New Delhi, Thursday 05 Aug 2010: Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill on Wednesday chose not to make any remark on the recent controversies surrounding the Commonwealth Games.

After inaugurating the upgraded sports facilities at the Jamia Millia Islamia, Gill said he would make a statement regarding the alleged corruption charges against various authorities in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

He hoped that in spite of all the hurdles the Games would be conducted successfully. “The Organising Committee is doing its duty. The officers are there who are working on different issues, they would do their duty. Our target is to properly organise the Games first,” Gill said.

Despite media reports on the poor quality of construction, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the infrastructure built for the Games was “as good as the best in the world” and would contribute to making the Capital a “world class city.”

Jamia Millia Islamia will be the practice venue for table tennis and rugby 7s during the Games. The existing infrastructure with the university was upgraded at a cost of Rs.42 crore.

The multi-purpose hall was refurbished by changing the roof, reinforcing the walls, changing the flooring, improving the facade and installing air-conditioning, lighting and acoustics. The impressive hall has four electronic scoreboards. The cricket ground of the varsity has been upgraded for rugby 7s practice. The lush-green ground has a new drainage system, a re-laid turf, floodlighting and a synthetic walking track.

The Sports Authority of India has identified the varsity as one of its extension centres.