Delegates take a long,hard look at Games venues

Canada was keen to host the 2010 Games,but lost the race to India by a considerable margin. While India got 46 votes,Canada lagged behind with 22. According to Pipe,Delhi has “missed a lot of deadlines” and the coordination work is “not in place”. Although Pipe could not point out the exact problem areas,he said: “Delhi should ensure that International consultants and talent is used. People who have experience on working in Beijing,Melbourne and other events should be used.”

The only problem he mentioned specifically was the lack of a transportation plan for athletes to reach Delhi from Canada.

But the Games Village was impressive,Pipe said. “You get proof of a pudding only on eating it. The Thyagaraja stadium building is innovative.”

Reacting to some of the criticism,Organising Committee chairperson Suresh Kalmadi said: “We take all criticism as constructive. I am in Pune now and will speak to the delegates on my return. I have received positive feedback about everything — from our low floor buses to the stadium.”

But a majority of the delegates had positive things to say. “Your Games Village is very impressive and of very high standard,” said Mauritian delegate Vivian Gungaran. “In fact,I found it better than the facilities available at Melbourne,Beijing or Athens.” He dubbed the Thyagaraja stadium a “jewel” for its unique design.

Cameroonian delegate David Ojonge said: “India has enough manpower and I believe it will not be difficult to meet deadlines. The stadiums I visited were of a high standard. I was impressed with the velodrome.”

Calling the Games Village “impressive”,Wales delegate Chris Jenkins expressed a few reservations about preparedness. “It is not just buildings which make a game,it is like building a house. To make it liveable,you have to care of smaller things like plumbing,” he said. “We would like to get detailed replies from the organising committee and are supportive of Delhi.” The team will visit other venues like the rugby ground at Delhi University and the Karni Singh Shooting Range on Friday. All visitors,along with Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell,have been given free passage to inspect various venues.

Presentation puts FenneLl to sleep?
Commonwealth Games Federation president Michel Fennell,who has been keeping a hawk’s eye on the Capital’s preparation for the Games,was spotted taking a nap during the inspection of venues. Fennell,who arrived on Tuesday for the stocktaking,dozed off during a presentation at the Thayagaraja Sports Complex. He was not alone,many others too,were spotted taking a shuteye. The OC Secretary General,Lalit Bhanot,brushed it off with a laugh. “I was not present at the venue,but all I can say is that the delegates must have gone to sleep really late on Wednesday night,” he said.

Kalmadi chooses work over play
The Games delegates went sight-seeing without the organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi,who had dashed off to Pune to campaign for Maharashtra Assembly polls. Insiders said AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi had picked the day for campaigning in Pune. “There were competent people accompanying the delegates,I am sure they would not have had any problem,” Kalmadi said.

Sheila,Chauhan Drop out too
Neither Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit nor PWD minister Rajkumar Chauhan were invited for delegations’ visit to Thyagaraja stadium. In the evening,Dikshit held a dinner for the delegates at her home. “As per protocol,the CM does not need to accompany the delegates,the CM is not their guide,” Chauhan said. His team,though,was not too happy to stay away from all the action.

‘Delhi has a lot more to do’
Delegate Ephraim E Penn from the British Virgin Islands struck a dissenting note after he had finished Thursday’s tour. He had hoped to “see a lot more work done”. He said: “The Games Village looks great. It is spacious and well laid. But there is still a lot of work that Delhi has to do.” Soon after the comment,the Games Organising Committee issued a statement and met the media to live down Penn’s remarks. At the media conference,Organising Committee general secretary Lalit Bhanot said “all visiting delegates were completely satisfied with the work done”. Some murmurs,however,were also heard on inadequate security and traffic arrangements.