Organisers of the Delhi Commonwealth Ga-mes were accused on Tues-day of owing companies millions of dollars and blo-cking equipment used for the opening and closing ceremonies from leaving India.
Several companies, including the one in charge of the ceremonies which cost around $50 million, said they were yet to receive final payments and had been unable to re-export their own equipment since the Games ended on October 14. “This is a scandalous situation. I find it outrageous an organising committee behaves like that,” said Ric Birch, who has organised ceremonies for Olympics and Commo-nwealth Games since 1982.
“The behaviour of the organisers and Indian government agencies has been so shameful that any international company must beware of entering into any business contracts with Indian government agencies. We have written to everyone from Games organisers to government officials to the International Olympic Committee member for India and we have received no reply. Not one of them replied,” Mr Birch said. Among those contacted in correspondence seen by Reuters are J.J. Thompson, special adviser to India’s Prime Minister, Games chairman Suresh Kalmadi and Games chief executive Mike Hooper. Only Mr Ho-oper replied, telling Mr Birch he was unable to contact the organisers. —Reuters