Don't judge CWG beforehand: Mike Hooper
CEO of Commonwealth Games Federation Mike Hooper says that although concerns over Delhi's preparedness for the CWG remain, he is pragmatic and hopes that at the end, all pending work will be completed.
Below is the full transcript of his interview with Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN's weekly interview show, theDevil's Advocate:
Karan Thapar: Hello and welcome to Devil's Advocate. With just 4 weeks to go, how does theCommonwealth Games Federation regard Delhi's preparedness for the Games? That's the central issue is shall discuss today with the CEO of the federation, Mike Hooper. Mr Hooper, with just 28 days to go, are you worried by Delhi's state of preparedness or, with each passing day, your confidence levels are rising?
Mike Hooper: Look, it is fair to acknowledge that there have been issues all the way along for the delivery of these games. A lot of them linked with the delivery of the games venues which are still creating ongoing ripple effects for others to get their work done. Be it the installation of overlay, the installation of the venue based teams etc. But look, I am one who is a pragmatist. We have got 28 days left to go, we need to focus on making sure that things that matter to the athletes are put right. Yes there are issues, there have been issues and there is more work to be done. We have to recognise that we have to make sure that everyone, be it the Delhi Police, be it the Delhi Government, be it the Organising Committee, the contractors etc will have to focus on doing their job. Yes, there is still more to be done. It's going to go down to the wire. I am sure there will be issues as we go through the games and a key to successful games is ensuring that we have systems in place, as in here in India, to respond to those.
Karan Thapar: Let's look at the issues that still remain and let's start with the stadiums. The Hindu says that all is not well with Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium which is the principle stadium. The paper says several parts of the ground have either capsized or are threatening to do so and members of the Organising Committee have actually admitted to the paper that they are worried. What exactly is the situation in that key stadium?
Mike Hooper: Well, to my knowledge, there have been some subsidence due to the heavy rains etc in the grass terrier and in the middle of the track, and that's being addressed. But certainly, if there is some damage in the track itself, then it will have to be recertified by the IAAF because it was certified previously back in July. But if there is subsidence or damage on the track, that has to be looked at. Now coming back to safety in Jawaharlal Nehru and any other venue, you know, we are clearly aware of the CVC report about the a month back and the implications of that report suggesting sub-standard materials and fabricated test results. That's still a great concern to us and despite many promises made by the government agencies and others to deliver documentation to validate and verify all the building costs etc, have been met, and they are safe and fire safety certificates have been issued, and building completion certificate issued. We still don't have them. So it still remains a concern to us today. I am hopeful that based on discussions with Mr Kalmadi recently, that we will have those earlier than a week.
Karan Thapar: Have you set a deadline by which you want these safety certificates because it's a critical issue that is missing?
Mike Hooper: It's a very critical issue and one that should be easy to allay the fears of theCommonwealth Games Association. They should be there. Obviously you have got to have them; they must follow the law.
Mike Hooper: Wow, you obviously cannot occupy a venue if you don't have a completion certificate. So, people are due to arrive -- for example to the games village on the 16th of September. So I cannot occupy the games village unless there is a building completion certificate on that development.
Karan Thapar: You could be heading towards the crisis on the 16th if you don't get these certificates.
Karan Thapar: What about the track? If the track at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is damaged, as you suspect could be the case, have you got enough time to repair and certify that it has been repaired?
Mike Hooper: I understand it has been done, undertaken. Whether it has been certified, I don't know yet.
Karan Thapar: Sadly the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium is not the only one that is supposed to have problems. I am told that the Yamuna Sports Complex and even the shooting ranges are both considerably behind schedule. Is the archery field at the first and the ground at the second, acceptable?
Mike Hooper: Well I think, clearly, whatever the issues are, we have been going on about the completion of the venues and sign off by international federations etc for the field reply etc, has to occur. Now, that must be done. I mean again, look at the time we have available now, 28 days, it has to comply with all federation requirements. And if it needs signing off, it has to be signed off. They have got to do it.
