Delhi 2010 upbeat despite missed deadline

Organisers of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October have struck an upbeat note over widely criticised preparations for the event despite yet another key deadline being missed on Wednesday.

The date for venues to be handed over to the organising committee by city authorities slipped three times and was still not fully met by the final deadline of June 30.

Three major facilities -- the main stadium, the swimming complex and the athletes' village -- are still not ready for Games officials to move in and begin installing complex operational equipment.

"It would have been nice to have had access to the venues earlier and we made no secret of that," Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper told AFP.

"But the basic requirement of venue construction needed by June 30 has now been achieved. Maybe just a week more is needed."

Hooper has endured a rocky relationship with the Indian hosts, who last October demanded he be sacked, but he welcomed recent progress after years of delays and setbacks.

"We are pretty impressed with the work done over last few months," he said. "We gave brickbats when they were deserved, so perhaps it is time to give a bouquet."

The Commonwealth Games Federation previously warned New Delhi several times that it faced an enormous task to be in a position to host a successful event when the opening ceremony is held on October 3 -- 95 days away.

Many of the transport projects that authorities hoped would transform the traffic-choked city in time for the Games are far from complete, with new metro lines and elevated highways still under construction.

More than 600 new buses meant to be supplied by June 30 will now not be in action until the end of August.

New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday said she was confident that preparations were on track, even though monsoon rains are expected to hit the city within days.

"We have everything under control," she said. "The rains in Delhi are not as heavy as in other parts of the country. There is no need to panic."

India has undergone dramatic development in the last 15 years and the Commonwealth Games, which will involve 71 nations mostly from the former British empire, are an important showcase for the nation's modern image.

In one major breakthrough, a huge new terminal at New Delhi airport will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday.

Commonwealth Games organisers are desperate to pull off a glitch-free event to disprove Delhi's reputation for urban chaos, but admit much still needs to be done to spruce up the city before the 6,000 athletes arrive.

Another problem that organisers face is attracting the top stars, with reigning Olympic and world sprint champion Usain Bolt apparently unlikely to show up due to his schedule focusing on next year's world championships.

Suresh Kalmadi, a divisive politician who heads the Delhi 2010 organising committee, said all the challenges would be overcome.

"Three months is a long time to ensure everything is perfect," he told reporters this week. "We are confident that we will produce a great Games."

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