Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi Thursday laid the blame squarely on the builder and the contractor for the shoddy work at the Games Village, which has come under heavy criticism from some of the participating countries.

Several participating countries had labelled the Village as being filthy and unlivable.

Kalmadi said that there was conflict between nodal agency Delhi Development Authority (DDA) that gave the contract to Emaar-MGF to build the Games Village and the builder.

“Due to the conflict, work was delayed for three months and that was the main problem. We got the Village only a month back and we needed some time to get things in place. But now the Games Village looks beautiful and I can tell you it is the best Commonwealth Games Village,” he said.

Kalmadi, however, was happy with the last minute work carried out at the Games Village and said that the foreign athletes and officials are now happy.

“The Village is one of the finest places. We have given an option to all teams to first go to a hotel and then they can shift to the Village after inspecting the conditions there. Right now, not even a single country is staying in a hotel,” said Kalmadi.

“International players and team officials are very satisfied with the Village’s facilities. All 71 countries are participating in the Games and not even a single country has kept itself out of them. Each delegation is saying that they are liking this place very much and they have no problems. I am sure that nobody has seen such a Games Village before,” he said.

Kalmadi said that he was also ready for any kind of probe regarding alleged misuse of funds.

“The photo that media is showing is over a month old and you cannot conclude anything on the basis of it. I am ready for any kind of inquiry; in fact, I personally want that an inquiry must be conducted into all allegations,” said Kalmadi.

“We should also focus on good aspects of these games. Our city (New Delhi) has gone ahead by nearly 10 years. See the airport, Metro is running from airport to the Games Village and to other venues. Now we only want Indian players to do well and to win maximum medals in the Games,” he added.

He also thanked the Prime Minister for giving a grant of Rs.1,600 crore for the training of athletes.

“This has happened for the first time. Money has been spent on the training of athletes, accommodation and on providing them world-class facilities,” said Kalmadi.

The Games Village is spread over an area of 63.5 hectares and has a total of 34 residential towers. It has 1,168 apartments comprising 4,008 bedrooms which will house the athletes and team officials.