Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Mike Hooper has termed the controversy over preparations as "unfortunate" and said focus should be on delivering "great Games" next year.
Facing severe criticism from the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) organisers, Mike Hooper, the CEO of the mega event, described as "unfortunate and inappropriate" the comments made against him by CWG Organising Committee (OC) Chairman Suresh Kalmadi.
Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi on Monday conceded that there are many challenges in hosting the 2010 Games but assured the CGF General Assembly delegates that India would overcome them to deliver a memorably well-organised event.
The government's bid to limit the tenure of sports administrators met with stiff resistance on Monday, with Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi and other angry bosses of sports bodies vowing to do everything to protect their autonomy.
National Sports Federation (NSF) chiefs were up in arms on Sunday against the Government regulation to limit their tenure, saying they would move Supreme Court to thwart the move.
In a bid to crack down on National Sports Federation (NSF) heads who have been occupying the posts for too long, the Sports Ministry on Sunday said NSF chiefs in office for more than a decade will have to step down after their current term expires.
In a decision that will come as a breath of fresh air to a large number of embattled Congressmen, the party leadership in a change of strategy has decided to play aggressive and defend party leaders charged with graft rather than sacrifice them one after the other as was happening till now.
Ace shooter Gagan Narang, who won four gold medals at last month's Commonwealth Games, will be India's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony of the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China on November 12, Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi said in New Delhi on Tuesday.
A spectacular opening ceremony was still not able to disguise India's shortcomings in the build up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
Suresh Kalmadi officially invited International Olympic Committee president Dr Jacques Rogge to the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Youth Games Pune 2008.
Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi Chairman Suresh Kalmadi said he was happy with the progress made in the Games Village as it got ready to welcome the first of the 7000 athletes and team officials who will reside there during the Commonwealth Games.
Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi on Thursday said he is happy with the progress made in the Games Village as it got ready to welcome the first of the 7000 athletes and team officials who will reside there during the mega-event.
Construction delays, inclement weather, red tape if these were not enough reasons to worry Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi in the run up to the Commonwealth Games, then a possible dengue outbreak in New Delhi is sure to break him down to tears.
As the month-long countdown for the Commonwealth Games begins, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi, in the line of fire for tardy preparations, voiced confidence that 'hitches' will be overcome and the event will be a great success.
The Indian Olympic Association on Saturday hailed the inclusion of cricket in the "Olympic family" and hoped the game will make its debut in the 2020 Games.
The increasing number of star pullouts may be taking the sheen off the Commonwealth Games but Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi is not too worried, saying there will be plenty of world champions in action and those who have withdrawn have done so because of injury.
Pained by reports of his alleged involvement in the Commonwealth Games-related scam, former Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi said he will resign as Member of Parliament in case any proof of him having taken even a single rupee surfaces.
Even as Suresh Kalmadi continues to be in the eye of a storm and battles charges of corruption, sources say the government and his party are looking at two options in a bid to save the Commonwealth Games and protect the government from further bad publicity on issues of corruption.
Commonwealth Games Federation has asked the CWG Organising Committee to furnish report from each of government agencies responsible for delivery of competition venues that they have secured certification from regulatory bodies on fire, health and safety of athletes by August 18, its CEO Mike Hooper said today.
IOA president Suresh Kalmadi on Tuesday rubbished media reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is not keen to share dais with him during the opening ceremony of the National Games.
Instead, the AICC made it clear that it was neither their brief nor their intention to defend Suresh Kalmadi since he is the chairman of the organising committee by virtue of heading the Indian Olympic Association and not because he is a Congress MP. The AICC spokesman agreed that the expenditure being incurred on the games was excessive and said it is for Kalmadi to do the explanation.
The Indian Olympic Association on Wednesday formally announced the formation of 'Hockey India', a unified body comprising the country's men's and women's associations.
Swimming sensation Virdhawal Khade will be the flag bearer of the Indian contingent during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Youth Games.
Delhi's Chief Minister is nervous about the hosting of Commonwealth Games in the capital but the event's organising committee head Suresh Kalmadi assures that all is well with the preparations despite umpteen delays.
"I have come to the CBI on directions of the Court. I am answering every questions being posed to me," Sanjay Mahendroo, Kalmadi's aide, told PTI. Asked if he is willing to turn an approver, Mahendroo said, "Then also (if he turns an approver) I will say the same things that I telling the CBI now."
Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi on Thursday chose not to speak on the sex scandal that rocked the Indian women's hockey on Tuesday.
Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi on Tuesday said he has not yet heard from the CBI after he informed the agency last month that he was ready to appear before it in connection with the probe into alleged irregularities in the conduct of the event.
Contradicting Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi's claims, three-time Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt has denied making any commitment to run at the event in New Delhi next year.
Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi, on Monday, said he was ready to answer all queries regarding corruption charges. He also claimed to have done no wrong and was willing to give a statement in Parliament.
Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, who is under the scanner of the CBI, on Thursday refused to talk about the Queen's Baton Relay controversy and said he has not been summoned by the CBI back home in India.
The extent to which the relationship between Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Mike Hooper and the 2010 Games Organising Committee (OC) has soured was evident when organizing committee officials tried to stop the New Zealander from addressing the media at their headquarters in New Delhi.
Determined to get rid of Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Mike Hooper, the 2010 Games Organising Committee on Thursday alleged that the CGF official had misbehaved with an OC staff in July.
Citing the upcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand, the Indian Olympic Association on Friday postponed the 34th National Games for the fifth time in two years.
Prince Edward has given a thumbs-up to the infrastructure coming up for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the capital, the organisers claimed in New Delhi, on Sunday. The Prince showed interest in understanding the infrastructure development in Delhi and the level of the preparedness of the Organising Committee.
A couple of months back the Games Organising Committee announced on its web site that it hiring staff for various positions. But with exactly 373 days for the Games to open it is still to enlist the required people.
While everybody is going gaga over the successful hosting of the Commonwealth Games, former athletes Milkha Singh and India's sprint queen PT Usha are upset. They are unhappy about the raw deal they got from Suresh Kalmadi at the Games and are planning to meet the Prime Minister.
Sulking after being denied Pune Lok Sabha seat renomination, sitting Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi on Friday said he will announce his decision on contesting the polls in the next two days, even as Congress leaders tried to seek his support for the official candidate Vishwajeet Kadam.
Legendary sprinter Milkha Singh, who was in the capital on Saturday and Sunday to see for himself Jawaharlal Nehru stadium came to the rescue of Suresh Kalmadi and company when he lashed out at the foreign media and athletes and CWG officials who have been crying foul from the roof tops by giving credit to the organizing comittee for the work.
From this point it really doesn't matter whether Sheila Dixit or Suresh Kalmadi retain their jobs or M S Gill and Jaipal Reddy must also bear equal responsibility. The damage has been done, says M K Bhadrakumar.
'A disastrous failure of the Games would not be just a failure of an incompetent India. It would be the failure of an emerging India and the damaging of its image as a democratic nation worthy of emulation.'
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