Union Sports Minister M. S. Gill on Wednesday informed former Minister of State for Sports and BJP leader Vijay Goel that the Centre has formed a Group of Ministers headed by Union Minister of Urban Development S. Jaipal Reddy to periodically review and take a final decision on all important matters pertaining to various projects being undertaken for the Commonwealth Games 2010.
Mr. Goel who met Dr. Gill during the day said the Minister informed him that the Centre has also appointed former Secretary to the Government of India Jarnail Singh as Chief Executive Officer of the Organising Committee for the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi and has also appointed two serving Indian Administrative Service officers apart from a finance officer to keep a check on the works and to closely monitor the preparations for the Games.
The BJP leader said Dr. Gill was also of the view that senior officials of the Organising Committee should refrain from speaking out against the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and its officials.
During the meeting, Mr. Goel demanded that Dr. Gill provide a schedule for the “test games’’ that would be organised before the international sporting event.
Mr. Goel said during the meeting he pointed out that the CGF had in one of its confidential reports expressed reservation about the capability of the Organising Committee in delivering Games of a high standard. Stating that the nation was worried whether the Games would be conducted at all in view of the lacklustre preparations, he urged the Minister to issue a white paper on the funds and expenses for the Games.
The BJP leader also lauded the formation of a high-level committee by the Central Government for the Games but expressed concern at the Delhi Government’s announcement of extending the deadline for completion of all CWG stadiums to March 31, 2010, from December 2009. He said this delay would impact the conduct of the test games and deprive the Indian sportspersons of valuable practice at the venues.
