CWG OC renew demand for ouster of Games CEO

The 2010 Organising Committee on Friday renewed its demand to "repatriate" Commonwealth Games Federation's CEO Mike Hooper but somewhat toned down its voice, saying it does not want a confrontation with the CGF.

"The Organising Committee expected Mr Hooper to play the role of an advisor and guide us. I am very unhappy to say that he has offered us little advice. With one year to go for the Games, I need the right people here and I cannot be getting into a confrontation with the CEO of CGF," said Kalmadi, who had eariler described Hooper as an "impediment" to Delhi's preparation for the Games.

"I shall place before (CGF President Michael) Fennell all the details when I meet him in London on October 28 or 29. I will ask Mr Fennell to depute someone who can work with us. That is all. We need someone who guides and encourages us and not confront us at all meetings," Kalmadi said in a statement.

Kalmadi said he would meet Fennell in London later this month before the launch of the Queen's Baton Relay and try to convince the CGF chief to relocate Hooper and not to set up the Independent Technical Review Panel.

Kalmadi also made it clear that IOA had not demanded for Hooper's sacking from the CGF chief executive's post and merely asked for him to be relocated in London.

Kalmadi also made it clear that Hooper was unwelcome in the OC headquarters.

"Clause 30 (f) dealing with Knowledge Transfer and GKMP in the Host City Contract does not provide for the permanent presence of a CGF representative in the Organising Committee office," Kalmadi said in a statement.

The IOA chief asserted Delhi would host a successful Games next year and announced that his deputy Randhir Singh would shoulder extra duties before the next visit of the CGF Co-ordination Commission (CoCom).

"We have decided that OC Vice-Chairman, Randhir Singh would look after all preparations for the ensuing visit of the Co-ordination Commission (CoCom) of the CGF. He is CoCom Chairman Austin Sealy's colleague on the International Olympic Committee. He will also oversee and coordinate the functioning of 23 sub-committees working under various Functional Areas,"

Kalmadi added.

Earlier in the day, the showdown between the Commonwealth Games organisers and their international bosses took a more acrimonious turn with the CGF rejecting calls for Hooper's ouster and bluntly telling the Organising Committee to focus on the work at hand.

Fennell also ruled out scrapping its proposed independent monitoring panel to oversee the preparations.