Commonwealth Games

Successful Games will boost India’s Olympic hopes: Rogge

A successful Commonwealth Games will provide India the foundation to think about a future Olympic bid, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge said on Sunday.

In the Indian capital for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games later on Sunday, Rogge told Times Now news channel he expected the multi-sport gathering to be a success.

“I think everything will be fine. Of course you can only judge the organisation at the moment of the closing ceremony but I think it’s going well,” the Belgian said. “There is still a difference between Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games. The size of the Olympic Games is bigger, there are more athletes and more sports.

“It’s more complicated organisation but I think if the Commonwealth Games are a success, which I believe they would be, it’s a very good foundation stone to think about the possible conduct of the traditional (Olympic) Games.”

The Delhi Commonwealth Games have been hit by one setback after another. Corruption, mismanagement, hygiene and security issues tainted the build-up to the Games but Rogge said they would still be considered a success if the athletes were happy.