2010 Games get Rs 853cr hike and monitor

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday agreed to more than double the dole for Commonwealth Games - from Rs 767 crore to Rs 1,620 crore - but not before sports minister M S Gill assured colleagues that the government would keep a close watch on how the money was spent by the Organizing Committee led by Suresh Kalmadi.

Gill, who had to fend off colleagues like road transport minister Kamal Nath and others, said a committee of officials would supervise the spending. The Organizing Committee so far had no government representative on it.

The entire assistance is supposed to be a loan which the Organizing Committee has promised to pay back from the proceeds of the mega sports event to be held in the Capital in October next year.

As part of the proposal cleared by the Cabinet, a financial sub-committee comprising the sports secretary, urban development secretary and an additional secretary of the finance ministry will be set up soon. All proposals of high value are to be cleared by the group before being taken to the executive board of the Organizing Committee.

I&B minister Ambika Soni told reporters that organizers hoped to earn Rs 1,708 crore from the event.

At a time when preparations for the mega event have been hit by controversies, delays and escalating cost, the new mechanism will ensure OC's financial accountability to the government which is pumping thousands of crores into the Games. Gill also briefed the Cabinet about the preparations for the Games.

Announcing the decision, I&B minister Soni said the enhancement in budget was to enable the Organizing Committee to meet escalating costs. The sports ministry said rising costs of opening and closing ceremonies, increase in the number of days for Queen's Baton Relay - from 136 to 240 for international leg and from 60 to 100 days for domestic leg - were among the reasons that forced the increased allocation. The relay will now cover all Commonwealth contries.

Inclusion of new items essential for successful delivery of the Games but not provided for in the initial budget of the OC, namely accreditation, city operations, sponsorship and TV rights, security, sustainability and environment and ticketing also led to higher costs.

Cost escalation in respect of accommodation, catering, protocol and CGF relations, rent for office of OC, communication, image and look technology, risk management, insurance and technical conduct of sports were also listed as reasons for the budgetary hike.

The Games build-up has been mired in controversies with the Commonwealth Games Federation expressing concern about the pace of preparations. Things took an ugly turn when Kalmadi asked for the transfer of CGF CEO Mike Hooper from Delhi, saying he was an impediment to the preparations.

The matter was resolved during the Queen's Baton Relay last month where Kalmadi and CGF chief Mike Fennell discussed the contentious issues and agreed to bury the hatchet.

Delhi is hosting the 19th Commonwealth Games in 17 sporting disciplines. Competitions will also be held for Elite Athletes with Disability (EAD).