Mike Fennell, the President of the CGF, said that Hooper, who has been living in the Indian capital for two years trying to help them prepare for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, would not be sent home to London.

 

He said: "I cannot accede to this request from Mr Kalmadi.

 

"We will issue a full statement on this tomorrow.”

 

On Monday, Fennell had announced the appointment of an independent panel of foreign experts to monitor preparations for Delhi 2010 on a monthly basis.

 

This prompted the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to launch a scathing attack on the CGF, especially against Hooper.

 

Kalmadi demanded that Hooper be removed from Delhi and claimed that the CGF were guilty of "imperialism".

 

Hooper has responded today by openly criticising Indian preparations.

 

He said: "It's the understatement of the year that the Games are behind schedule and that we have concerns regarding the preparations."

 

Kalmadi then circulated a letter that he had sent to to Fennell in which he alleged that Hooper had misbehaved with a director of the secretary general's office, throwing keys into face of the official and that he was no longer welcome at the organising committee's headquarters.

 

He wrote: "In this regard I would like to convey my advice that Mr Hooper may operate from his office-cum-residence, which has been allotted by the organising committee."

 

Then in an embarrassing exchange caught on camera by Indian television company NDTV, the secretary general of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Lalit Bhanot, tried to stop Hooper from speaking to the press.

 

Both men argued for several minutes, after Bhanot said: "You'll have to stop this interview." 

 

Hooper rejected that request.

 

Speaking to NDTV after the incident, Hooper said that the focus from the real issue is being diverted.

 

He said: "Kalmadi is diverting attention from real issue.

 

"I work for Commonwealth Games Federation, not Mr Kalmadi.

 

"We need to play the ball not the man.

 

"I am a professional and just want to do my job."

 

 

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