New Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS) The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Thursday refuted the charges made against it by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
The CAG, in its interim report blamed the CGF president, chief executive officer and the chairman of Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) for dubious broadcast deals.
CGF chief executive Mike Hooper said: ‘I strongly refute any wrongdoing. It is for the Organising Committee (OC) to follow proper processes in accordance with Indian law. The OC has to decide who it will appoint in outsourced roles.’
‘It is my understanding that the Organising Committee (OC) did undertake process and validate credentials of persons concerned. I assume they followed whatever process required,’ he added.
In a statement, CGF defended its decision to recommend Britain-based Fast Track for broadcast rights deal, and said: ‘Fast Track has an enviable record of success, and has received ringing endorsements from others for the outstanding work that it has done in the past, including from the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, who confirmed its outstandingly successful relationship with Fast Track surpassed our dreams and not only met, but exceeded, all of our targets.’
‘The CGF does not deny, however, that it did recommend Fast Track to the OC. It is the role of the CGF to aid the successful organisation of a world class Games, and in carrying out this role, the CGF, appropriately, makes recommendations based on its knowledge and years of experience in overseeing previous Games. It is a matter for the OC, not the CGF, to ensure that the selection of consultants chosen by the OC for the Delhi Commonwealth Games follows the proper process in accordance with Indian law.’
‘Having awarded the Games to Delhi and the OC, it is for the OC to decide who it wants to appoint for any outsourced roles. The CGF flatly denies the suggestion that Fast Track was appointed solely on the basis of any recommendations that it made,’ the statement added.
