New Delhi, Dec 14 (IANS) The Organising Comittee (OC) Monday assured the Cordination Commission (CoCom) of the Commonwealth Games Federation that “considerable progress” has been made in all areas towards successfully hosting the 2010 Games.
The seven-member CoCom, chaired by Austin Sealy, Monday began its three-day review of Delhi’s preparation for the mega event.

At the opening session of the CoCom meeting, Sealy said: “we are working towards the same goal of seeing a successful Games next year.”

OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi, in his address to CoCom, said the committee would see considerable progress in all areas since their last visit in May 2009.

“I have always maintained that CoCom meetings are good opportunities to introspect and review what needed to be done to achieve set milestones and timelines,” he said.

Kalmadi also said the OC has done a great deal to streamline the operational part of the Games.

He said the OC had ramped up its workforce, recruiting people with relevant industry experience.

“We have total clarity in the management structure, with each Functional Area having separate head. The workforce has risen from 228 in May 2009 to 680. As many as 200 others have been selected to join in the next month. We will go up to 1600 when the Games come.”

He said that finances are under control and added that revenue from sales of TV rights has already exceeded their expectation.

“Against projected revenues of $30 million, we have already secured deals worth $42 million,” he said.

“Major sponsorship deals have been signed with Air India, NTPC and Hero Honda and many more offers are under finalization in the areas of banking, logistics, food & beverage, technology, transport and overlays provider.”

Sindhurshree Khullar, secretary of the sports ministry, asked CoCom to lend its helping hand.

“Lot of time has been spent in explaining things instead of getting on with the task of ensuring that the Games are conducted well,” she said.

“The level of monitoring the progress of the Games has gone up. Your advice will help us.”

OC director general V.K. Verma briefed the members, addressing the areas of concerns listed by CoCom in its report after its last visit in May 2009.

He spoke of the presence of dozens of experts with Games experience and gave an update on each of the 36 Functional Areas.

The meetings will be held through Wednesday after which CoCom would present its report to the Commonwealth Games Federation president Michael Fennell.