'Usain Bolt doesn’t know what he’s missing'

Suresh Kalmadi tells DNA that the never-ending feud between the IOA and Union sports ministry is sending a wrong signal to the world.

Just over two months left for the CWG and there are still doubts over India’s preparedness...
Let me given you an example. Till two months of the start of the football World Cup, everyone was cursing South Africa. Everything was under intense scrutiny — the infrastructure, the crime, the preparation. After the Cup started, no one could find a fault.

Till recently, all Westerners thought India won’t be able to produce a great Games and that it would be unsuccessful. But after having a look at some of the venues, their opinion has changed. One of our biggest critics, Perry Crosswhite, who is the CEO of the Australian Commonwealth Federation, has now said that these Games will be better than Melbourne (2006). Unfortunately, some of the Indians and the press are casting doubts. We should be proud of the event we are hosting. We should not be indulging in this blame game right now. However, things will be clear soon. I am not concerned because I am confident that the New Delhi event will set a benchmark.

But aren’t deadlines set for infrastructure constantly
being flouted?
Let me make this clear: Infrastructure is not my responsibility. Infrastructure is the problem of the owners of the venues — the Union sports ministry and the Delhi government. My business is to organise the Games. As the chief of the organising committee, it’s alright that the buck stops at me. If everybody wants to point fingers at me, I am okay with it.

Athletes are a bit finicky about their diet. Do you thinking banning beef can be a turn-off for some of them?
Everyone has to respect the local culture. I am sure the athletes will understand and won’t have a problem. Even Doha had banned pork (2006 Asian Games). But there are many other delicious options available. I am sure everyone will love the food at the Games.

Is there pressure from the BJP to ban beef?
There is no pressure from the BJP. It’s the decision of the organising committee of the Games.

A few big stars are giving the Games a miss. Won’t the Games lose some of its sheen?
So what if Usain Bolt and others are not coming? Like the football World Cup, we will produce new stars! We have got record entries from Australia, England and New Zealand. Bolt doesn’t know what he is missing out on, frankly speaking. The hospitality, the infrastructure, the Games village… everything is going to be world-class. Many other world-beaters, Olympic medallists and champion athletes are coming. Yes, one or two are not coming but it won’t affect the Games.

MS Gill says the Commonwealth Games Federation should bring star athletes, and not officials, to New Delhi...
Mr Gill might have said anything! I disagree with what he says. This is the department which comes under me and I know what the CGF is doing. Eventually, it’s up to the individual athletes. I assure you that all the top athletes, barring a few, will participate.

The never-ending battle between the IOA and Union sports ministry isn’t creating an ideal atmosphere before the event.
It’s really sad. The ministry is creating unnecessary hurdles like the tenure and the age issue. I have told them (sports ministry) so many times to do whatever they want to after the Games. Right now, the whole world is looking at us. Everywhere we go in the world, people ask us about this feud. We want to talk about the Games and the preparation of our athletes. However, people are asking us about the issues.

So do you feel the sports ministry is deliberately creating these hurdles?
I don’t think so. But they are continuously doing it, aren’t they? Half of my IOA colleagues are anyway involved in one court case or the other. So the ministry’s attitude doesn’t really help.

The India-Australia cricket series will be played simultaneously. Do you think that will have any impact on CWG?
We requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to reschedule the series so that everyone can enjoy the CWG, and any other sport should not be there. If the dates of the series were changed, then I would have been very happy. However, it’s okay (even though the BCCI hasn’t accepted the request). I am not particularly bothered.

Finally, what’s your take on MK Kaushik’s sex scandal?
I have already written a letter to (Hockey India secretary-general) Narendra Batra. If Kaushik is guilty, then he should be severely punished.