Karan Thapar: Let me put it like this: just hearing you speak, there is a long list of things that need to be done, some of which are very critical as you admit it, the safety certificates for the stadiums. You do have 28 days but you have no agreed deadlines for delivery of these certificates. So, can it all happen?
Mike Hooper: Well clearly, if you don't get the documentation, you can't use the venues. If they aren't going to build in --
Mike Hooper: Then a particular may be in trouble. Maybe. But let's not speculate on that. Clearly, the government agencies are aware of what is required. The Organising Committee has said to me that early next week, they should have all of these so the sooner we get them, the sooner we can allay the fears of people on this matter.
Karan Thapar: We are at a very worrying point. We are actually, it is even possible to speculate about the possibility that one or two events could be in trouble. That is a sad situation to be in.
Mike Hooper: Well it's a concern but as I say, I still believe we will get them, and we will get them before they are put to use.
Karan Thapar: What about beyond the stadiums. The actual scoring systems, I am told, are not fully in place. I am told that the technology that will be responsible for such things as storing data, for recording timings even the cameras and communications are not finally ready. Aren't these things unacceptably delayed?
Mike Hooper: The answer to that is yes. But we are where we are. And clearly, running about like a headless chicken, panicking about it, we have to focus on getting it right, getting it right in time before the 3rd of October. Now, those who are responsible for delivering the TSR - Thomas Scoring and Results equipment etc - need to get on and do their job.
Karan Thapar: As you said there is no point running around like headless chicken. But are panic levels silently beginning to rise?
Mike Hooper: Well, I think stress levels are certainly starting to rise all around and they have been for some time but, you know, a game, we have to manage that. We have to look at the things that matter and address the things that matter, get the village right, get the transport right; get the venues right and the delivery of the sport right and get the broadcast right. They are the things, well, they are nice to haves.
Karan Thapar: Audiences listening to you will be suddenly, deeply concerned because on so many levels, so many things simply haven't happened. They are going to question whether they are going to happen in time. They are going to ask themselves whether they are going to be in an event or two that's in danger. Is it possible that, come 3rd of October, one or two things in several stadiums still maybe incomplete? And if that's possible, will that be acceptable?
Mike Hooper: Well, I don't think that will be the case. If there are minor things that need to be addressed, then obviously they will address them. But it comes down to securing the building certificates etc, completion certificates--
Karan Thapar: Let's then come to one area where even the members of the Organising Committee, although in private, admit that there are serious problems at the games village. I am told that the games village is substantially behind time. What does substantially behind time mean?
Mike Hooper: I have no idea because Mr Fennell and I viewed the games village ourselves on August 18th and at that point of time, 24 towers had been completed and handed over to the Organising Committee etc. I understand that it's a substantially greater figure today as we speak today. Needless to say though that village becomes live on the 16th of September--
Mike Hooper: Exactly. Therefore, there is a lot of work to be done. The developer, the DDA, need to get off the site and get the work completed.
Karan Thapar: In fact, let me just pick up on that thought. In exactly eleven days, on 16th of September, you could have potentially as many as 700 people coming to occupy the village. If 10 officials per country turn up, is the village in a position to receive 700 in eleven days time?
Mike Hooper: Well of course. And certainly you recall Mr Fennell's press conference when he was here on a visit. He expressed concerns about the completion of the dining and the catering facility, the main dining. And there is a casual dining facility that has been put up in the residential zone that could cater for those people if indeed is not --
Karan Thapar: --when you say casual, is that a temporary measure before the proper one is put in place?
Karan Thapar: As you said, the dining facilities and the catering facilities were a cause of concern when Mr Fennell was here in August. You know and I know that, in fact, the catering contract was finalised towards second half of July. The kitchens will be actually handed over to Delaware on 3rd of September. Can they be up and running by the 16th of September to feed the 300 or 700?
