Delhi chief tries to defuse Games row

Delhi's 2010 Commonwealth Games chief tried to smooth over an increasingly heated row Monday by thanking the head of the parent movement for his "great support".

This month has seen a public war of words between Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of Delhi's organising committee, and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).

Kalmadi called for Delhi-based CGF chief executive Mike Hooper to be removed, saying of the New Zealander: "He is of no use to us."

But CGF president, Michael Fennell, already critical of the pace of preparations for the October 3-14 Games, dismissed Kalmadi's demand and said the "personal attack on Hooper was unwarranted".

Both Kalmadi and Fennell are in London this week where, on Thursday, the Queen's Baton Relay, the curtain-raiser to next year's Games, gets underway with a Buckingham Palace ceremony forming part of the state visit to Britain by Indian President Pratibha Patil.

In a statement issued here Monday lauding Indo-British co-operation, Kalmadi thanked the Indian government and added: "Of course, we have had the great support of the Commonwealth Games Federation President Mr Fennell."

Kalmadi and Fennell are due to hold talks on Wednesday.

During this month's CGF general assembly in Delhi, Fennell warned India it faced "an enormous challenge" to be ready for the Games, which involve 6,000 international athletes competing in 17 sports.

He highlighted problems ranging from ticketing, accommodation and transport to accreditation and logistics, and said the CGF would set up a special independent review panel to supervise Delhi's progress.

Indian officials have rejected the panel as unnecessary.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will hand the Commonwealth Games baton to Patil on Thursday before it travels through 70 countries and reaches the Indian capital when the Games open on October 3.

Among those also taking part in Thursday's ceremony will be India's Olympic shooting gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, 1983 cricket World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev and tennis player Sania Mirza.

British sportsmen also involved include Monty Panesar, the first Sikh to play Test cricket for England and double Olympic gold medallist Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The Commonwealth Games, the biggest multi-sport event to be staged in India since the Asian Games in 1982, will feature 71 nations and territories, mainly from the former British Empire.

"We are aware we will face challenges along the way but we aspire to produce the best Commonwealth Games," Kalmadi said in Monday's statement.

He added: "We know we are on track and we know we will deliver a Games that are not only memorable for all stakeholders, especially the athletes whose pursuit of excellence we take pride in, but also will leave a lasting legacy for Olympic sport in India."

LONDON, AFP