By Tom Degun in Singapore

August 19 - Jacques Rogge (pictured), the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), today backed New Delhi's preparations for the Commonwealth Games and claimed that the media criticising the preparations there are too pessimistic.



The build up to event, which is due to open on October 3, has been slammed across a variety of platforms due continuous reports of construction delays as well as corruption allegations involving senior officials working on them. 

India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week appointed a group of Ministers to oversee preparations and investigate claims of financial irregularities in an attempt to restore calm, both at home and internationally, in the biggest event India has hosted since the 1982 Asian Games.

Rogge, who is currently here for the inaugural Summer Youth Olympic Games, has now thrown his support behind the event, which is seen as the launchpad for a potential bid from Delhi for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.

He said: "I’m optimistic in spite of everything that is being written by a pessimistic media for the Commonwealth Games.

“They will show the capacity of India to organise a great Games."

Rogge's comments came as Mike Fennell (pictured centre), the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), flew into Delhi from here to begin inspecting the facilities less than 50 days before the Opening Ceremony.

Today he is due to meet Sheila Dikshit, the Delhi Chief Minister, who is trying to reassure everybody that things will be okay during the Games.

She said: "There will always be worries till Commonwelath Games are over.

"There is always a sense of great tension and nervousness.

"Till the Games are over we will not be able to rest in peace.

"That is there.

"But day by day we are getting more confident and things will be alright."

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