The Standpoint

KALMADI: THE SHERA IN ‘CHAINS’!

By

Karan Deep Singh

Commonwealth Games: Kalmadi rejects technical review panel-15^th October (The Times of India), Defiant Kalmadi asks Games CEO to leave- 16^th October(The Times of India), Fennell rejects all OC demands, Kalmadi stays firm- (IANS) Oct 16, Fennell rejects all OC demands- (IANS) Oct 16, Kalmadi stays firm, Gill meets Kalmadi, looks to solve crisis- (Indian Express), Oct 20. The man has been in the headlines of national dailies and has made it to almost all television news reports due to his haughty behaviour and that of an extremely forward thinking man as far as his vision for the Commonwealth Games 2010 are concerned.

From the letter sent on 13th September in which CGF chief, Michael Fennel had expressed serious concerns over the Organising Committee’s ability to host the mega-sporting event up to the standards set by the last two editions of the Games in Manchester and Melbourne to his personal attack on CGF CEO, Mike Hooper in Delhi and his reaction to the setting up of a technical review panel by the CGF, Mr. Kalmadi has had something or the other to say about almost everything.

With a political career spanning from 1978 after becoming the President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress to becoming a member of parliament (Rajya Sabha) in 1982 followed by becoming a member of Lok Sabha in 1996, his list of achievements and work profile have been explicitly published on his own website (sureshkalmadi.org). But it seems the man has recently stumbled upon heavy criticism after taking on the job of the Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Commonwealth Games 2010 to be held in Delhi next year.

The Chairman of 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee recently rejected the Commonwealth Games Federation executive board's decision to set-up a technical review panel to monitor preparations for the Games calling it an ‘avoidable burden’. Facing widespread criticism for the lack of preparedness for the Games that start exactly a year from now, Kalmadi said, “There is no need for a separate monitoring agency. If they want they can add some technical experts to the coordination commission which is already monitoring the Games’ work”.

In an interview with Shekhar Gupta on the NDTV show ‘Walk the Talk’, he spoke about his infamous row with Mike Hooper going to the extent of saying: “He has been a great hindrance. He has been shouting at our staff. He threw keys at one of them. Besides, we have not got any advice from him…we can’t have him here. That is for sure!” While being asked about Athletics being in deep mess, something other than the progress about Commonwealth Games infrastructure, he nonchalantly assured: “We will do well in the Commonwealth Games. In the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, a number of people did well in athletics.”

When asked to elaborate more about himself, he said: “I was always keen to be a politician.” And now a sports administrator! Responding to a tough question- You may have played sports in the academy, but you are not a sports expert. Is that something that bothers you, he said: “I am the president of the Olympic committee for the past 10 years. I have always made sure that the secretary is a technical person. This combination works because the president has to collect money.”

Another question that seemed like a slap on his face- Can you tell the distance between two hurdles, he answered: “I can’t. That is for technical people to say.”

After all his demands being rejected by the Commonwealth Games Federation, Executive Board, he has been asked to push the dust under the carpet and get working by the Sports Minister, MS Gill. This seems like the growling tiger has been finally chained. Why not concentrate on your work Mr. Kalmadi except showing us all what you’ve been doing extremely good at- talking in thin air?