Commonwealth Games boss rejects Indian demand to remove official

Oct 16, 2009, 12:16 GMT

New Delhi - The head of the Commonwealth Games Federation Michael Fennell Friday dismissed demands by Indian organizers of the 2010 event to sack a key official even as differences between the two sides sharpened, news reports said.

The Commonwealth Games are a slimmed down version of the Olympics and have 71 participating nations. They will be held in New Delhi from October 3-14, 2010.

Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the organizing committee of the games had Thursday demanded that the New Delhi-based CGF Chief Executive Officer Mike Hooper be removed, describing him as 'useless' and an 'impediment'.

Fennell, however, turned down the demand, saying the 'personal attack on Hooper was unwarranted', the PTI news agency reported.

'I have responded to Mr Kalmadi's letter and public statements in writing, recording that Mr Hooper enjoys the full support of the CGF's Executive Board, and that he is an outstanding Chief Executive and leader of the CGF management team,' the PTI quoted Fennell saying in a statement.

'He is totally dedicated to Commonwealth Games movement and we consider such a personal attack on him is unwarranted,' he added.

He bluntly told the Indian organising committee to focus its attention on quickly executing works related to the games.

'Instead of attacking Mr Hooper, I urge the organizing committee to focus on the issues raised by us and to commit to working collaboratively with all stakeholders on addressing these matters with urgency,' Fennell said.

Fennell who chaired a CGF meeting in Delhi recently has been concerned about the delays in the Games projects and warned that the Indian organizers faced a big challenge.

The organizing committee has been facing flak after an evaluation report from India's Auditor and Comptroller General in August said construction of several venues including the athletes' village was running far behind schedule.

But the tussle seemed all set to turn bitter on Friday with Kalmadi, insisting he will push for Hooper's transfer out of Delhi and will take up the matter with Fennell when they meet in London on October 28 and 29.

Later on in the day, Indian officials tried to stop Hooper from addressing the media at the New Delhi headquarters.

Organizing Committee general secretary Lalit Bhanot asked Hooper not to speak to journalists which compelled Hooper to leave the premises and conduct a press conference outside.