Games CEO slammed by Indian media

| Wednesday September 29, 2010 00:00

Hooper has lived in India in the lead up to the Games which open on Sunday.

He has become a controversial figure as accountability is sought for the state of New Delhi's preparations.The Commonwealth Games Federation and the Indian Organising Committee appear to be fighting a blame game.

Lavish accommodation and tax arrangements have been detailed by the Times of India from documents they say show that the Organising Committee has been paying for Hooper's lifestyle.

The newspaper claims:Hooper initially stayed in a sprawling farmhouse with a monthly rental of NZ$36,423 paid by the Organising Committee. From December 1, 2008 he shifted to cheaper accommodation, another farmhouse rented at $13,659 a month. Hooper has six employees at his house with a total monthly salary of $1, 134.

The newspaper said the Organising Committee had also decided to take on Hooper's income tax liabilities during his stay in India. These had amounted to $607,448 for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 financial years.

The newspaper's TV channel Timesnow TV also reported that an annual income tax liability of $261,350 was being paid by the Organising Committee.

It also claimed Hooper has a chauffeur-driven sedan. The Times of India said Hooper was being paid a salary by the Commonwealth Games Federation in London.

The newspaper's story started: 'Michael Hooper, CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation, who has been in Delhi for the past several years, has been living it up royally even as the Games preparations were floundering.'Organising Committee boss Suresh Kalmadi wouldn't comment on taxpayers' money being used on Hooper. He said facilities provided to the New Zealander were part of an existing deal with the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Organising Committee vice-chairman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said that money spent on Hooper's accommodation and staff assisting him would be audited.

'I don't have full information about it, but it's true that Mike Hooper has been working here for a very long time.He is part of the OC [organising committee] and he should not have resorted to this. We are also trying to collect information and see how much we are spending on these people,' VK Malhotra told Timesnow. The Hindustan Times, webindia123.com and DailyIndia.com were among Indian websites carrying the same story with news agency Asian News International picking up on it. (Stuff.co.nz)