New Delhi:
In an exclusive interview with NDTV, CEO of Commonwealth Games Federation, Mike Hooper spoke about what was done and what could have been done to avoid the brickbats the Commonwealth Games had to face.
Following is the complete transcript of the interview.
NDTV: Despite the Prime Minister stepping in and calling in an emergency meeting, there are rumours across India that the Commonwealth Games are in such a mess that they may be postponed or may be even moved out to another country. Is there any basis to this or is the situation still salvageable? Joining us now is the top official of the Games Federation in India, Mike Hooper.
(Watch: The complete interview) Mr. Hooper, let me start by asking you what all Indians want to know and something you said till yesterday you could not guarantee - are these Games on, and are they on as scheduled?
Mike Hooper: Most definitely they are on and on as scheduled. Clearly we have had some issues that needed to be dealt with, some very serious issues and we continue dealing with them. We have seen that since this matter regarding the Games Village, for example, residential zone became public on September 20, we have seen a lot of activity, a lot of good commitment being made by the Government of Delhi, the Organising Committee and a huge amount of effort has gone in and I would have to say after the meeting with the Chief de Mission today, that I denote and I think I have denoted correctly, a clear indication that everybody wants to make this work and everybody is working together to get the result that the athletes deserve and that is to get a Games Village that they can be proud of, a Games Village that provides a safe and secure environment in which they can prepare for their competitions.
Now a lot of progress has been made and I have to be fair on that and similarly there are still things to be done and that has to be equally acknowledged and has been acknowledged by Organising Committee, and also the CGA's themselves. Now, Mr. Fennel has arrived here this evening and we will be visiting the Village tomorrow morning. He will meet with the Chief de Missions, the team leaders, he will hear any further concerns they have. In a meeting today, attended by the Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and many of their senior officials, the Delhi Government made a commitment to provide whatever is necessary, that needs to be done will be done, and as an example of that there were some 50 senior Delhi Government officials to assist and be responsible to people who have authority to deliver and Mrs. Dikshit made it clear to all team members , all advance parties' management teams that they can be assured that these things can be done. And that is reflected effectively, for example, the Australian management team moving into the Village today. Today, I have also seen a media release by the Welsh team saying they will attend as per schedule.
I think we are starting to see a sea change and hopefully we are going to see a clear response to the concerns for the CGA, which were absolutely valid, and there is more work to be done, and that commitment has been given and I look forward to seeing what has transpired in the last 24 hours.
NDTV: But Mr. Hooper we still haven't got a commitment from several countries that they will be coming - New Zealand seems to have postponed its arrival, Canada has postponed its arrival, the Australian Prime Minister is speaking of the security concerns - can you be sure that no country will be pulling out of the Games?
Mike Hooper: At the end of the day I can't speak about individual countries, they have spoken for themselves. All I can say is that everything possible is being done. It is quite correct that we shouldn't have been in this situation, there's no denying that... the Organising Committee, all the authorities feel the Village should have been delivered much earlier. If you can recall that the CGF coordination commission sounded warning bells and in fact in the media release put out at the time, spoke of the key issues that needed addressing and in fact Mr. Fennel, when he was here in August, stated that finishing touches needed to be made and of course that included all the cleanliness etc and all of this has come to fruition. As I say they were all real and the concerns are not all gone yet , they are still there but a lot of effort has gone in the last three days since the matter has gone public and Mr. Kalmadi has put out his media release and a letter to the Cabinet Secretary and I think the attention this has received has helped get focus and resolution and yes, there is more to do but yes, I personally think it will be done and we will see the teams participating.
NDTV: But Mr. Hooper you yourself are on record talking about the Games Village which is now come to be such an embarrassment to so many Indians, you said on record, let me read this out to you, saying that the international zone , the dining area and the other facilities provided here are better than that of the Games Village in Beijing. And five days later you went public and we all have seen those horrific pictures of the village being filthy and unlivable. So what changed for you in five days and why did you initially describe the Village as better than Beijing?
