left the Organising Committee red-faced by warning just 28 days ahead of the Games that some events may be in jeopardy if all completion certificates do not come on time.

Hooper said a lot of work still needs to be done and they are yet to receive confirmation from the Organising Committee that the Games Village and the venues are structurally safe and sound. “Things are surely going to go down to the wire. It’s a battle against time. If the OC fails to provide the safety certifications on time, if we can’t get the documentation of the Games Village and the venues on time, then a particular event or so may be in trouble,” Hooper said in a television interview.

The Delhi Government, meanwhile, believes there is no need to panic. “Till Saturday, 10 out of the 17 venues got completion certificates. We are awarding clearances systematically. All the venues will get safety clearances by September 6 or 7,” Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta said.

Among the venues that have not yet received fire clearances is the main athletics venue at Jawaharlal Nehru Complex, which will also host the opening and closing ceremony. “To my knowledge, there has been some subsiding due to the heavy rains in the grass in the middle of the track and that has been addressed. But if there is any serious damage with the track itself, then it will have to be re-certified by the IAAF because it was certified in July,” he said.

Another important site that has not yet received fire clearance is the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, the venue for the hockey event. “There were some problems with the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, but that has been sorted now and the clearance will be given by Monday,” Mehta added. Delhi University’s rugby stadium, DDA’s Yamuna Sports Complex and Siri Fort Complex are other venues that are yet to be cleared.

The earlier deadline for government agencies to provide building certificates by August 18 was postponed to August 31.