Games boss was 'living it up royally' Greg Ford -September 29, 2010

Games boss was 'living it up royally' Greg Ford

September 29, 2010 - 7:53AM


Mike Hooper (l) talk withs Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell at press conference in Delhi on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Indian media continue to turn up the heat on New Zealander Mike Hooper, the Commonwealth Games CEO, claiming he has been "living it up royally" and producing some staggering figures.

Hooper has lived in India in the leadup to the Games which open on Sunday.

He has become a controversial figure as accountability is sought for the state of New Delhi's preparations.

The Commonwealth Games Federation and the Indian Organising Committee appear to be fighting a blame game.

Lavish accommodation and tax arrangements have been detailed by the Times of India from documents they say show that the Organising Committee has been paying for Hooper's lifestyle.

The newspaper claims:

- Hooper initially stayed in a sprawling farmhouse with a monthly rental of $A27,833 paid by the Organising Committee.

- From December 1, 2008 he shifted to cheaper accommodation, another farmhouse rented at $10,441 a month.

- Hooper has six employees at his house with a total monthly salary of $867.

The newspaper said the Organising Committee had also decided to take on Hooper's income tax liabilities during his stay in India. These had amounted to $464,353 for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 financial years.

The newspaper's TV channel Timesnow TV also reported that an annual income tax liability of $199,784 was being paid by the Organising Committee.

It also claimed Hooper has a chauffeur driven sedan.

The Times of India said Hooper was being paid a salary by the Commonwealth Games Federation in London.

The newspaper's story started: "Michael Hooper CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation who has been in Delhi for the past several years, has been living it up royally even as the Games preparations were floundering."

Organising Committee boss Suresh Kalmadi wouldn't comment on taxpayers' money being used on Hooper. He said facilities provided to the New Zealander were part of an existing deal with the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Organising Committee vice-chairman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said that money spent on Hooper's accommodation and staff assisting him would be audited.

"I don't have full information about it, but it's true that Mike Hooper has been working here for a very long time. He is part of the OC [organising committee] and he should not have resorted to this. We are also trying to collect information and see how much we are spending on these people," VK Malhotra told Timesnow.

The Hindustan Times, webindia123.com and DailyIndia.com were among Indian websites carrying the same story with news agency Asian News International picking up on it.