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Journalism of Courage
An Australian company,which was hired to raise sponsorship for the Delhi Commonwealth Games,on Wednesday denied receiving any commission from the event8217;s Organising Committee,claiming that it is yet to be paid for its services.
According to reports in India,the Melbourne-based Sports Marketing and Management8217;s SMAM contract with the OC is under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate for payments worth millions of dollars but the company said the reports were 8220;incorrect8221;.
8220;We have already beaten the record sponsorship revenue we gained for Melbourne USD US85m and that8217;s still going,but we have not received a single rupee from Delhi yet and there8217;s money overdue,8221; SMAM head Mike Bushell told 8216;the Australian8217;.
8220;The claims are disgraceful. I8217;m not sure what the agenda is,8221; he added.
8220;SMAM has always operated in full conformity with applicable laws and regulations and any insinuation about inappropriate or unlawful activities is completely unfounded and without substance,8221; read a statement from the company.
SMAM,which raised more than USD 110 million for the Australian Olympic Team,was hired in July 2007 to bring in sponsorships for the October 3 to 14 Delhi Games.
However,there has been a complaint about the fireworks contract signed by another Australian company with the CWG OC.
But Andrew Howard,the director of the Sydney firm Howard and Son Pyrotechnics,denied it and said the contract was above board.
8220;There was nothing that could be in any way deemed inappropriate; it was completely transparent,8221; he said.
The Delhi Games OC is under severe media scrutiny over alleged corruption in the preparations of the event and there has already been a major furore over payments made to a UK-based firm for providing 8220;services8221; during the Queen8217;s Baton Relay in London.
