Will be difficult to woo sponsors: Mattoo

Image building, wooing sponsors, getting things right and motivating officials will be A K Mattoo's priority, as he took over as treasurer of the 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee on Friday. HT reports

Image building, wooing sponsors, getting things right and motivating officials will be A K Mattoo's priority, as he took over as treasurer of the 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee on Friday.

HT Image

Speaking to HT before assuming charge of the post he had quit in January, Mattoo said the controversy of overlays, Queen's Baton Relay and sponsorship had hit the OC hard. "Because of the controversies that have surrounded the Games for a while, the morale in the OC is low," said Mattoo.

"These are difficult times. We need to motivate our officials because our prime objective is to hold a successful Games. We can't turn back now. I just pray everything goes off well."

As far as money from the sponsors is concerned, it is learnt that the Games are still short of the target by Rs 600-700 crore and, with just eight weeks to go, the OC is desperate to woo big sponsors.

Though Mattoo wasn't aware of the exact figure, he said, "First, we have to get out of this mess and find ways and means of getting money. We are short of our target and now we should seek to pick up sponsors and be open about how we spend the money. There should be no hidden expenses."

The broadcasting sponsorship, which was signed two years ago, was doing fine, he said. Mattoo felt the media's negative campaign would not help in wooing big sponsors.

"We have to think about the Games now and with little time left we have to get sponsors. We have spoken to several corporate houses, let's see how many commit to the Games," he said.

He said investigation should take place and the guilty be punished, but India should not lose focus on the Games. "We have to let the Games happen," he said.