New Delhi:
The government is worried about the pullout of star players from the Commonwealth Games but the Organising Committee says one or two withdrawls would not make any difference.
The Sports Ministry and the OC came out with completely contrasting viewpoints as Olympic Champions Usain Bolt, Shelly Ann Fraser and Chris Hoy announced that they will give a miss to the October 3-14 Games.
Sports Minister M S Gill feels the Games would lose sheen if star players like Bolt would not compete but OC Chairman Suresh Kalmadi says it makes no difference if one or two players decide to miss it.
"We have read in paper this one is not coming, that one is not coming. Let me tell you that the biggest squad ever is coming from every country. Australia has confirmed 700 entries and England 500 which is highest ever.
"If one or two do not come, it does not matter. The Games will go on, the best of the world are coming and new champions will be created," Kalmadi said at the inauguration of the Swimming Complex.
However, Gill was very disappointed with the decision of the athletes and said he would ask CWG President Mike Fennell to bring those players to Games and would also raise the matter at the meeting of the Sports Ministers of the Commonwealth nations on October 4.
"Star athletes have slowly drifted away from the Games. It's not at all good. I want to tell Mr Fennell that don't bring your officials here but bring stars like Bolt, Fraser, Hoy and others with you.
"I'll raise this issue before them definitely. If these stars failed to turn up, then all our efforts stand waste. People would say that if only you and Suresh (Kalmadi) were to run then why you spent so much," Gill said.