Sport Industry Group

Indian PM steps in to save Delhi Games- 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00

India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised a successful Commonwealth Games after he intervened to rescue the troubled event in Delhi that has been beset by delays and allegations of corruption.

‘The successful organisation of the Commonwealth Games would be another signal to the world that India is rapidly marching ahead with confidence,’ Singh said in his annual Independence Day speech.

Over the weekend, Singh gave ‘overriding powers’ to a panel of government secretaries to take over management of the preparation work with just 50 days to go.

The move was seen as a direct slight to the chairman of the Games organising committee, Suresh Kalmadi, who has faced increasingly vocal calls to resign amid the scandals swirling around the event.

Kalmadi, who has denied any wrongdoing and refused to step down, is a senior leader of Singh’s ruling Congress party.

‘The committee of secretaries will review implementation and it will have jurisdiction over matters relating to the organising committee,’ a statement from the Prime Minister’s office said.

‘The Prime Minister further directed concerned ministries to conduct thorough investigations into all the complaints that have been received of procedural and other irregularities. He said that those found guilty should face severe and exemplary punishment.’

An Indian anti-corruption body this month found a host of problems with construction work for the Games, including the use of poor-quality materials and dubious contracts.

The event, which opens in the Indian capital on 3rd October involving 71 nations, is already the costliest Commonwealth Games in history, with an infrastructure and organising budget of $2bn, although unofficial estimates say the final cost will be at least triple.