India 'behind schedule' for Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President Mike Fennell has warned Delhi it faces a major challenge to be ready to host next year's games.

Last month Fennell criticised the Indian organisers, saying construction delays posed a serious threat to the games and while Fennell expects everything to be in place for next year's event, preparations are being monitored on a monthly basis.

Fennell has previously expressed concerns that building work is behind schedule for the Games, which open on 3rd October 2010, while there are also worries over security, transport and accommodation in the city. He acknowledges improvements made by the organising committee, led by the chairman, Suresh Kalmadi, but called on them to up their game.

This week Fennell stated "the organising committee knows of its own deficiencies and Mr Kalmadi is committed to achieving a great Games for India," adding "I have no doubt that these Games can still be great, but now every day is pivotal and every hour vital."

Underlining the urgency of the situation the CGF is to set up a review panel to monitor preparations on a monthly basis.

Fennell commented "with two years to go to the Delhi Games I said to the organising committee that time was not their friend.

"With one year to go I now say that time is your enemy, but together we can defeat it.

"To this end, the CGF executive board has decided to establish a high-level independent technical review panel that will meet each month and monitor progress against promise. This technical review panel will report monthly - in an open and transparent fashion - to all stakeholders."

India's sports minister, Dr MS Gill, said the government was prepared to provide more money to ensure the event was a success, stating "in order to expand the budget of the organising committee, as is necessary according to financial examination of proposals made, we are about to go to cabinet and get the sanction.

"The prime minister is clear that whatever needs to be spent for a successful conduct of the Games to your satisfaction will be done.

"This is not Melbourne, this is not Glasgow. Delhi is a city of 15 million people, one of the greatest cities of India. It has all the problems that great cities have - from Tokyo to Lagos to Delhi. And that is a continuing phenomenon, but within that we have to make arrangements that are acceptable and seen as good."

Suresh Kalmadi insists India is up to the task saying, "there are many challenges, but I can assure you that we will live up to them."

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