Mike Hooper: First and foremost that is an incorrect statement. I never said it was better than Beijing, others made those sort of comments. I did not see the Village in Beijing, so it is pretty difficult for me to say it was better than Beijing. You can go back to your tapes, scan them and check them. What I did say in relation to the international section was that it looked fantastic, the facilities, the main dining hall they delivered on 16 September is excellent and I stand by that statement. What I did not make any comment on is the residential zone. Obviously this issue was known to us at that time, we were working internally to have it rectified, and what I did say quite openly and honestly and I have said it before and Mr. Fennel has said it before, that this village has the potential to be one of the best Villages we ever had. So in that regard I did not make that statement and if you can find me on tape saying that, then I will eat my words but I did not most certainly say it.
NDTV: But does that mean that when you did talk about its potential, you were not aware of the dismal state the residential quarters were in or were you aware, just not telling us about them at that time?
Mike Hooper: Well quite simply, with all issues we are working with the Organising Committee authorities and Delhi Government, we were all - the CGA, CGF - we were aware - we became aware on the evening of the 15th when we went through the Village. We raised it with effect from the 16th , we were given undertakings at the time that matters will be addressed by 19th, and the reality is that they weren't and therefore a level of frustration from the CGF perspective, from the CGI perspective, boiled over. I was keeping Mr. Fennel fully informed, he had been in conversation with Mr. Kalmadi at the time, but they weren't addressed adequately and we are pleased that since we went public on the 20th, we have seen significant progress since then. I was in the Village this morning, and as there had been no heavy downpour, the sun was shining, and it was looking quite tidy. There's more to do, that's acknowledged by both parties. Mrs. Dikshit and Mr. Kalmadi made some commitments and we are seeing action on the ground now, and the CGA's are working in tandem with the Organizing Committee and the Delhi Government to get things right.
NDTV: But till Tuesday, only 18 out of 32 towers in the Village were complete. Given that there are less than 10 days, do you believe, even with Sheila Dikshit's people on the job, that it can be completed on time? Will some athletes end up staying in hotels?
Mike Hooper: No athletes will end up staying in hotels. The comment of 18 out of 32 odd - those comments were made by others. Clearly the Organizing Committee has to deliver a consistent standard of Games Village to all teams. There is not a grade for one and a grade for others. So a consistent standard has to be maintained. Obviously the Organising Committee is aware of the arrival times of different contingents and it will, I believe, fulfill that commitment to have their quarters ready. It is working hard to do so, as I say Mr. Fennel will be visiting tomorrow and will form his own view about the level of improvement. Since the reports and the comments that came out on the 20th, a lot of effort has gone in the last three days and more work is required and I am of the view now that with everyone is working together, the commitment of Mrs. Dikshit and senior Delhi officials to supervise and have the authority to act wherever it is necessary to put things right, will be put right. Mr. Fennel, who hasn't seen it for some time, will see a change from this morning to the morning on Friday.
NDTV: Do you believe that there are still serious gaps between what needs to be done and what has been done because you have spoken how a lot of work still needs to be done. Where is that gap? Is it in the Village? Is it with the security concern? Is it with infrastructure? Where are the gaps still?
Mike Hooper: Look, as far as the infrastructure is concerned, as you know that about the competition venues etc there has been a lot of debate and we have expressed our concerns that authorities should have completed these earlier. They made a commitment to do so, we have seen a lot of debate on this in the media, and unfortunately it didn't happen. The Organising Committee received the sign off on the venues, the occupation and completion certificates on the 6th of September and I'm not defending the Organising Committee but in fairness, it does make it difficult for them to familiarize themselves with the venues, to get their people in and to get what is necessary for the operational activities in such a short period of time. The Delhi Police are saying the same thing about them being ready. Regardless, we are where we are and everybody has to step up and get the work done as the Games start on the 3rd of October.
NDTV: Mr. Hooper, the media is filled with reports about the fiery meeting of the Organising Committee in which you and Suresh Kalmadi crossed swords again, not for the very first time, that Mr. Kalmadi was upset with you for going public with your views on the village and essentially how he believes that as the head of this organization, who was been in India for three years, you too must take part of the blame, do you accept that?
