By IANS,
New Delhi: Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Michael Fennell was Saturday extremely critical of the progress of work at the venues for the 2010 Games but said there was no need for the proposed Technical Review Committee (TRC).
After the board meeting of the Organising Committee (OC) here, Fennell said the persisting delay in the construction of venues was “distressing” but gave the OC a big boost by backtracking on his decision to appoint the TRC.
Fennell said the positive report submitted by Co-ordination Committee (CoCom) headed by CGF treasurer Austin Sealy, who was in India to review the progress of work for the Oct 3-14, 2010 Games, prompted him to change his decision.
“When I announced the formation of the TRC, I noted that this group will monitor progress against promises and will also be empowered to call in technical experts when required. But after CoCom’s report I was convinced that there was no need for such a panel,” said Fennell.
“Now the job of monitoring progress against promises will be done by the expanded CoCom, which will make two more visits to review the progress before the Games. CGF chief executive Mike Hooper will also help us in this work,” he said.
During his October visit to India for the CGF General Assembly, Fennell was disappointed with the progress of work and said a TRC would be set-up to monitor the progress and keep the CGF abreast of all the developments.
The TRC had soured the relationship between the OC and the CGF, but Saturday they presented a happy family picture with Fennell, Hooper and OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi saying that they are now a unified body working for a common cause.
Fennell said the other job of the TRC was to provide expertise which would now be done “through the expansion of the existing support programme with the OC”.
“The cost associated with providing the OC with access to such support will be met by the CGF,” he said.
Fennell was particularly worried about the delay in the construction of the SP Mukherjee Swimming Complex and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the latter hosting the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games.
“We have continuously received assurances on the delivery timelines of these projects, but to hear that there would be more delays is distressing. These delays will have a significant impact on the OC’s operational planning, particularly in relation to the conduct of the test events and the overlay installations,” he said.
Fennell warned the OC that there should be no further delays and it should maintain the pace at which the work is progressing.