September 15 - Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary-general Randhir Singh (pictured) has called for a revamp of the New Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games' organising committee after widespread concerns over preparations for the event.



Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President Mike Fennell has sought a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh next month to seek his urgent help in the build-up to the Games scheduled from October 3-14 next year.

Singh said: "We now have to retrieve the Games.

"The letter from Fennell shows that the organisation of the Games is a major concern.


It shows that he is very worried, and we need to make some immediate organisational changes to ensure we're up to it.

"There is no point arguing with the CGF on this.
 

“We need to reassure the CGF that we can host the best Commonwealth Games ever, which we can if we respond to the ringing alarm bells."

Singh warned that the changes needed to be put in place before the CGF General Assembly in New Delhi next month.

He said: “That’s a key meeting, and we need to make some palpable changes before it.

"If they’re not receiving answers to questions, then they will be concerned.”
 

Singh said the many organising sub-committees needed to be run more professionally.
 

"There are 23 committees looking into the various organisational aspects of the Games but the chairmen of these committees hardly ever meet.
 

"Second, we need to give these committees more powers so that they don't have to run to the chairman of the organising committee for every small thing.
 

"At the moment, these committees only have an advisory role but they must have the power to take decisions."
 
But India's Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy promised that preparations for the Games were under control.

He said: "Everything is under control, everything is on the right track for the Commonwealth Games.

"It is a matter of India's pride and we won't allow it to slip."


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