I enjoy full support from govt: Kalmadi
New Delhi | Sunday, Nov 22 2009 IST
 

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi has denied suggestions that the Government has lost faith in him and asserted that he still enjoys the support of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the success of the games next year.

Recently, Organising Committee appointed Jarnail Singh as the CEO and three IAS officers to assist him.

But Kalmadi claimed that it he who asked the government for a CEO and added that it was at his request that various appointments were made in the Organising Committee.

''It is the support of the Prime Minister of India, the Government of India, the Government of Delhi, the Lieutenant Governor and my Organising committee and the IOA. We are all working as a team and we will produce great Games.

''All the officers have come at my request and I have also asked for a lot of people from Army. ''About 50 people are joining from the Army as well and so we have asked people from Public Sectors, Private sectors and from the Government as well. They will do the work which they are supposed to do. ''So I am happy with them coming here. About the Finance sub-committee, I would like to say the Government has increased the budget from Rs 700 crore to Rs 1600 crore and they have put committees to look into the financial matters,'' Kalmadi told CNN-IBN on 'Devil's Advocate'.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chief refused to reveal anything on the independent technical review panel which was announced by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and said a decision on whether to give it a go ahead will only be taken next month.

''I don't want to discuss about it because we have resolved the issue. There is a coordination commission which is coming and all the decisions will be taken after that and we will have another meeting with Mike Fennell and all these things will be decided,'' he added. Kalmadi further hinted that both the CGF and OC made a few compromises during his meeting with CGF President Mike Fennell on the issue of Mike Hooper continuing as the CEO.

''If I have conceded anything, it's in the interest of the Games and for the country. As far as Mike Hooper is concerned, we have had discussion with Mike Fennell and both sides there's give and take. ''Mike Fennell has conceded on various issues. I can't tell you what Mike Fennel has spoken to Mike Hooper. ''I can't tell you what Mr Mike Fennell has spoken with Mike Hooper. Now things are alright, me and Mike Hooper are meeting quite regularly and things are moving forward.''

-- (UNI) -- 22SPD8.xml

 

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