Fennell happy with venues, but says Village needs attention

NEW DELHI - Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Mike Fennell Thursday said he was satisfied with the preparations for the Games, but pointed out that work at key areas like the Games Village needed to be accelerated.

By and large, Fennell’s observations after his two-day whirlwind tour to check the venues and the preparedness for the Oct 3-14 Games may have come as a music to the ears of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) top brass, including chairman Suresh Kalmadi, who has been under attack for their unpreparedness of the stadia.

“I am leaving New Delhi feeling reasonably assured that preparation has been solid and good progress has been made and it will continue to be so. I am also going with this knowledge that we all are aware of what needs to be done. There are tremendous amount of detail work that needs to be done. It is not unique or strange in case of Delhi, it happens everhwhere at every Games. This is the last lap and we do not want to lose sight,” he said.

Apart from the Village, landsacping of the venues, sidewalks, transportation are the areas that Fennell said need immediate attention.

Fennell said the security arrangament in place was top class.

“Security is of prime importance to us like in all other international sporting events. It has been at the top of our agenda. The arrangement of security in of top class. CGF has also employed private security consultants who will monitor the security situtaion during the Games.”

Fennell also said the CGF was concerned with the allegations of corruption that has been associated with the Games, but left it to the Indian agencies probing matters of any irregularities.

The Jamaican, who arrived here Tuesday evening, went around all the venues in the capital for the 17 disciplines and admitted that some of the stadiums were really world class.

Fennell also clarified that this trip was not arranged at a short notice after the media uproar and was preplanned.

“I want to make it clear that this was planned in June. This visit was to check the venues and the operational issues for the Games. After visiting all the venues, I can say that fair and large all the venues are ready for practical purpose. There are some outstanding venues and it will leave a rich legacy for the Games,” he said.

“We looked into all the matters that was left from my previous visits. I am satisfied with the progress of work. All the venues are complete for practical purpose. However I am concerned about some of the detailed work that is still to be done and OC have assured to look into them.”

Fennell pointed out to landsacping of the venues need to be done urgently, along with the clearing of garbage from the sites.

But it was the Games Village that draw Fennell’s main concern.

“We regard the Games villge the heart of the Games and we have to ensure the welfare of the althletes. We feel some of the buildings could have been furnished much better. We have seen the dinning room, kitchen, shops and other facilities. There is large amount of work left and needs to be accelerated. We have to make sure the food served is of the highest standard and hygenic. There is need to adress landscaping, cleaning of the village, as we do not have much time left.”

On corruption charges, Fennell said: “The CGF is concerned with all these reports. We have never been associated with corrupt practices. We want the Indian authorities to look into these allegations thoroughly,” he said.

Fennel said that some detailed work are pending at all the venues and especially the Games Village.

Fennell also said that installion of equipment for time, scoring and results also needs to be monitored carefully.

“Some of the equipment is coming late. Some will be be coming from Singapore after the Youth Olympics is over. They need to be monitored carefully.”

Among other things Fennell said transport and movement of traffic needs to be taken care of so that the athletes do not face any problems.