Hooper’s latest: Not interested in India’s pride; only for games

Zee news

New Delhi, 27 September 2010: Already facing flak for his controversial remarks on Delhi’s population, Commonwealth Games CEO Mike Hooper on Monday once again courted controversy by stating that he is not interested in India’s pride and that his priority is to organise the games’.

 

As per reports, Hooper during a key meeting at the Games Village, said, "I am not interested in India`s pride. My priority is to ensure that Commonwealth Games go on smoothly." Hooper has also reportedly claimed that all his comments have been misquoted by the media.

 

His uncalled for remarks comes on a day when Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit took exception to his reported comments on the capital`s population. "It is really a very unkind and undiplomatic remark that has been made," Dikshit told reporters here.

 

Hooper, during a closed-door meeting on the Commonwealth Games, reportedly lost his cool after authorities rejected a proposal for closing the Games lanes and talked about the city`s "population hazard". He said that India`s vast population was responsible for the traffic snarls in Delhi.

 

 

On the preparedness for the Games, Sheila said, “We inherited it in a very difficult situation. We are working very hard." Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games Federation boss Mike Fennell today backed his colleague Mike Hooper, saying he neither blamed the Indian government for Delhi`s under-preparedness nor made any disparaging comments about Indians.

 

Fennell said contrary to media reports, Hooper or the CGF also did not demand that 24-hour Games lanes be operational on Delhi`s roads during the October 3 to 14 event. He said, "Neither he, nor the CGF, has ever demanded a 24-hour dedicated Games lane."

 

Fennell said the CGF is merely seeking to keep lanes dedicated for Games use for a specified period, as per the bid commitment. "It is standard practice that, during operational times, Games lanes are exclusively available for Games related vehicles," he said.

 

Fennell said Hooper has also been "wrongly criticised" for his comments made on Television New Zealand in which he reportedly blamed the Indian Government for missed deadlines.

 

"Mr Hooper has my full support. He has always worked tirelessly for the good of the Games. Now it is time for us all to concentrate on delivering a good Games, for the athletes of the Commonwealth and the people of India," the CGF boss added.

 

Hooper has been at loggerheads with the local Organising Committee for a long time and even had a showdown with OC chief Suresh Kalmadi a few months ago.