Mike Hooper: What I know after speaking to Delaware is that they need two weeks or ten days to actually commission everything to make it right--
Karan Thapar: So can they do it? Are you worried? You could have 700 or 300 people who won't be fed.
Mike Hooper: We are faced with what we are faced with and there are 24 hours in a day. It means we got to work 24 hours in a day. We have got to do that.
Karan Thapar: Beyond the catering, beyond the lack of completion certificates, beyond the safety concerns, how does the amenities and the facilities in the games village in Delhi compare with those you have previously seen in Melbourne or Sydney or even Beijing?
Mike Hooper: Well, my view, and I support Mr Fennell's comments, this village and those apartments and the spatial air, the quality of the apartments, the ratio of 2 per room, the bathroom ratios etc, assuming everything works as it should, it would be the best games village we have ever had, the best accommodation we have ever had for the games.
Karan Thapar: But the big question is that can you get the safety certificates in time, can the catering be up and running, can the kitchens be functioning and can everything be completely perfect, in eleven days?
Mike Hooper: It has to be. It's as simple as that. Unless the message to whoever is responsible, the DDA, we have the Emaar MGF, the contractors, the overlay suppliers etc. the time is what it is. The date of the games does not change; there is no question of changing the date.
Karan Thapar: Let's come to the fear of dengue. With possibly as many as 1200 cases compared to just a handful last year, with dengue widely believed to be peaking in October and with the meteorological department predicting excessively heavy rainfall in September, how do you assess the threat of dengue?
Mike Hooper: Well I think, it is well known to everybody that dengue is a seasonal problem that you have here in Delhi and in India and it's not new.
Mike Hooper: Yes of course. We are aware of that and I think it comes back to prevention is better than cure and therefore we have to ensure that in and around the games village, in and around the games venues etc all appropriate measures are taken.
Mike Hooper: When Mr Fennell was here, again in August, we communicated with the CMO -Chief Medical Officer - Bharatinder Singh of the Organising Committee and he provided us with the details of what various preventive measure have been taken. For example - the fogging, the removal of access water, the removal of debris--
Mike Hooper: We were told they were happening. Mr Fennell, there was a speculation in the media whether there should be advisory on dengue. We didn't issue and advisory. What we did was we did a report on the games, his visit on the games security etc.--
Mike Hooper: Two weeks later, I am not aware of anything around the venues. But certainly, it's an issue and that preventive measure must take place. We have been saying to people when you come here, use repellents etc. It's common sense.
Karan Thapar: Is there a danger that because of the fear of dengue, sizeable number of athletes and officials might decide not to come thus, undermining your games?
Mike Hooper: There have been lot's of speculations on lots of reasons why athletes may or may not come to the games. Whether it is performance issues, whether it is security issues--
Mike Hooper: Dengue is a concern. But, there are a lot of areas you can travel to where there are vector borne diseases, there are other things that you need to protect yourself against.
Karan Thapar: Has Delhi got enough preparations in place I am talking about: the hospitals, doctors and medicines in case, god forbid, dengue hits athletes, officials and tourists.
Karan Thapar: Are you also going to personally make an effort to check that defogging and all the other devices that are taking as precautionary measures are being taken?
Mike Hooper: Well, I will follow up on it. I am not qualified enough to know whether they have done something or not done something. But we will follow up accordingly.
Karan Thapar: Let's then come to the second big challenge you face - the challenge of Delhi's roads and the flow of traffic. I know that was an issue of particular concern when he came in August. But since then, reports of roads capsizing and caving in have proliferated. We know that the rains in September are going to be excessive and add to the problem. How do you assess this problem.
Mike Hooper: Well, we have always known right from the get go, right from the award of the games that traffic in Delhi is a substantial challenge, the one that the Delhi Police and the traffic police are working very hard to overcome, particualarly to ensure that the smooth movement of athletes and officials to and from the village, to their places of training.