Mike Hooper: Not at all. You must remember that the CGF is a team of five people - we have five people! The Government of India, the Delhi Government, the IOA made a commitment to the Commonwealth and members of the Commonwealth in 2003, that if you award us the Games this is what we will deliver, these are the obligations we accept and we will make it happen. We accepted that commitment and we have a host city contract that says that the implementation and delivery of all those promises and to the standard that they will be delivered are contractually bound to the Delhi Government and the Government of India. We didn't have the resources to deliver that and so that comes down to the host. We pass on all the rights associated with the games to that host. What we try to do is to support and work with the Organising Committee and where needed challenge, but ultimately to get the work done and to do it, that is the responsibility of the stakeholders here in India. Now the reason why the Games are awarded seven years before is because there is a huge amount of work to do, we hear the Minister of Sport talking about the monsoon approaching and that is unacceptable and the reality is that seven years is a lot of time for work to be done and but the venues did not start on time and they were delivered late and had they started earlier we wouldn't have been in half the predicaments arising in the previous months.
NDTV: Mr. Hooper many would find that a rather aggressive position to take as they may argue that you have been attending all of the meetings of the Organising Committee. Are you categorically saying that the culpability and the responsibility is that of India and India alone and you and the federation not at all?
Mike Hooper: Absolutely.
NDTV: So when you participated in these meetings in the capacity of the big official, the Big daddy of the Games in India, what do you see as your responsibility?
Mike Hooper: Look the CGF Federation awards the Games to the host, the host signs a host city contract that outlines the commitments and promises they have made. India has however made a massive investment in organizing these Games and I am hopeful that will come off and that we can look back at all these dramas that have happened in the last few months or so, and the athletes look back and say that it was a success and a thoroughly enjoyable experience but at the end of the day, the responsibility for delivering on the obligations and promises made, sits with India. Certainly our job is to work with and to try and get things done but ultimately the responsibility lies with the Government of India, The Organising Committee and the Delhi Government.
NDTV: So you would say tomorrow that the buck does not stop here, with you or the Federation, it stops with Suresh Kalmadi and the Government of India?
Mike Hooper: It stops with all the stakeholders. We have awarded the contract as we do with any Games. Even the IOC doesn't have the power to implement and deliver an Olympic Games, which is why this has a very similar structure. Quite simply the commitments on delivering the Games sit here with the stake holders here in India and there is no doubt about the level of commitment made by those parties.
NDTV: You spoke about the Sports Minister having a monsoon wedding approach to the games and that being unacceptable. Have you been disappointed with the Sports Minister's response?
Mike Hooper: Well, I think the reality is that you can't take a monsoon wedding approach that everything will come together at the last minute for a major event like this. It's systematic planning, collaboration with all the various stakeholders involved, government agencies, their contractors - it is such a massive task putting on a multi sport event like the CWG, Olympic Games or the Asian Games. You know, personally I was not happy with the comment made but it was made and well reported at the time but we all have to work together, we are where we are, everyone realises the magnitude of the job ahead of us, there are some challenges and I'm sure there will be more but we have to have in place a system as we go through the Games if anything goes wobbly then we have the mechanism to fix them and certainly the Organising Committee working with all the stakeholders has certainly put in place a Games Operations Centre that will operate 24/7 to address issues as they arise. It also has for any issues that can't be addressed at that time, a Games Time Monitoring Group which encompasses all stakeholders to make fast track decisions. Mrs. Dikshit and Mr. Kalmadi's commitment is there and we now have to see the delivery come through.
NDTV: You said that the buck stops with all the stake holders. Do you not see yourself as one of the stakeholders?
Mike Hooper: We are the event owners but we do not have the capacity to put the event on - that commitment sits with the contracted parties that is as I explained, the Delhi and Indian Government, the Organising Committee and the IOA. We have a staff of five worldwide. We have to be realistic that we cannot put it on and that is why we have a host city contract, which is that we look to the contracted parties to deliver on the commitments made to the broader Commonwealth and to welcome the athletes and hopefully we will see a very successful games come 3rd of October.
