Kalmadi refutes Indian High Commission''s denial

Sun, Aug 01 10 02:21 PM

New Delhi, Aug 1 (PTI) Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi today insisted that the UK-based firm at the center of a corruption row that has hit CWG OC was recommended by the Indian High Commission despite an embarrassing denial issued by it. The Indian High Commission had denied recommending A M Films, the little-known UK-based firm which allegedly received lakhs of pounds for providing its "services" during the Queen''s Baton Relay in London. Kalmadi refuted the claim and asserted that the recommendation came from the High Commission only from a protocol official Raju Sebastian, who has been dubbed in media reports as "too junior an official to make any recommendation on behalf of the High Commission". "The Organising Committee would like to clarify that we had written to Mr Vikrant Ratan, the first secretary (Protocol) of the Indian High Commission, to provide us the list of agencies for transportation, accommodation and other services and their approved rates. "In response, Mr Raju Sebastian of the Protocol Division of the Indian High Commission, giving reference to our mail to the First Secretary Vikrant Ratan, informed that the approved vendors for transport are AM Car and Van and the Chauffeur Company," Kalmadi stated. Kalmadi, also the Indian Olympic Association President, said the rates were also approved by the High Commission. "He (Sebastian) also indicated the approved rates of the High Commission for accommodation and transportation. In view of the clarification which clearly indicates that the Indian High Commission had recommended AM Car and Vans to the Organising Committee for QBR Launch Function at London, it is requested that the factual position in projected," Kalmadi said.

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Mourinho 'The Special One' destined to lead Man U, England: Sneijder

Published>Sun, Aug 01 10 02:07 PM

London, Aug 1 (ANI): New Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho 'The Special One' is destined to manage Manchester United and England, according to Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder.

Real Madrid is just a stopping off stage before Mourinho ends up at Old Trafford as Sir Alex Ferguson's natural replacement, says Sneijder.

Sneijder came to know Mourinho well in their time together at the Champions League winners, and revealed: "English football excites him more than any other football in Europe and I don't think it's a question of if he returns to the Premier League but when."

"I think it's written for him to take over Manchester United in a few years. One great manager will retire and another one will take over," News of the World quoted Sneijder, as saying.

"But if he was offered the England job alongside the Manchester United one in a few years I am sure he would take it. He likes the daily interaction with players too much to take on an international job alone," he said.

"Jose and I became good friends at Inter and, from conversations we had, I know he thinks he could really do something with the England players. When he takes the United job, the English FA must offer him the national post as well, and from conversations we have had I think he would take it, in fact I know he would," he said.

Sneijder knows the FA's top brass would be concerned about the England job being seen as a part-time affair but insists he is the man for the role.

He said: "We are talking about the best coach in the world, and it has been done before successfully. His other job would be in the Premier League, so he would be working with and watching the relevant England players every week, it would be perfect for him." (ANI)

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Curious case of CW Games' catering contract

Sun, Aug 01 10 01:51 PM

New Delhi, Aug. 1 -- This bit of news is hard to digest. The contract for catering to the thousands of athletes, officials and support staff in the Commonwealth Games village is ending up costing much more than it was originally meant to. And even more curiously - after the the organising committee (OC) said that no Indian company could handle the contract - at least part of the catering will be handled by an Indian firm. Even though the contract has been won by an Australian company. This was confirmed by OC chief Suresh Kalmadi in a stormy press conference in New Delhi. The contract, after delays and cancellations, was awarded to Delaware North. But Delaware North has outsourced part of the operations to the Taj group.

Kalmadi clarified this, saying no Indian company was found eligible. He also confirmed that the payment had gone up. "The cost has not gone up two-fold but it has gone up. We had no choice as the Games were just months away and we had to quickly put things in place," he said. He also confirmed that Delaware had sub-contracted to the Taj group. "Yes, Taj Group is also on board," he said at the press conference. The OC chairman had no answer as to why the re-tendering was done in the first place, but sources say it was done after Indian companies objected to only the Australian firms's bid being accepted.

