Athens first priority, rest after that: Dutt

Dutt said that his first priority would be to focus on the Athens Games and as a prelude he would be visiting the national camps — the SAI Centre in Bangalore for a start — to check things for himself. ‘‘Wherever there is any problem, I will try and eliminate them so that the athletes have peace of mind and can concentrate on training. By meeting them I will also come to know first-hand about the facilities or the lack of it at the centres,’’ he said.

Dutt also said that his endeavour would be to involve all concerned to preare ‘‘adequately’’ for the smooth conduct of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. ‘‘I believe a team of DDA engineers are going to Sydney and Melbourne soon to study the Games Village. Once they come back we will see how best we can utilise the knowledge to build an international class Village for the Games.’’

While asking for time to ‘‘settle down’’, Dutt also promised that his ministry would be more media-friendly than in the past. ‘‘Give me some time and eliminate the hurdles.’’ He also promised something along the lines of media briefings by him or by his officials regularly.

Dutt, who hosted a lunch today for a five-member delegation led by Muhammad Latif Butt, secretary-general of the Pakistan Olympic Association, assured Butt that he and his government was committed to more sporting exchanges between the two nations, citing the recent India-Pakistan cricket series in Pakistan as an example.