New Delhi, Nov 19: India would be using the 2010 Commonwealth Games as a platform to realise its ultimate aim, hosting the Olympics in 2020, Sports Minister Vikram Verma said here yesterday.
"It is a very big thing for us that we won the bid by a big margin. Now we have to host the Commonwelath Games in such a way that it will help us bid successfully for the 2020 Olympics," Verma told reporters.
The Minister was part of the 50-member Indian delegation that attended the Commonwealth Games Federation meeting in Jamaica where New Delhi emerged winner by claiming 46 votes as against 22 by Canadian city Hamilton.
Verma said India would propose to include cricket in the Commonwealth Games. "We will be proposing cricket alongwith tennis, volleyball, basketball and kabaddi for inclusion in the games."

Verma attributed the success of New Delhi to "team work" and thanked Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for putting his weight behind India's effort.



"We are grateful to the Prime Minister. His message was there in the video statement which was presented in the meeting. The Cabinet approval for 100 per cent financial back up was also there. All these factors weighed in India's favour," he said.


Bureau Report