Source: Published>

'Beckham's top-flight football career is over'

Published>Sun, Aug 01 10 01:37 PM

London, Aug 1 (ANI): New AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has said that England midfielder David Beckham's top-flight football career is over.

Beckham is battling to overcome the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered while playing for Milan in March.

Allegri fears Beckham, 35, will never play for Milan or any big club ever again, News of the World reports.

"I don't think it's possible that he will come back. He is recovering from a bad injury and at that age it is difficult to come back. But it was a pleasure to see him here," Allegri said.

In April, Beckham admitted his recovery was two months behind schedule and he would not be able to play again until November at the earliest.

That would rule him out of the entire Major League Soccer season unless his club, the Los Angeles Galaxy, reach the play-offs.

He had been linked with a return to the Premier League, with West Ham publicly expressing interest in bringing him back to England. (ANI)

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Shane Warne wins TV role on Channel 9

Published>Sun, Aug 01 10 01:21 PM

Melbourne, Aug 1 (ANI): Oz cricket superstar Shane Warne has struck a deal with Channel 9 to head a prime-time TV variety show.

The deal, finalized by Nine boss David Gyngell, will see the show go on air during the Ashes series on Thursdays at 9.30pm.

Nine has brought back light entertainment guru Glenn Pallister, formerly in charge of The Footy Show in Sydney before a stint at Sony, to be executive producer.

The show will feature live bands and Nine will bid for acts including U2, Sting and Leonard Cohen when they tour here in summer.

A Nine insider said that cricket would be a small portion of the show.

"It's a variety show heavily geared towards light entertainment and Warnie will have a guest host each week," the Daily Telegraph quoted a source as telling the Herald Sun.

"We will have the top bands and interviews with big names who are coming out for the Ashes, like Mick Jagger and Michael Parkinson.

"Warnie has great contacts and will attract the best talent. All the celebrities love him. Only last week he was at the races with Liz Hurley in the UK," the source added. (ANI)

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Organizing Committee is totally transparent: Kalmadi

Published>Sun, Aug 01 10 01:07 PM

New Delhi, August 1 (ANI): Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the Commonwealth Games organizing committee, on Saturday refuted allegations of rampant corruption in the event-related projects. Kalmadi deemed media reports on suspected financial irregularities as unfounded and baseless and asserted total transparency in the Organizing Committee. Terming media reports as a malicious attempt to demoralize the officials working for the sporting extravaganza, Kalmadi maintained that all works undertaken by the committee had followed guidelines.

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Rooney has rum and tells Haye, 'I would love to be a boxer'

Published>Sun, Aug 01 10 12:37 PM

London, Aug 1 (ANI): England's ace striker Wayne Rooney told World Heavyweight Champion David Haye that he would love to be a boxer after a rum drinking session with him.

Rooney and Haye were on holiday last month at the exclusive Royal Westmoreland complex in Barbados where the Manchester United striker owns a five million pound luxury home. .

"It was a nice evening hanging out with Wayne and his family until the early hours. What a real down to earth bunch. One of Wayne's crowd told me to pop down and say 'Hi'. I turned up, we had a few rums and a laugh," News of the World quoted Haye, as saying.

"Wayne seemed okay and in good spirits considering what happened at the World Cup, but he didn't really talk football - mostly about other sports and fitness. We had about three hours together. It was the early hours of the morning and he had a flight at 4a.m. He went straight from the bar to the airport.

"He loves boxing and told me he would love to be a boxer. He is cut from fighting cloth and he reminds me a lot of Ricky Hatton. I told him that if he was a professional boxer he would have the style of Ricky, but Wayne reckons that is not his style and he'd be more of a slick mover like Floyd Mayweather Jnr," Haye said.

Rooney boxed as a schoolboy, while his brothers John and Graham won titles for Croxteth ABC, where the Manchester United star's uncle Richie is head coach. (ANI)

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