Commonwealth Games chief says progress on track

New Delhi:  Commonwealth Games CEO Mike Hooper on Friday dispelled worries over the completion of venues for the October 3-14 event, saying India will be ready in time, things were improving and security was in place.

A confident Hooper said India is left with no choice but to complete the task it has taken up and it will.

"Look, there is no denying that we voiced our concerns repeatedly over preparations for the Games.

Distressing delays

"If you remember, Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Michael Fennell in December termed the delays in the completion of stadiums ‘distressing'.

"By early this year he said there are ‘some concerns' and last week he was satisfied with the progress. So things are improving for sure," Hooper told IANS in an interview.

"The Games are going to take place from October 3-14 in India and there is no way the date or the venue is shifting... "

Hooper said the success of the various testing events of different disciplines, including the Hockey World Cup, shows that things are right on track.

"We have had test events in shooting, boxing, archery and Hockey World Cup and things are more or less ready at these venues.

Testing facilities

"Whatever shortcomings are there we are working on them and that is precisely why we hold these pre-Games events to test the facilities," Hooper said on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Rugby Sevens event.

"The Hockey World Cup was a big success, even though it was an International Hockey Federation (FIH) event.

"I happened to see the preliminary FIH report after the event, pointing out some operational problems.

"We will work on them and that's how a mega event like the Commonwealth Games is organised.

The New Zealander, however, refused to hold the Organising Committee alone responsible for the organisational delays.