New Delhi:
Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi on Monday sought to defend delays in completion of venues, saying preparation for such a mega event is always time consuming and the country cannot present "half-cooked meals" to the world.
"We are organising a major sporting event in the country after a gap of 28 years, after Asian Games in 1982. It's a big challenge for us. You need to present a world class event when the whole world is watching. You need to showcase everything on a large scale. You cannot serve half-cooked meal," Kalmadi said.
"We are not lagging behind. All venues are ready barring JLN stadium and Yamuna Sports Complex. There work would be over by June 30. You need to understand when a city organises any international sports event, it takes five to 10 years to prepare itself. This is the same with Delhi," he said, speaking at a seminar titled "The Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth: Indian Sport poised for a take off" here.
He said Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell was happy with the progress of preparation when he last visited the country.
"About delays and extending deadlines I want to say that when CGF chief Mike Fennell paid his last visit to India he had said that Delhi Games will going to be best ever, even better than Melboune," said the IOA chief.
"We want to promote Olympics sports through Commonwealth Games and we are up for the challenge. Winning the gold medal in Commonwealth is much more important than winning a match in cricket," he said.
Kalmadi thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for releasing Rs 600 crores from his special fund on the training of the athletes, in paying foreign coaches and looking after their food and lodging.
"We are incurring an expenditure of 1600 crores and we have taken it as loan from the government. We will pay them by the way of sponsorship. The total cost of organising the Games is 10,000 crores. Yo see magnitude of Games is enormous," Kalmadi said.
Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy said rather than being a burden on the country, the Games would present India various opportunities in several fronts.
"The prestige of the country is associated with the successful organisation of the Games. We in the government are treating this event as a prestigious national project. This is an opportunity to showcase to the world that we are up for even bigger sporting challenges," Reddy said.
"It not in anyway could be counted as a burden on the country, but it's a bonanza of numerous opportunity. With the games we are ceasing the opportunity to put sports infrastructure in place," he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit supported Reddy and said that the huge money involved in the preparation of the October 3-14 event will not be a waste but will give a rich dividends in future.
"Everybody is critical of the amount of money involved in the preparation for the Games. But I want to make it clear that whatever we want to achieve as a nation will be done through this event," Dikshit said.
"It's not a big burden but a big jackpot for the whole country. Legacy of India as well as Delhi in particular are also attached to it.
"Whatever sum of money we are spending on the stadium upgradations, on building infrastructures for the visitors and athletes, all these will work in presenting Delhi as a major sporting destination," she added.
Secretary General of the Commonwealth Kamlesh Sharma said despite all the alarms, India and all the stakeholders involved would be proud of their enhanced stature after the completion of the Games.
"This event is for the welfare and development of other sports in the country," he said.