New Delhi:
After the shambolic build-up that included a dirty athletes village and other shortcomings leading to threats of pull-out by leading competing nations, the Commmonwealth Games was on Thursday given a pat on the back by CGF chief Michael Fennell in his final press conference here.
"Delhi has performed and the overall image of the Games has been extremely positive", declared Commonwealth Games Federation chief Fennell on the last day of the multi-discipline event.
"Leading up to the Games, people were not sure whether to go to India or not after all those reports (about the less than perfect build-up) came out. When I was going to India on September 23 I was even asked when would I announce the cancellation of the Games," Fennell told a press conference.
"I said our job is to fix the problems and not to give up. I had said in a press conference at that time (before the Games) when asked whether there was Plan B and I said Plan B is Delhi. It was always Delhi and Delhi has performed," Fennell said.
The CGF president refused to buy the line that the controversies in the lead up have damaged the integrity of the Games.
"No doubt the overall image of the Games has been good. Spectators have enjoyed, broadcasting has been good. People have seen extremely positive image of the Games right across the world," he said.
"There are some details to be called into (for scrutiny). There were a number of issues but the fact is that the end result is good. I don't think whatever has happened (in the lead-up) has damaged the image of the Games," he added.
Fennell said the feedbacks from the athletes have been good while some of the competition venues and the Games Village were "exceptional".
"This is only a provisional comment. We will have a detailed evaluation and post mortem later. The athletes competed very well and they are comfortable.
"Apart from one or two incidents, it was a very satisfactory experience. Some of the competition venues were exceptional. Some are of high standard. They provided high quality of competition," he said.
Taking the cue, Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, who had been lampooned by the media before and during the initial part of the Games, said "World apprehensions before the Games have disappeared."
"The whole Games were built around athletes and they have enjoyed. They were happy with the food, Games village and everything. They enjoyed their stay here. When they go back they will take back great memories of india," he said.
"India too won a lot of medals, we have doubled the tally in Melbourne as we touching about 100. So as the head of Indian Olympic association it has been great for Olympic sport in the country," Kalmadi said.
"The technical conduct of the Games has been good. Over 75 Games records were broken. I have said (after the pull-out of some leading competitors) that new champions will emerge and that has happened. New sporting icons have come up for India also," he said.
Kalmadi thanked the CGF for its guidance and said the Games have given the country expertise to host big multi-sporting events in the future.
"We might have had tiffs occasionally. That's natural in such a big event. The guidance of CGF was wonderful. We now have a set of people, a core team who now know how big events are all about," he said.
CGF chief executive Mike Hooper said the Games have been "successful" and despite his differences with Kalmadi on some issues, both have wanted the same result.
"My role was to advice. There were differences between OC and CGF. But I have steadfastly said I and Kalmadi want the same results. By and large, we can look back at the Games as successful. The athletes were happy. We are pretty pleased with the food, Games Village and competition," he said.
Fennell said the success of the Games was a team work with all the stakeholders, including Central and Delhi governments, pulling in together after the controversial lead-up.
"It was a team work. We can't describe any success to any individual or organisation. When we recognised few things not right, Delhi and national government put in a lot of resources to correct the situation. Certainly, CGF shared responsibility in getting it right with the expertise we had we mobilised to ensure that the Games got off to a good start. Many people were involved in getting it right," said the Jamaican.
Asked to rate the Delhi Games in the scale of 10, Fennell said, "What scale we are using. I am not going to answer that. That would be only after systematic evaluation and not at this stage. I am not going to give a figure on that."
On the star pull outs that have affected the Games, Fennell said the timing was the problem.
"We have to ensure in future that top athletes take part. Timing of the Games is important. Some young top athletes have their examination and for some October is season end. Then the negative reports coming out have also affected a lot of people. It started off with security issues ... we have to project it in a positive way (in future)," he said.
Fennell said the aim of having a balance between tight security and freedom of movement was achieved.
"We tried to create the balance in place and it was by and large achieved. The securitymen sometimes took strict security approach. You can't keep everybody entirely happy.
These are things we have to live with. The security personnel started with a zero knowledge of the Games but later on picked up the understanding. We must applaud me. We would not have been happy if they were compromising on security," he said.
The CGF chief was also happy with the crowd response after empty stands at venues in the first few days.
"I was disappointed that in early days a lot of stands were empty. More could have been done to mobilise the people. But eventually the machinery got going and spectators came later. Delhi did not have experience of big multi-sporting events. Then there were glitches, perception of oppressive security arrangement all these played a part. This was a learning experience for Delhi. We have to learn from the experience," he said.
He praised the people of Delhi for their cooperation which ensured smooth operation of dedicated CWG lanes.
"A high point is that we had a successful transport arrangements after difficulties initially. Special lanes worked exceptionally well. Police and traffic people really did a great job. The public of Delhi not directly involved responded to the needs of the Games and cooperated despite their inconvenience.
"I also want to commend the 22,000 volunteers all young, bright, some foreigners. The attention they paid to the athletes and officials has been exceptional," he said.