Beijing to help India

Beijing, Aug. 20: After dazzling the world with a spectacular Olympics, China said it is ready to pass on the experience it has gained from holding the event to India, which is gearing up to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Expressing confidence in India’s ability to stage a successful Commonwealth Games in 2010, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) said his organisation was ready to chip-in if required.

"If they (India) have any problem, we are happy to assist without any reservation," Jiang said when asked if Beijing was ready to assist New Delhi in its preparations to host the Commonwealth Games.

Jiang said holding high-profile sporting events enabled the host cities to greatly promote economic and social development.

Beijing, for instance, invested billions of dollars in building high-class infrastructure, including new airport, metros and highways.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in Delhi between October 3 and October 14.

Other officials, involved in the preparations for the Commonwealth Games, said the sheer planning that has gone into the Beijing Olympics has stunned them.

"The sheer magnitude of planning involved in the Olympics is mind-boggling and we would draw inspiration from the best practices followed here," another official said. — PTI