British High Commissioner slams CWG OC for delay in payment

New Delhi, Jan 21 (PTI) A day after Sports Minister AjayMaken issued directions to pay all "legitimate" dues relatedto the Commonwealth Games, British High Commissioner RichardStagg today hit out at the CWG organisers for delay in thepayment of Rs 96 crore to broadcasters SIS Live.

Stagg sought an early resolution to the payment issue,saying that SIS Live had fulfilled its obligations under itscontract with Prasar Bharati but the British broadcaster isyet to receive its outstanding dues.

"SIS Live fulfilled its contractual obligations, againstwhich all payments should have been made by now. The companyis owed Rs 96 crore. It is not right that the company shouldbe penalised in this way. We look forward to early resolutionof this matter," Stagg said in his reaction to media reportsabout possible delay in the payment of the dues.

"We are pursuing this matter with extreme urgency. SISLive is a leading British broadcaster with over seventy years''experience of covering major international sporting events,"he said in a British High Commission statement.

"SIS Live''s coverage of the Delhi Commonwealth Games waswidely praised as first-class. The quality of the productioncaptured the very essence of the spectacular opening andclosing ceremonies and the Games themselves. It provided greatenjoyment for Indian and international audiences alike," thestatement said.

The British High Commissioner''s criticism came a dayafter new Sports Minister Ajay Maken asked the governmentnominees in the CWG OC to thoroughly verify all theoutstanding dues and ordered that "legitimate" payments bemade within 10 days to all the firms.

An Australian company which had conducted the opening andclosing ceremonies of the CWG had also threatened to file alawsuit over delay in payment of outstanding dues.