From correspondents in Beijing, China, 09:00 PM IST

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Wednesday signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) with the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) in an effort to improve the sporting standard of the country.

The DOSB will send at least one expert every year to India in a specific discipline. The content and the duration of the project will be decided after consultation with the IOA.

The DOSB will also support the Indian athletes for international coaching programmes of the German Athletics Federation, the German Football Federation and the University of Leipzig, an IOA statement said.

The MoU also states that under the athletes' exchange programmes, the two national sports federations will encourage participation in competitions and training sessions.

IOA President Suresh Kalmadi, and DOSB President Thomas Bach, signed the MoU that will last for four years until 2012.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)