New Delhi: The CGF CEO Mike Hooper on Thursday refused to take any blame for the mess in which the Delhi Commonwealth Games finds itself, saying India alone is responsible for all the problems surrounding the mega event.
Hooper said the prime responsibility of delivering the Games lies alone with India.
"Absolutely. India has made a massive investment in trying to deliver the Games ... But at the end of the day the responsibility for delivering on the obligations, promises made sits with India," Hooper said.
"Certainly our job is to work with (OC), get things done.
Implementation and delivery is the responsibility of India the Organising Committee, the government of India and government of Delhi etc.," he told NDTV.
The Games were almost pushed to the brink of disaster but the participating teams are coming up with assurances that they will soon reach the national capital of India for the Games.
A shooting incident in which two Taiwanese were injured, a collapsed overbridge just outside of main venue Jawaharlal Nehru stadium and falling of tiles from the false ceiling at the weightlifting venue and heavy criticism of the Games Village have spoiled the build-up to the Games.
Before that construction delays and corruption allegations had hurt the preparations badly.
Hooper lashed out at Union Sports Minister M S Gill for his earlier statement on the tardy preparations for the Games.
"We have heard Minister of Sports talk about Monsoon Wedding approaches. That's unacceptable. The reality is, we gave them the Games seven years before. A lot work had to be done," he said.
Gill had said that like disorganised arrangement in an Indian marriage - just like in the movie Monsoon Wedding - we will have a grand Games.
"Ultimately to get the wok done and to do it is the responsibility of the stakeholders here in India. There is a reason why the Games are awarded seven years ahead and that's because there is a huge amount of work to do," Hooper contended.
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