Mike Hooper: Yeah, but then the proof is in the pudding, isn't it? When there is implementation. We can't speculate today and say that won't work. Certainly, on the plans that were presented to us etc, there is no reason to doubt the dedicated lanes that they won't work.
Karan Thapar: Well, I will come to the dedicated lanes in a moment's time because they are very controversial with the residents of Delhi but, first of all, are you, as far as the plans go, reasonably confident that the athletes and officials will be able to move around fairly quickly and fairly easily?
Karan Thapar: The problem with the dedicated lanes which give you comfort and assurance is that they infuriate the residents of Delhi. They are anyway beginning to dread the games; several are beginning to curse the games because of the chaos in the city. When those dedicated lanes happen from 20th of September, that animosity could rise. Does that worry you? You are coming to a city where people are fed up with the games and dreading the prospect of them happening.
Mike Hooper: I think there is a wide generalisation that you have made. I have seen surveys that say quite the opposite. Ninety per cent of the people surveyed in a particular survey, I know that they are subjective, support the games and want it to be a success in India. But look, clearly traffic is going to be an issue. We know that by providing dedicated lanes adds to it but we need to get the athletes and officials to the events on time. Now public transport is what is being encouraged. Buy tickets for the games, come to the games, free on the Metro, free on the buses.
Karan Thapar: The second or rather the third challenge that you face is the security. There is no secret that the game are a tempting target to terrorists, and according to some newspapers, they even present a tempting target to the Maoists. Are the necessary security precautions in place?
Mike Hooper: Quite simply, right from the get go, the government of India made it very clear that we will deliver safe and secure environment for the Commonwealth Games to take place and there has been nothing, in so far as the planning and interaction with the Delhi Police and others, that would suggest anything other than that. Now our own security advisers have come here on regular occasions, nine time in total and certainly from a planning perspective, have echoed the comments from the Met police and others who have made comments when they have come in, the ISGL conference that was held here in July, all saying plenty in on track. And again, you are right, it comes down to the implementation and the proof is in the delivery.
Karan Thapar: Problem is the implementation. As you perhaps know the Home Minister, just a couple of days ago, revealed that even the security agencies won't have access to the stadiums till perhaps the 8th of September and then they are going to have only one week to put their systems and arrangements in place. They wanted 4 weeks, they are getting one. Are you confident that in 25 per cent of the time they need, they can actually do the job?
Mike Hooper: Well, the bottom-line is they have to. Now the reason they delayed is obviously is that other government agencies didn't deliver the venues. So, they have to do the work. We all have had our challenges. Many of them are associated with delivering these games. What we want to see come October 14th, is the athletes saying these are successful games.
Karan Thapar: Let me put it like this. You are saying repeatedly that the things will have to happen: safety certificates have to be done, stadiums have to be completed, catering has to be ready, the games village has to be ready and now, security arrangements have to be ready.
Mike Hooper: Again, we will have to face those issues as we go through. The games team management group that incorporates all the stakeholders, that has been put in place throughout the games and as and when things perhaps don't happen, then it is putting right that counts and making sure they are fixed.
Karan Thapar: Let me put it like this. Suresh Kalmadi and Jaipal Reddy have repeatedly said that these are going to be the best ever Commonwealth Games. Do you share that confidence or would you hesitate to put it so strongly?
Mike Hooper: Ideally, I don't make these sorts of judgements. People speculate like this, at the end of the day, it's the athletes who decide whether these games are success or not. And let's ask them on 14th of October.
Karan Thapar: It's very interesting that the CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation refuses to endorse the claim of both Suresh Kalmadi and Jaipal Reddy that these will be the best ever games. There is clearly a message in that refusal to endorse it.
Mike Hooper: You can speculate as you see but we have never said it for Melbourne, we have never said it for Manchester. At the end of the day, others will be the judge.
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