Games scene brightens up-NEW DELHI, September 24, 2010

Games scene brightens up

-NEW DELHI, September 24, 2010

Special Correspondent

The Hindu Part of England contingents, who are participating in the Commonwealth Games, arrive at the Delhi Airport in New Delhi on Friday.

Give India a chance, says IOC chief


First batch of English contingent arrives; Fennell sounds positive

The arrival of the first batch of the England contingent, New Zealand's confirmation of its participation and a positive statement from Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Mike Fennell came as a huge relief to the much harried Organising Committee on Friday.

“It is good to be in Delhi,” said Mr. Fennell through a statement after being briefed of the state of affairs by CGF chief executive Mike Hooper. The latter told the former that “considerable improvement had been made within the Games Village, with further significant resources deployed by Delhi Chief Minister [Sheila] Dikshit to make good what was a concerning situation.”

There was good news from London too. International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge called for faith in India's ability to organise the Games.

Mr. Rogge, who will attend the opening ceremony on October 3, told AP, “Let's give them a chance to prove they can stage good games. Hopefully, the Indians can pull out a last-ditch effort like the Greeks [in the 2004 Olympics].”

Mr. Rogge's views were in sharp contrast to the scathing comment from Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates. He said in Sydney that India should never have been awarded the Games.

Mr. Fennell and Mr. Hooper visited the Village in the afternoon. Mr. Fennell, who met Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrashekhar, said he was “certainly pleased” to arrive in Delhi with the news that Australia (officials) had moved into the Village to get ready for the arrival of its athletes, and with the confirmation that “England and Wales will be on their way” to Delhi shortly.

Mr. Fennell was happy to add: “Already so many athletes from around the Commonwealth have started their journey to Delhi.”

“Our job across the next week is to help ensure that all the corrective work is completed in good time. We must ensure that a suitable environment is provided to ensure the welfare of the athletes and their support staff. It is vital that all remedial work that has already started continues with the greatest urgency,” he said.

Keywords: Commonwealth Games 2010, MIke Fennel, Organising Committee