The beleagured organisers of the Delhi Commonwealth Games have appointed a German to head their media operations.
Stefan Thies, 52, well-known to athletics journalists as part of the organisers of the annual Berlin Golden League meeting who worked as media director at last year’s world championships in the German capital, was named today as Delhi’s director of press operations for the Games which begin in October.
The key appontment comes much later than would normally be expected for an event of the scale of the Commonwealth Games. Accreditation will not open until April.
The Delhi organisers have come under attack from India’s politicians over spending and delays in preparations, while reports over the Christmas holidays – strongly refuted – suggested that England would not be sending a team because of fears over lack of security.
Thies, the managing director of Hamburg-based Mixedzone agency, has moved to the India, where he will be contactable from January 10 at: s.thies@mixedzone.com and by phone: +91-95-60207476 or +44-79-24578269.
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