M A I N   N E W S

Venue Safety Certification
Games panel gets 10 days

New Delhi, August 8
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has asked the CWG Organising Committee to furnish report from each of government agencies responsible for delivery of competition venues that they have secured certification from regulatory bodies on fire, health and safety of athletes by August 18, its CEO Mike Hooper said today.

Hooper said CWG OC had been asked to submit the report by the time CGF chief Michael Fennell arrives here on August 18. “We have written to OC Chairman Suresh Kalmadi on July 31 and in subsequent notes on August 2 and 4 that it will have to submit us regulatory body approvals of all competition venues regarding fire, health and safety of athletes,” Hooper said. “Fennell will personally take stock of the situation and visit all the venues on August 19,” he added.

Asked what the CGF will do if the deadline of August 18 is not met, Hooper said, “We are not talking about any (punitive) action. The Games is less than two months away. I am neither looking ahead nor backward. We were where we are now. The important thing is we need to go ahead and focus on the job ahead, to deliver the Games.” Hooper said the CGF was very concerned about the CVC report, which had pointed out several deficiencies regarding quality control of the Games' venues and these would have to be addressed to the satisfaction of the international federation.

“We are very concerned by the CVC report regarding the quality control of the venues. The report said two venues had not yet completed fire safety NOC. We need to be assured and the Commonwealth countries need to be assured that all these venues conform to all standards required to hold the Games,” he said. “I met Sports Minister MS Gill just after the CVC report came out and he has assured that all venues will be equipped with what are needed for and they will be ready in time. That was encouraging though a lot of things are left to be done,” he added.

Hooper, however, refused to blame Suresh Kalamdi-led Organising Committee for the mess in the competition venues, saying that it was the sole responsibility of the government agencies to deliver the venues. “It is not the OC or Kalmadi who is responsible for proving or testing the venues. The responsibility solely sits on the various government agencies like SAI, DDA, PWD and CPWD. Kalmadi is not a construction expert nor is Hooper,” he said.

Asked if the GCF regretted granting the hosting rights to India, Hopper said, “Not at all. It is not about that. It is about delivering the Games. Your country has spent so much money on the Games. Let us get focused.” — PTI