DEVIL'S ADVOCATE
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Devil's Advocate: Kalmadi denies ego fight in Games
Published on Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 02:39, Updated on Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 14:57 in Sports section
Tags: Suresh Kalmadi, Commonwealth Games
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Four weeks ago when Suresh Kalmadi and the Commonwealth Games Federation had a major quarrel, it looked as if the relationship between the two was about to break up. Where does it stand today? That's the key issue Karan Thapar pursued with the Chairman of the Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi.
Karan Thapar: There is a widespread view that after your bold and defiant stand against the Commonwealth Games Federation in Delhi, you did a U-turn in London and came back to India a chastened man. Is that view correct?
Suresh Kalmadi: No, that's not correct. The Games are more important. Whatever differences were there between the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Commonwealth Games Federation was sorted out in a meeting between Mike Fennell and the IOA.
Karan Thapar: At that meeting between Mike Fennell and yourself in London, did you give in or did you give Mr Fennell to give in to you?
Suresh Kalmadi: For both sides it was give and take. Finally, we reached an agreement and we had a joint statement and the matter is over.
Karan Thapar: There is a widespread perception that you gave in all the way down the line and that Mr Fennell got everything he wanted.
Suresh Kalmadi: That's not true. And I don't want to comment more on that. It was give and take on both sides and we have reached total agreement.
Karan Thapar: Let's come to the major issues of differences between you and the Commonwealth Games Federation and ask you where those issues stand today. To begin with, there is Mike Fennell insistence on an independent technical review panel. Will that be starting work in January as Mike Hooper has said or is it now on hold waiting a further decision?
Suresh Kalmadi I don't want to discuss any of the issues between the Commonwealth Games Federation and us because that's the understanding that we have reached. We both are not going to talk about it.
Karan Thapar: I am simply asking you to tell me at this point whether an independent technical review panel has been appointed and will function or whether that decision is on hold. What's the situation?
Suresh Kalmadi: I don't want to discuss it because we have resolved the issue. There is a coordination commission which is coming and all the decisions will be taken after that and we will have another meeting with Mike Fennell and all these things will be decided.
Karan Thapar: This was a major issue four weeks ago, it came to the attention of the Indian public. Fennell said he wanted an independent panel, he insisted on it, you were equally insistent that such a panel could not happen, you rejected it. So the Indian people have a right to know where does the issue stand.
Suresh Kalmadi: You will come to know after December.
Karan Thapar: Is it a secret?
Suresh Kalmadi: Yes, we have decided not to talk about it at all.
Karan Thapar: What will happen in December?
Suresh Kalmadi: In December, the Coordination Commission is coming to India. After that, Mr Michael Fennell is coming. That time we will have another meeting and all the issues will be coming up then.
Karan Thapar: Mike Hooper, the CEO of CGF has gone public to say that from January onwards the independent technical review panel will start functioning. Is that going to happen?
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Dear Sir
Even if you have it, it would never bother Mr Fennel
Thanks
Rgds
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Mr. Kalmadi does seem to go into a defensive mood for each question posed which makes it apparent that there
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