CWG organisers face trouble as scandals widen
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India's government auditor says it has found evidence that the head of the Commonwealth Games Federation and the top Indian organiser have been responsible for loss of revenue, financial irregularities and overpayments, news reports said.
In a recent report to the sports ministry the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) cited over a dozen cases including one where the Games Organising Committee suffered a loss of over 240 million rupees in awarding broadcasting rights, Press Trust of India news agency reported.
According to PTI late Thursday, the CAG report said the broadcasting rights were awarded at the behest of Mike Fennell, the world head of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Mike Hooper, its chief executive and top Indian organiser Suresh Kalmadi.
The auditor's report said authorities in the Indian organising committee appointed a firm, Fast Track Sales LTD, as consultant for international broadcasting rights on suggestions made by Fennell, Hooper and Kalmadi without a technical evaluation of the bidders, PTI reported.
The auditor's evaluation was sent to the Indian sports ministry in May, the news report added.
Hooper told reporters in New Delhi on Thursday that while the federation has recommended Fast Track to the Indian organisers there was no wrongdoing on its part.
"Although the CGF supported the appointment of Fast Track, it strongly refutes any inference that it interfered in the selection process," Hooper told reporters.
Hooper said they never dictated a choice to the Indian organisers. The Games have already been mired in corruption scandals. Earlier this month two top Indian officials were fired amid corruption allegations involving the Queen's Baton Relay in London. India's Central Vigilance Commission has also issued a report highlighting concerns regarding building practices and potential problems surrounding the certification of work on games sites.
The Indian Organising Committee has been under pressure for more than a year since it became apparent that construction delays meant none of the Games venues would be finished before deadline.
With infrastructure projects around the city also well behind schedule, the Indian capital is in a race against time to be ready to host the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games — the biggest sporting event here since the 1982 Asian Games.
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