Media tangled in ‘security net’

M.S.Unnikrishnan

Tribune News Service

The media fretted and fumed as inordinate delay in security clearance held up the making and distribution of their accreditation cards for the Hero Honda FIH World Cup, to be held at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium, from February 28 to March 13.

According to a top source in Hockey India, twice the media cards were changed by the security agencies “and we can now print the card, which takes time, only after security clearance”.

The statement by International Hockey Federation (FIH) tournament director Ken Read here today only further fuelled the ire of the media persons as he “has determined that media access to training will not be possible until accreditations are active, which is expected to be on February 27.”

But the HI source said “we have taken up media access to the team with the FIH and hope to get a positive response”. Normally, the media is allowed to enter the stadium through the VIP gate, but this time, they will have to get in through Gate No 2, as per the present plan.

Late in the afternoon, a meeting of the World Cup 2010 Co-ordination Commission was held under the chairmanship of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium. The meeting was attended, among others, by IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh, Sports Authority of India (SAI) director-general Sayan Chatterjee, SAI special officer Hardip Singh Kingra, Ken Read, Hockey India secretary-general Narinder Batra, CPWD chief engineer Rajesh Kalla, Delhi Police Additional Commissioner Krishna, 2010 Delhi Commonwealath Games Organising Committee joint-director general ASV Prasad. The meeting reviewed the security arrangements and the commission “was happy with the robust on-ground arrangements to ensure that the World Cup would be played in a safe and secure environment”.

The commission discussed issues relating to media access to the National Stadium and decided that “media accreditation would be completed by February 24 so that the accredited media could attend an interaction with the teams during practice at the National Stadium on February 25”.

The commission was also happy at the brisk sale of tickets with more outlets being made available for tickets sale. Meanwhile, nine teams, including hosts India, have checked into the team hotel, which is a five-star deluxe facility very close to the stadium. The hotel has been fortified like a fortress, with access restricted.

The teams who have arrived in Delhi for the World Cup are: Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Korea, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Canada and Argentina. Germany, Spain and England are the three teams yet to arrive.

Hockey India said marketing and event management company Commune Sports and Entertaining had been appointed to assist in the organisation of the World Cup. “The IOA and the Organising Committee, Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi have lent total support to ensure that the World Cup is organised in a befitting manner”, added an Hockey India official.