Commonwealth Games: Hooper's Delhi dilemma

Michael Hooper's diary in Delhi could look something like this: Anti-terrorism (tick). Security (tick). Politics (tick). Telling it like it is (tick). Maintaining the Commonwealth Games status (tick). Eating fiery curries (postponed).

As far as global sports administration jobs are concerned go, Hooper has one with levels of stress that bring a fire in the belly unrelated to anything accompanied by the word vindaloo'.

For the next 10 months, up until and after the opening on October 3, Hooper's job as chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) will be a challenge.

The 50-year-old has held the role since December 2000, after moving on as boss of the New Zealand Olympic Committee. Most days he negotiates his way through the organised chaos of Delhi into the cacophony of the Connaught Place business district as it whirs into mayhem.

It's a long way from growing up as part of a family of nine children in the Manawatu.

Recently his quality control role has been riddled with controversy as Hooper, renowned for being a straight shooter, comes up against local political power.

Suresh Kalmadi, the chairman of the Games' organising committee, demanded his sacking for what he claimed was incompetence and delaying tactics. That's after Hooper helped set up an independent monitoring committee - at the CGF's cost - to oversee the slow pace of preparations. Hooper says they have reached a practical peace, for now.

"My response is that, quite simply we're going to focus on the issues, get on with the work and continue to assist - because the reality is there's a lot to be done. It's no secret we're behind schedule."

It stems from early October when the completion date for a number of venues such as the cycling velodrome, aquatics centre and rugby sevens ground was extended by three months to March 31.

Is it a real cause for concern? Not really, says Hooper: "So long as they can demonstrate a degree of readiness when we come through formally with the co-ordination commission on December 14.

"The time frame from the start of April to the end of September still gives us six months, so we're not panicking. If you go back to Melbourne, [the Commonwealth Games there in 2006] even some of their venues weren't ready until three or four months before.

"The MCG, for example, underwent hundreds of millions of dollars worth of renovations but we only had a month or two before that was ready.

"The village is something else we'll get an update on. It's important we keep monitoring and querying. To be fair, there's been a lot of Indian government funding, including an increase of 1620 Crores ($500 million) added to the budget recently for operational delivery, broadcasting, venue construction and infrastructural programmes."

Hooper's had the backing of the CGF Chairman and President during the time of crisis. The president of the NZOC, Mike Stanley, has also waded in on his behalf after his October visit to Delhi for the General Assembly.

"He's known for speaking his mind and he's done that. He hasn't shied away from asking the hard questions to make sure the event is delivered on time and to a certain standard," said Stanley. "That has upset some people but he was in a difficult position and needed to push and prod to make sure athletes get the best Games possible.

"It's a situation that shouldn't have presented itself to the CGF to start with."

* * *

From an athlete's perspective, defending 1500 metres champion Nick Willis has a couple of off-track goals he wants actioned.

"My number one priority is that my wife is safe and can have a good time as a spectator. If we're not able to get her into the village, I want to make sure she's taken care of for my peace of mind. That means good public transport systems, secure hotels and clean food and water.

"It's a bit of a coming out party for Delhi hosting a major international event on this type of stage. Hopefully I'll get a few tikka masalas and vindaloos down me afterwards. I won't be taking any gambles beforehand though."

Hooper acknowledges one of the biggest concerns is the security risk following the March gunmen attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in Pakistan and the Mumbai terrorism episode just over a year ago.

"We're all aware we live in a crazy world and these issues receive a lot of attention. But the Delhi police have done an excellent job moving people between venues thus far.

"With terrorism, you also have to look at London being awarded the Olympics in 2005 and the day afterwards suffering the [July 7] bombings. It can happen anywhere. "While there are a lot of crazies, there's been a lot of information-sharing with the other agencies at the highest level, like London's Metropolitan police and New Zealand's force. "There are four tiers of security to pass through at venues and the manpower is significant - 85,000 sworn officers and 30,000 paramilitary types."

* * *

Another issue for Hooper is talk of the Commonwealth Games becoming an anachronism as a sporting, cultural and social gathering, given the dilution of Britain's influence, post-Empire.

Ironically India can be seen as a prime example with its changing of the old colonial place names alone - like the recent transition of Bombay to Mumbai, Calcutta to Kolkata and Madras to Chennai. The Empire is losing its hold and the Games seem increasingly out-moded to many.

Hooper acknowledges that the days of the Raj are long gone in India but doesn't believe the Commonwealth Games have lost impetus. He cites plenty of evidence to the contrary, including the actual physical growth of the event and how administrators have worked to make it more relevant.

"We're investing a lot more to help the organisation communicate. There's a knowledge transfer programme, we captured everything that happened in Melbourne so it was available to help plan for Delhi and Glasgow [in 2014].

"Sure you can't cut and paste it but it's a heck of a head start. We have seminars through the seven years after Games are awarded where experts deliver addresses on areas like transportation or technology.

"We're also proud of our sustainability and growth. For instance there were two bids for 2010 with Delhi and Hamilton [in Canada] then three for 2014 with Glasgow beating out Abuja [in Nigeria] and Halifax [in Canada] whereas Melbourne was a one horse race.

"I think we owe a debt of gratitude to Malaysia for reinvigorating the event at Kuala Lumpur in 1998 when they pushed for the inclusion of team sports like rugby sevens and netball - which made it more relevant to the Commonwealth. It was a turning point for the movement, so hopefully we're compared less often with the Olympics."

Willis is also an advocate of the Games continuing for the pragmatic reason they provide Kiwi athletes with an introductory step to top competition and learning how to win, something he can vouch for with the 1500m gold at Melbourne which later translated into Olympic silver at Beijing.

"There's a lot of history behind it," he says. "Just look at 1974 and the John Walker-Filbert Bayi showdown or Dick Tayler taking out the 10,000m on the opening day."

"I think it's important to carry the tradition on and Melbourne did such a fantastic job in 2006. "We filled the MCG every night. I hope Delhi's the same. I know I'll be sacrificing many [IAAF] Grand Prix events to be at my best for October. "It's a worthy cause and gives you an end of season goal which is more important than just running for prize money."

That sort of response will be reassuring for Hooper as he looks to back up his three-year secondment with tangible success to reinforce the value of the movement.

He also has a couple of other aspirations.

One is finally to master India's curries, reaching beyond his current spice comfort zone of naan bread without breaking into beads of sweat. He says it's a throwback to his meat and two veg' upbringing.

The advantage of not partaking fully is that he's yet to sample Delhi belly'.

The other is searching for his own gold medal in the sport' of auto-rickshaw driving. Auto-rickshaws are the small motorised buggies that efficiently weave people around Indian cities such as New Delhi's seething government precinct.

"I need to get some of the guys together from the office for a few races on those things. They're a lot of fun."