Other website sections

»Sports Market Reports

»Sports Jobs

»Tenders

»Directory

»Conferences

The Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC) has been forced to defend its broadcasting rights deal with Fast Track after the beleaguered event was hit by yet more bad publicity.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s (CAG) interim inspection report pointed out that UK-based Fast Track was chosen over Sports Marketing and Management (SMAM) despite charging a higher commission on deals – thought to be 15 per cent to SMAM’s 12.5 per cent.

Australian agency SMAM had been working with the OC on sponsorship but recently had its contract terminated on the grounds on “non-performance” – a claim SMAM has dismissed.

OC secretary general Lalit Bhanot revealed it was a conscious decision to hand Fast Track responsibility for broadcasting rights because the committee did not want one agency handling both contracts.

"Fast Track is a well-known company in this field and we have to ensure the company which has the experience is given the job,” he said. “They had done it in Melbourne and other Commonwealth Games. It was a very wise [decision] that we did not put all the eggs in one basket.

"Fast Track has almost doubled the revenue we targeted. I think it's fully justified and a proper procedure was followed.

“It was a decision taken by the Board not to give both contracts to one firm despite the fact that they were charging less. But now the end result is that we have achieved double the target – we have earned more."

Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has refuted suggestions made in the CAG report that Fast Track was hired on the recommendation of three people – the CGF president and the chief executive and chairman of the OC.

The CGF said in a statement: “It is a matter for the OC, not the CGF, to ensure that the selection of consultants chosen by the OC for the Delhi Commonwealth Games follows the proper process in accordance with Indian law.

“Although the CGF supported the appointment of Fast Track, it strongly refutes any inference that it interfered in the selection process.

“Having awarded the Games to Delhi and the OC, it is for the OC to decide who it wants to appoint for any outsourced roles. The CGF flatly denies the suggestion that Fast Track was appointed solely on the basis of any recommendations that it made.

“The CGF does not deny, however, that it did recommend Fast Track to the OC. It is the role of the CGF to aid the successful organisation of a world-class Games, and in carrying out this role, the CGF, appropriately, makes recommendations based on its knowledge and years of experience in overseeing previous Games.

“The CGF stands by its recommendation relating to Fast Track, and would have no hesitation in recommending the company to others in the future.

“Fast Track has an enviable record of success, and has received ringing endorsements from others for the outstanding work that it has done in the past, including from the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, who confirmed that its ‘outstandingly successful’ relationship with Fast Track ‘surpassed our dreams’ and ‘not only met, but exceeded, all of our targets’.”