Aug. 2: Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) CEO Mike Hooper has written a letter to the organising committee, led by Suresh Kalmadi, to explain the alleged irregularities detected by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
The letter came in the wake of the CVC sending a compilation of its inquiries into the Games affairs to the CGF. The CGF has sought the details following reports of alleged irregularities. Following the letter, the OC vice-chairman Randhir Singh has called an emergency meeting.
“We are concerned about the implication of the CVC report indeed. We have written to the OC following the release of the report,” stated CGF president in an email recently sent to variousDelhi based media organisations. Mr Hooper added in the mail, “we basically need assurances, from the venue owners which are essentially the government agencies that all venues are fully compliant with Government of India laws.”
Mr Hooper today also stated, “clearly they (OC) are considering the allegations. They should and these investigations should happen. If any wrongdoing is intimated then proper action should be taken. Ultimately it is very important.”
The CGF officials, taking note of CVC’s commission’s report on rampant corruption, have also asked the OC in the letter to ensure that all the venues for the October 3-14 mega-event obtain quality assurance certificates.
Meanwhile, the IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh called for an emergency meeting of the Organising Committee’s Executive Board, saying the allegations were “grave”.
“In pursuance to media reports about financial irregularities, since the situation is grave, the discussion should be held immediately,” stated Mr Randhir.
The OC officials have stated that the General secretary’s demands have been accepted and an executive meeting to discuss the issue on August 5.
The executive meeting will also have discussions on the major scam that hit the CWG OC on Friday when it came to light that a little-known UK firm, AM films was paid lakhs of pounds for its “services” during the London leg of the Queen’s Baton relay. The senior OC officials have admitted that there was no contract under which payments were made to the company which was roped in “at the last minute”.