Delhi 2010 Allegations Extend to Australian Contractors

Anil Khanna, Treasurer of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, has quit amid allegations of corruption relating to a decision to hire an Australia-based company to lay tennis courts at the R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium.
Khanna resigned last week amid accusations of having a conflict of interests regarding the company charged with providing the court surfaces for the tennis events.
According to the BBC, it has been claimed that the contract for the project was awarded to a company headed Khanna's son. This allegation that has been strongly denied by Khanna, who is also Secretary-General of the All India Tennis Association (AITA). He told reporters âI have a clear conscience and I don't want to be seen anywhere near corruption. So I have submit(ed) my resignation for the peace of my family and myself.�?
Khanna added that neither he nor AITA had anything to do with the awarding of the contract for the laying of 14 synthetic surfaces to Rebound Ace. According to media reports, Khanna's son Aditya is the Chief Executive of the Indian branch of the Brisbane-based.
Rebound Aceâs rubberised surface have been subject to players' complaints in recent years and ceased being used for the Australian Open in 2007.
Allegations of corruption and incompetence relating to Delhi's Commonwealth Games have extended to two respected Australian consultants.
Craig McLatchey and Mike Bushell, both veterans of the Australian major events scene, having worked on the Sydney Olympics and Melbourne Commonwealth Games, before setting up international sports consultancies.
Relationships between Bushell's firm, Sports Marketing and Management; and McLatchey's Swiss-based Event Knowledge Services, and the Delhi Organising Committee have soured due to Delhi organisers not listening to advice from the consultants and Indian unhappiness at the level of commissions and fees being generated under the terms of the contracts.
Sports Marketing and Management, charged with finding sponsors for the Games, was abruptly sacked by organisers this week, with ânon-performance�? given as the reason.
The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates suggested Delhi organisers were seeking to lay blame on outsiders for a Games that has been stricken by disasters, cost overruns and poor organisation.
Coates was reported as saying âit may well be that this is a way for people to distract and deflect criticism from themselves in terms of the organisation of these Games that clearly have some problems.�?