The Commonwealth Games Federation on Wednesday said it has no doubt that Delhi can deliver an outstanding Games in 2010, but planning is running behind schedule and the organisers need to address other "slippages".
After concluding the three-day stock-taking tour, chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation Coordination Commission, Austin Sealy, had a mixed opinion on preparation for the 2010 Games.
"In our first tour in November last year, we had provided the Organising Committee with some targets. We can't say they met all because there are some grey areas," Sealy said.
"You have three-and-a-half years to go and the Organising Committee immediately needs to build a team to deliver the Games. Development of skilled managers can't be delayed and this should be the highest priority," he said.
The organisers should remember that the Commonwealth Games is the most important sports event after the Olympics and they have a reputation to maintain, he said.
Sealy also gave a thumbs down to the Games' planning.
"Games planning, at an international standard adopting best practice for the Commonwealth Games, is behind the schedule and must be accelerated immediately.
"While the CGF remains confident of Delhi's ability and commitment to deliver outstanding Games, progress is required on all front in the near-term," added Sealy, also the CGF treasurer.
Sealy also took the occasion to remind that India could not ignore the necessity of training its athletes so that they do well in 2010.
"The 2010 Games will be judged a complete success by the Indian population only if the Indian team is successful and competes with distinction, even in sports in which India has not previously excelled.
"The team preparation programme is every bit as important as the Games organisation. A substantial increase in resources and support for training and preparing athletes, including high level international competition, is required now," he said.
Sealy advised the organisers not to relax even for a moment and said, "Time is no longer our friends for both Games preparation and development of the Indian athletes. Every day counts and the CGF urges all to intensify efforts."
Chairman of the 2010 Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi promised things would change before the next visit of the coordination commission and said with the funds being allocated, work would proceed on war-footing.
"All major venue construction will start by the end of this year and by December 2009, all construction would be completed. All the stadia would be handed over to the OC by January 2010, so that we can host international tournaments, which would serve the double purpose of testing the venues and giving our athletes the top-level competition," he said.
"We will be hosting World Badminton Championship, World Cup Hockey, International Athletics Grand Prix and some major tennis tournament in 2010," Kalmadi said.
"Regarding athletes' training, though it's not part of the budget and we have demanded Rs 300 crore a year for the purpose, we have decided to take up the issue."
Kalmadi also sought to clear the air about the actual budget for the Games, which he claimed was Rs 3900 crore, out of which the actual cost the Government was incurring would be less than Rs 3000 crore.
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