Coates, the President of the Australian Olympic Committee, also blamed the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) for the current problems over the Athletes Village for failing to monitor preparations properly.

"In hindsight, no, they [New Delhi] shouldn't have been awarded the Games," said Coates.

"The problem is the Commonwealth Games Federation is under-resourced.

"It doesn't have the ability to monitor the progress of cities in the way the Olympic Committee does."

Coates claimed that the Olympics would not have allowed a similar situation to develop because it has such a strict monitoring unit, including the IOC Coordination Commission which makes regular visits to the host city to check on progress.

"If that had been the case here in Delhi, then certainly something would have been done a lot sooner because obviously the venues are not ready," said Coates, who is a member of the IOC Coordination Commission for London 2012.

Coates, who was a senior vice-president when Sydney hosted the Olympics and Paralympics in 2000, dismissed the fact that Delhi's protracted monsoon season has added to delays in construction and preparation as a mitigating factor.

"You can't ever cut any slack when your focus should be on the best conditions for the athletes," he said.

Coates, though, refused to get involved in the debate about whether Australia's team should travel to the Indian capital.

"I'm certainly not going to be drawn into making a commentary on whether Australia and other countries should pull out from this part of the world," he said.

"But the people who will decide whether we should be there is Steve Moneghetti, the Chef de Mission, and Perry Crosswhite, the secretary-general of the (Australian Commonwealth Games) federation."

Coates' comments came as Mike Fennell, the President of the CGF, began a series of meetings in the Indian capital to try to regain confidence in the Games, which are due to open on October 3.

"It is good to be in Delhi, and the briefing I received from my CEO, Mike Hooper, last night, was that considerable improvements have been made within the Village, with further significant resources deployed by Delhi Chief Minister, Mrs Dikshit, to make good what was a concerning situation," said Fennell.

Fennell's schedule today will include attending the Chefs de Mission meeting at the Village to meet first hand the leaders of those countries already in Delhi and to hear their concerns and frustrations.

"I am looking forward to spending the morning with my colleagues from the Commonwealth Games Movement and evaluating the situation with all the key stakeholders," he said.

"I am certainly pleased to arrive in Delhi with the news that Australia has moved into the Village to get ready for the arrival of their athletes, and with the confirmation late yesterday that England and Wales will be on their way to Delhi shortly.

"Already so many athletes from around the Commonwealth have started their journey to Delhi.

"Our job across the next week is to help ensure that all the corrective work is completed in good time.

"We must ensure that a suitable environment is provided to ensure the welfare of the athletes and their support staff.

"It is vital that all remedial work that has already started continues with the greatest urgency."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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