NDTV: Did you and Mr. Fennel find huge political intervention wanting? Did you find the intervention that has now come from the Government of India, should have come much sooner and much quicker?
Mike Hooper: Look, I am not going to comment on that. We are where we are and everyone is working together and pushing hard from the highest levels of Government to the various agencies etc. We can all look back and in hind sight say that things could have been done sooner, the collaboration should have been better and things could have come together but I am quite happy to see the engagement of the Government at the highest levels, the cabinet Secretary, the Prime Minister, as you know that is what is needed.
NDTV: But do you believe Mr. Hooper that while you are a team of five and the primary responsibility lies with the host, do you believe you and Mr. Fennel should have sounded the alarm much sooner than you did?
Mike Hooper: Well with the greatest respect to that question, we have sounded the alarm many times. What is your memory Madam, when you look back 12 months ago when Mr. Kalmadi was trying to get me thrown out of the country? We have sounded the alarm many times with regards to the preparation. I don't want to delve on the past. 12 months ago even earlier Coordination Committee's Chairman, Mr. Seely had said that time is not your friend and all these sorts of things. So to say that we have not raised alarms is ungracious on your part because even as early as May this year and October last year, when Mr. Fennel made the comments he did and Mr. Kalmadi and company effectively tried to get me thrown out. One thing I am absolutely sure about is that we all want the same thing - the Government of India, Mr. Kalmadi, Mike Hooper, the CGF, Mr. Fennel, etc - we want to see a successful Games and that is what we are working towards.
NDTV: But now that you have spoken openly about the worst kept secret about the Organising Committee, namely you yourself saying Mr. Kalmadi wanted you removed and how much has that friction impeded the working and progress of the games.
Mike Hooper: The relationship I have with Mr. Kalmadi is unchanged. We are very open and candid with each other, it is a robust one. We understand that we understand each other's point of view to put forward on behalf of the CGA and the CGF and to point out where the gaps are between the promise and the delivery. Look, we are working together, we have differences of opinions - any family does and we are wanting the same results, as successful Games.
NDTV: Has not the friction between you and Mr. Kalmadi affected the Games adversely?
Mike Hooper: I don't think so. At the end of the day we have openly stated, we have voiced our concern over the venues, Mr. Fennel used the term 'distressed' when he was here in December last year. We effectively as the clients of India in regard delivering against the promises that are made, are saying that this is what you promised, these things need to be done and clearly at times there is going to be friction.
NDTV: Do you believe that there was a leadership crisis and that if there was a different leader at the helm things would have been different?
Mike Hooper: Look, I am not going to comment on that type of a situation. The reality is as has been said before, I think even by the Prime Minister that we can look back and say that this could have been done better, this should have happened that should have happened, this is the structure that we should have had but we all need to work together and make it happen.
NDTV: One last question Mr. Hooper, Mr. Fennel - at this crucial juncture what are the issues that he wants to flag?
Mike Hooper: Look that is a question you must put to Mr. Fennel. This issue over the Village was a deal breaker and if you don't get a Village, you don't get a Games. You know, fortunately as I said earlier in this interview there has been substantial progress in the last few days. We thank the Organising Committee and others for that and there is more to be done and that is acknowledged and Mrs. Dikshit will assist and do whatever. So let's see what tomorrow brings and what Mr. Fennel thinks of the Village and the progress that has been made since the earlier reports and take it from there but I'm not going to speculate what might be.
NDTV: Now Mike Hooper, you are saying that the Games Village could be a deal breaker? With countries like New Zealand coming with their own cleaning teams, does that mean that the Village still stands between the Games happening and not happening?
Mike Hooper: No no, you misinterpreted. What I said Madam, without a Village clearly you don't have a Games. Now there some very real issues that have arisen and we are working thorough that- the CGA's and CGF with the Organising Committee and Delhi Government. There has been good progress over the last three days and I thank them for that and there are more things to be done, resources have been added and as I say Mr. Fennel will make his own assessment tomorrow when he sees the Village.