Security on top of agenda

The visiting delegates for the fifth Coordination Committee Meeting of next year’s Commonwealth Games have worked out a security plan with top officials during a three-day meeting here.

Though several other matters were on the agenda, the meeting ended with detailed discussions about security, which came in to prominence once again after Australia refused to play their Davis Cup tie against India in Chennai this month and the much hyped Indian Premier League (IPL) was shifted to South Africa.

The delegation met the Chief Secretary of the Government of Delhi and the Commissioner of Police among others, and was reportedly satisfied that recommendations made by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) members had been incorporated in the security plan. Those attending the meeting included Austin Sealy (chairman, CoCOM), Mike Hooper (CEO, CGF)  and Bruce Robertson (Vice President, Co-COM).

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chief Suresh Kalmadi, while assuring the delegation of top class security, also promised that work on all infrastructure and facilities would gain pace.

“We are strictly following the games master schedule drawn up during the last meeting. Many deadlines have been met and efforts are in hand to further enhance the efficiency in meeting laid down deadlines,” said Kalmadi, who also heads the organising committee of the Games.

Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Funnel, who joined the other delegates and reportedly had a detailed look at reports compiled by delegation members as well as asked for first hand information from Indian security officials, said he would comment on the security situation only after studying all reports.

Meanwhile, Kalmadi admitted that work at the cycling velodrom and the rugby 7 venue at Delhi University would not be completed this year.

Most of the venues for the Commonwealth Games have been running behind schedule, forcing a number of events that were to test the venues later this year, having been postponed.