The Queen's Baton Relay 2010, curtain-raiser to the XIX Commonwealth Games to be held here from October 3 next year, will be launched by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II when she hands over the baton to the Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil in Buckingham Palace in London on October 29.

Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi Chairman, Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, MP, said the launch of the Queen's Baton Relay marks a significant milestone for Delhi2010. "As the Baton begins its journey of 190,000km across member nations and territories of the Commonwealth Games Federation over 340 days, it will touch the lives of millions of people," he said.

"The Queen's Baton R

Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman, Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi, today said he would discuss all matters arising out of the Indian Olympic Association directive to repatriate Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) CEO Mike Hooper to London and the Independent Technical Review Panel with the CGF President Mike Fennell when they meet in London later this month before the launch of the Queen's Baton Relay.

Kalmadi said the Organising Committee had plans in place to ensure that it would deliver a great Games that all of India would be proud of. "We have decided that OC Vice-Chairman, Mr Randhir Singh would look after all preparations for the ensuing visit of the Co-ordination Commission (CoCom) of the CGF. He is C

Calls by the 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee for the removal from Delhi of the Commonwealth Games Federation CEO, Mike Hooper (in pic), have been rejected.

Speaking from his home back in Jamaica after his recent visit to India, CGF President, Michael Fennell, said that Hooper had a vital role to play with the Delhi Games. "We are naturally very surprised and disappointed in receiving this request to remove Mr Hooper from Delhi given his unquestionable commitment to the successful celebration of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi," Fennell said.

"I have responded to Mr. Kalmad

Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, hit back hard at the criticism levelled by Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) President, Michael Fennell at a Press Conference called in Delhi today.

Kalmadi practically declared war on the CGF rejecting their demand for the formation of an independent Technical Review Panel to report back to the CGF on Delhi's preparation for the Games. On Monday during his visit to the Indian capital, Fennell had followed up his strongly worded letter to the Indian Prime Minister with a forceful address to Commonwealth Games General Assembly, warning the organizers that, "Delhi faces an enormous challenge in being ready to host the Games in Oct

Commonwealth Games Federation President, Michael Fennell, has announced the formation of an independent Technical Review Committee of international Games' experts to fast-track Delhi's preparations to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Fennell made the announcement following the meeting of all Commonwealth nations and territories at his organisation's General Assembly in Delhi.

"I made it well known before arriving in Delhi this week that the CGF believes Delhi faces an enormous challenge in being ready to host the Games in October next year," Fennell said. "But while the CGF can express its concerns and offer its advice, it is the Organising Committee, along with the Governments of

Commonwealth Games Federation President, Michael Fennell, arrived in Delhi on Thursday to fast-track operational changes designed to deliver a successful Commonwealth Games in October 2010.

Fennell will preside over meetings of the CGF's Executive Board and all member nations, and will look to advise them on agreed strategies to address the Federation's issues about Delhi's preparedness to host the Games.

With only one year to go, Fennell is intensely aware of the tight time line that faces the Delhi organisers.

The CGF President wrote to the board of the Organising Committee in Delhi on September 13, expressing serious concern about progress across key operational areas. Fe