2010 Games: Kalmadi's total surrender

New Delhi: After a lot of tough talking, Suresh Kalmadi seems ready to make peace with the international organisers of the Commonwealth Games. In fact, Kalmadi, who is in charge of getting Delhi in shape for the Games, has dropped both the conditions he had earlier declared non-negotiable.

Speaking to NDTV's Barkha Dutt, Kalmadi says Mike Hooper, earlier described by him as "useless" and an "impediment", is no longer a pariah. "Well, he should be helpful to us you see that is the main thing. And if he promises to be helpful to us I am sure I can give him another try," offers Kalmadi, adding that it is up to Mike Fennell to decide Hooper's fate.  Fennell is the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). He has already said he will not sack Hooper, the CEO of the Federation.

The other bone of contention for Kalmadi was that an independent committee would be set up to review Delhi's progress in the Games. Last week, that was unacceptable to him. Now, he says, "We have not opposed the independent body coming. We have only said that combine it with the Co-ordination Commission which will be visiting this December so that there is no duplication or complication of authority. But whatever Mike Fennell wants we should do it."

International organisers led by Fennell have said publicly that they are worried about Delhi being behind schedule in its preparations for the Games. In a bitter war of words last week, Hooper announced that describing Delhi as unprepared "is the understatement of the year".