While the local officials have not stopped congratulating themselves on the Commonwealth Games Village,CWG Federation president Michael Fennell is learnt to have been decidedly underwhelmed on having a look on Wednesday. In the capital for a two day visit to assess the CWG venues and discuss security for the Games,sources say Fennell has told the officials in-charge that a lot needs to be done. He was quite surprised at the difference between projections of the Village in information brochures and what he actually saw on Wednesday. He wasnt too pleased with the condition of the SP Mukherjee Aquatic Complex,where swimming and diving events will take place. The absence of anti-slip material for high board and in front of the other springboard caught his attention and he is also learnt to have remarked that installations of anti-slip mats in the diving area and touch pads in the swimming area needed to be sped up. Fennell was also concerned about the low ceiling over the warm-up pool. However on being told by officials that fixing the glitch would take some time,he is learnt to have accepted the situation. In addition to these,Fennell was learnt to have been less than impressed by the glaring lack of progress in the overlays in most CWG venues. Furnishing was incomplete in the Village,seats still were not fitted in some venues and open trenches and debris were visible around almost all stadiums. Fennells visit had venue officials working on overdrive. Workers were seen polishing the glass cladding of the Talkatora indoor stadium prior to Fennells visit,and sweeping away water puddles that had gathered outside the entrance. Just before he arrived though,electrical wiring that was being laid out in an open trench next to the venue short-circuited due to light rain. A bulldozer hastily covered that portion of the ditch with previously excavated mud before Fennell arrived. Things though arent as bleak as they seem. Fennell is learnt to have been happy and given a thumbs up to the Thyagaraj Stadium,the Talkatora Indoor Stadium,the RK Khanna Tennis Complex and the DU Sport Complex. On Thursday,Fennell will visit the Karni Singh Shooting Range,following which he will be involved in discussions with sports minister MS Gill,the monitoring committee of the CWG and other officials. Fennell is learnt to have given him a week more. He will be returning in the first week of September to take stock of the situation.
