Organising CWG is like a Punjabi wedding: Gill
New Delhi: Organising the Commonwealth Games is like holding a “Punjabi wedding” -- things will be done at the last moment but all will end well. That is how Union Sports Minister M S Gill has described preparation for the biggest sporting event in the country.
Gill was speaking to CNN-IBN's Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai when he said that preparation for the games, which will be held in Delhi from October 3 to 14, could have started earlier.
“We could have built all this stuff (stadia and other projects) twice-thrice over. We should have started earlier--what else can I say. Even the bridge to bring the athletes (to games venue) is going to be ready in August or even slipping a bit. But that we managed to take the decision after I came,” said Gill. Gill refused to blame Commonwealth Games organizing committee chairperson Suresh Kalmadi or anybody else for delays, saying there was no “single, supreme point of authority”.
“I blame nobody -- each one is supposed to deliver. The games proper--14,000 to 15,000 athletes, even their travel arrangements to India and back at our cost that has to be done by the organising committee. I, more or less, feel I have finished my job which is to get the stadia done. Anything lacking in them will be done in these coming weeks--even in your private house you need to fine tune with this and that switch. That we will do…”
Gill was asked whether the games had turned into “jugaad” (last-minute inventiveness).
“I don't know what jugaad is but we have our Punjabi weddings where you keep collecting ladoos (sweets) and flowers till midnight, but early morning somehow you get the garlands and ladoos and hope the baraat (wedding party) is happy,” he replied.
The Minister was “hopeful” that the Commonwealth Games will be a success. “I am hopeful that we will have a good Commonwealth Games but I am not God. I will look for it on October 15 when the wedding party has left and the girl (bride) has gone too happy. This is my way of looking at it,” he said.
Gill said he and his officers will act on allegations of corruption in organizing the games. “That is my duty,” he said.
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