Games chief stands by Delhi hosts

Fennell has been forced to defend awarding the Games to Delhi

Commonwealth Games chief Mike Fennell insists he has no regrets over awarding the 2010 event to Delhi despite a rush to finish venues and security concerns.

"We have to take these journeys or you will confine these events to just a few countries," Fennell told BBC Sport.

"You can't have the largest Commonwealth country make an acceptable offer and then not accept it."

The Games, which open on Sunday, have been hit by athlete withdrawals and criticism of the athletes' village.

Several teams had suggested that the standard of accommodation provided might cause the Games to be cancelled or postponed.

The collapse of a footbridge close to the main stadium and of the weightlifting venue roof increased concerns over construction standards.

But Fennell insisted the Commonwealth Games Federation had to allow local officials freedom to deliver the event in their own way.

"You entrust the organisation to an organising committee and that organising committee has to get on with the job," he said.

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"You cannot sit on top of them every day. You have to applaud their efforts but the management and systematic follow through was just not there.

"I have to say that in many countries, not just India, they do resist outsiders telling them what to do and what pace to do it at.

"People here have been very cooperative but they have their own style."

The build-up to the event has not been helped by the withdrawal of several high-profile athletes.

Jamaican 100m world record holder Usain Bolt, along with sprint rival and countryman Asafa Powell, had already been ruled out through injury.

But English triple-jumper Phillips Idowu and Scottish tennis player Elena Baltacha withdrew through fears for their safety and health respectively.

South African 800m world champion Caster Semenya and Kenya's 800m world record holder David Rudisha will also be absent.

This edition is only the third time in 19 Games that the event has been held outside of the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand or Canada.

It will be held in Glasgow in 2014 after the Scottish city defeated Abuja in Nigeria in the CGF's selection process.

Fennell described the work done by Glasgow as "very, very good".

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