Birch's Spectak Productions, which is based in Sydney and Los Angeles, is owed 15 per cent of its fees for creative direction, choreography, and design, which the Delhi organisers have so far refused to pay, he has claimed.

Spectak are one of several foreign firms involved in the Games who claim that they are still waiting payment for the services they provided.

Switzerland-based Event Knowledge Services (EKS), a company who are a spin-off from the International Olympic Committee's transfer of knowledge service and who work with some of the biggest events in the world, are also owed money.

Birch, the executive producer of the Opening Ceremony in Delhi who has worked with the Olympics stretching back to Los Angeles in 1984, also claims that 100 shipping containers of lighting, audio, pyrotechnic and staging equipment are stranded in India at the docks or at the main stadium as customs and the official freight supplier, Agility, refuse to process the necessary paperwork.

Sydney-based fireworks company Howard and Sons is also owed about $300,000 (£185,000) and is unable to export about $1 million (£618,000) of equipment used for the Closing Ceremony.

Birch claimed that it was because of the fears in India over being accused in corruption that is causing the situation.

"Every single detail, every single word - its meaning, definition, its possible connotation - of every document and contract is being minutely examined, checked, double-checked and triple-checked to ensure that no one can be accused of a transgression," he said.

"People are scared that if they clear a bill, say, of an Australian contractor, they will be accused by the media of 'siphoning' money off to an Australian.

"The media have made such crazy and wild allegations that no one wants to take any chances."

But Birch claimed that the situation is already damaging New Delhi's proposed bid for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.

"Certainly this type of behaviour makes it extremely unlikely that any of the international suppliers, consultants and contractors involved in Delhi 2010 would in any way support or endorse any future attempt by India to host the Olympic Games, should India decide to make a bid," he said.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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