Completion certificates for venues given to CGF

The Commonwealth Games organizing committee handed over copies of completion certificates for all competition and non-competition venues, including the Games Village, to CGF CEO Mike Hooper.

"We got copies of the completion certificates given by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to the venue owners today and, as promised, handed them over to Mr. Hooper," OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi said on Monday.

"We are confident that the Commonwealth Games Federation and its members will be satisfied," he said.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi issued 14 completion certificates to the venue owners of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Complex, Indira Gandhi Indoor Sports Complex, RK Khanna Tennis Stadium, Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges, Thyagaraj Stadium, all facilities in the Delhi University North Campus, Chhatrasal Stadium and Ludlow Castle School.

The New Delhi Municipal Council had given completion certificates for three venues last week, including Maj Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Talkatora Indoor Stadium and Dr SPM Aquatics Complex.

The Delhi Development Authority provided the completion certificates for its venues, including the Games Village, Siri Fort Complex and Yamuna Sports Complex.

Hooper said he is just trusting that the government agencies have provided authentic certificates.

"They call them the occupancy certificates apparently. I'm sure they're not going to lie to me. I assume that's what is required.

"It's just a language thing. Do you call them building certificates or occupancy certificates. I don't know the clarification because they've only just come over the weekend," Hooper said.

The government agencies had failed to meet deadline of August 18 and revised date of August 31 to provide the safety certificates to the CGF.

The construction delay and recent rains have played havoc with the deadlines.

Earlier, India's Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) created a stir when it cited suspected sub-standard building practises at various Games venues.

The CVC inspected 15 venues and found fabricated case material and said regulatory approvals had been forged.