ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
New Delhi: A day after former sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, a member of Rajya Sabha, slammed the Commonwealth Games organising committee for giving $100,000 to all participating countries, the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) said it did accept a payment from India during its bid to stage the Commonwealth Games but strongly deny it was a bribe.
Aiyar, a vocal critic of Commonwealth Games and organising committee chief Suresh Kalmadi, Tuesday claimed bribes had been paid to other countries so that India could win the right to host the games.
Aiyar criticised the decision to give $100,000 each to countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada so that India could host the Games saying these nations did not need the funds.
In its statement the NZOC said the allegation by Aiyar is misinformed.
"The funds referred to are preparation grants that have been officially sanctioned by the Commonwealth Games Federation as part of Commonwealth Games bids for both the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games," NZOC communications Managers Ashley Abbott said in a statement.
"These preparation grants are provided to all Commonwealth Games nations on application. Each of the potential host cities for the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games included a preparation grant as part of their bid proposals.
"The Delhi grant has been used by the New Zealand Olympic Committee to contribute to the expense of preparing and sending a team to the Commonwealth Games. The Glasgow grant will be used in a similar manner," the statement said.
New Delhi: A day after former sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, a member of Rajya Sabha, slammed the Commonwealth Games organising committee for giving $100,000 to all participating countries, the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) said it did accept a payment from India during its bid to...
New Delhi: A day after former sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, a member of Rajya Sabha, slammed the Commonwealth Games organising committee for giving $100,000 to all participating countries, the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) said it did accept a payment from India during its bid to stage the Commonwealth Games but strongly deny it was a bribe.
Aiyar, a vocal critic of Commonwealth Games and organising committee chief Suresh Kalmadi, Tuesday claimed bribes had been paid to other countries so that India could win the right to host the games.
Aiyar criticised the decision to give $100,000 each to countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada so that India could host the Games saying these nations did not need the funds.
In its statement the NZOC said the allegation by Aiyar is misinformed.
"The funds referred to are preparation grants that have been officially sanctioned by the Commonwealth Games Federation as part of Commonwealth Games bids for both the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games," NZOC communications Managers Ashley Abbott said in a statement.
"These preparation grants are provided to all Commonwealth Games nations on application. Each of the potential host cities for the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games included a preparation grant as part of their bid proposals.
"The Delhi grant has been used by the New Zealand Olympic Committee to contribute to the expense of preparing and sending a team to the Commonwealth Games. The Glasgow grant will be used in a similar manner," the statement said.
Leave a Comment