Commonwealth Games chief Mike Fennell has defended the decision to award the Games to Delhi.

Games organisers have come under fire over the rush to complete preparations at venues and the standard of accommodation in the Games Village.

And a string of high-profile athletes have voted with their feet by opting to pull out of the event.

But Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Fennell insists he has no regrets over choosing Delhi to host the Games, which open tomorrow.

“We have to take these journeys or you will confine these events to just a few countries,” Fennell told BBC Sport.

“You can’t have the largest Commonwealth country make an acceptable offer and then not accept it.

“We have a Games here where a country is learning and we accept that. We are not on a perfect curve. My big hope is the athletes will enjoy the Games and leave with good memories.”

The Games move to Glasgow in 2014 and Fennell said the work done by Glasgow already was “very, very good.”

“After this huge learning experience we will move on,” he said.

“We will go to Glasgow and we will work with their organising committee to iron out problems we have experienced here.”