From correspondents in Delhi, India, 12:31 AM IST

Britain has shown its keenness to help Delhi in organising the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Addressing a UK Trade and Investment Seminar on Commonwealth Games 2010 here Wednesday, Britain's Sports Minister Richard Caborn said he believed 'with a strong personal conviction' that his country is firmly committed to supporting sport in India.

'When the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2012 Olympics (in London) have come and gone, that commitment will remain. We will stay the course because the UK wants to see sport thriving in a prosperous and successful India.'

Carbon will be meeting Indian Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and other top sports officials during his visit.

'In July, I had a very positive meeting with your Sports Minister Mr Aiyar in London. We spoke about our shared enthusiasm for building a partnership in sport through a memorandum of understanding.'

He felt an agreement like that could provide the basis for mutual assistance in building capacity of sports at the grassroots level.

'I look forward to continuing this discussion with Mr. Aiyar during my stay, and exploring how we can deepen the relationship between our two countries through sport.'

Carbon said he was keen to discuss with Indian officials the importance of sport, England's progress towards delivering the 2012 London Olympics and the 'lasting legacy' that hosting the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester has left.

'I strongly believe that sport can - and should - make a substantial contribution to transforming India's dreams into reality. Without a doubt, the 2010 Commonwealth Games will have a big part to play in achieving that goal,' he said.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)