Sacking CEO will only undermine our confidence in Delhi: Fennell

Fennell wrote: “I have for acknowledgement your letter of October 14,2009 sent via e-mail to me concerning the request of the Indian Olympic Association for the CGF to withdraw Mr Michael Hooper,our CEO from his posting in Delhi. We are naturally very surprised and disappointed in receiving this extraordinary request in view of Mr Hooper’s unquestionable commitment to the successful celebration of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Mr Hooper is indeed an outstanding Chief Executive and leads the CGF management team very well,he is totally dedicated to the Commonwealth Games Movement and we consider that such a personal attack on him is unwarranted.

“We cannot accede to your request for the removal of Mr Hooper and furthermore this would not solve any of the critical problems we are facing. On the contrary,it would create severe problems of confidence in the ability of the organizing committee to deliver the games successfully. However as we will be meeting in London on October 28 and 29 we can discuss your concerns in more detail and to ensure that our attention is focused on the major issues relating to the organisation of the Games and how best to repair the inadequacies that currently exist.

“It has also come to my attention that your comments about Mr Hooper have been made public and as such I am compelled to make my response public as well…Please let me know if you will be available to have a discussion on this matter on the morning of October 28 in London.”

Kalmadi,meanwhile,was insistent. Speaking to Shekhar Gupta,Editor-in-Chief of The Indian Express,on NDTV 24×7’s Walk the Talk,he said: “We cannot have him (Hooper) here for sure. He has been here for two years but has not been as effective and helpful as expected. In fact,he has been a great hindrance… He has been shouting at the staff and given no advice on anything. We cannot concentrate on any work with him around here.”

Fennell also issued a press statement in which he rejected Kalmadi’s demand that a proposed independent Technical Review Panel of foreign experts not be constituted to oversee Games preparations on a monthly basis. “I made it clear when I was in Delhi that time is short,that no day can be wasted. We will implement the Technical Review Panel as detailed,and urge the organising committee to embrace the use of Games experts to fast track systems required for the Games operation,” Fennell said.

He stressed his position on the hiring of foreign experts to manage certain aspects of the 2010 Games: “It is standard practice for major Games,such as occurred in Beijing and as is occurring in Vancouver for the Winter Olympic Games. The goal is to conduct a Commonwealth Games that India can be proud of,setting itself up for other Games in the future,so as to take advantage of its new sporting infrastructure.”

When contacted,Hooper told The Indian Express that he thanked Fennell and the CGF for standing behind him. “This whole episode was all nothing but a knee-jerk reaction by Mr Kalmadi,who felt that the measures we had asked for were in some way a personal affront to him. That wasn’t the case at all. He reacted by launching a personal attack on me that was completely unnecessary,” Hooper said.