THE PRESIDENT OF the Commonwealth Games Federation has said that there is still “a lot of work to be done” before the games begin  in eight days time.

Mike Fennell toured the much-criticised athletes’ village and met with officials from the Indian government on Thursday and Friday before stating that he holds the organising committee directly responsible for the state of facilities. “I hold the Organising Committee directly responsible and they need to answer.”

“There’s still a lot of work to be done, to do the final touches, and there’s more work in the village. It’s not over yet,” he told a press conference before adding that he had been heartened by the “considerable improvements” in the accommodation for athletes recently.

Chairman of the organising committee Suresh Kalmadi responded by shifting the blame towards governmet agencies whioo he says did not do enough to prepare the venues.

“The role of the Organising Commitee is the conduct of the Games. I am not involved in the construction. Construction is not my responsibility. Yes, monitoring is my responsibility. As OC chairman, we take all the blame on us. But venues were handed to us late,” said Kalmadi, who faced with a barrage of questions from the media at the swanky Main Press Centre of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, as reported in the Hindustan Times.

Kalmadi was still confident that all facilities will be ready for the beginning of the games though.

“We still have eight days to go and we will in another couple of days finish all the work. There were some problems with some of the towers and the cleaning up is being done. We are trying our best. You talk to me after the Games.”