Federation wants quality stamp for all stadiums

Published>Tue, Aug 03 10 12:23 PM

Alarmed by reports of substandard material being used to construct stadiums, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has sought quality assurances before it takes over venues.

It has written to Organising Committee (OC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi, asking him to seek mandatory guarantees of quality from government agencies.

CGF chief executive Mike Hooper told Mail Today on Monday that the world body was concerned over the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) report which highlighted the use of poor quality material for building the stadiums.

"The CGF has written to the OC about the reports that have been coming in on the quality of material used for the venues," Hooper said, adding, "The OC must ensure that the government agencies provide a guarantee that the venues are safe and fit for the purpose."

Last week, Sam Ramsamy, the vice-president of the International Swimming Federation (FINA) - who was in the Capital for a test event - had also raised concerns over the "shoddy and inferior quality of work" at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee swimming complex.

Hooper pointed out that the delay in completion of venues had held up work in many operational areas.

He said he had no knowledge about the financial transactions made by the OC, but admitted that the CVC report had come at a very wrong time.

On Friday, a CVC report revealed that there were large scale procedural violations and almost all organisations executing infrastructure work for the Games had flouted rules in tenders and increased their prices, suggesting that contractors were paid excess amounts.

Stung by the charges of corruption and mounting pressure around him, Kalmadi has convened an executive board meeting of the OC on Thursday.

A little-known UK firm was alleged to have been paid lakhs of pounds for its services during the London leg of the Queen's Baton Relay, which pointed out to various financial irregularities on the part of the OC.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary general Randhir Singh wrote a letter to Kalmadi on Monday, asking him to call an emergency meeting to discuss the 'grave' issue with all the executive board members.

"The success of the Games should be a bigger concern for us at the moment. Let the Games begin and it will be the athletes and other officials who come here who will decide about the success," Hooper stressed.

He said the CGF's board members will meet in the Capital on August 18 and federation president Mike Fennell will also be present.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) vice-president and BJP leader VK Malhotra came down heavily on the Delhi government for the corruption and inordinate delays that have marred the buildup to the Games, saying none of the newly-built stadiums seemed ready to host the event.

"It was shocking that despite spending huge amounts of money, most of the stadiums are not ready," Malhotra, who heads the General Association of National Sports Federations and the Archery Association of India, said.

The Delhi BJP held a protest in the city on the issue, demanding a judicial probe into the financial bungling. Hundreds of BJP workers staged a demonstration near Parliament House and shouted anti-government slogans.

Reproduced From Mail Today. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.

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