India chases ultimate Olympic glory

India (in blue) have enjoyed Olympic hockey success but are now aiming far higher

NEW DELHI, India -- India is to launch a bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

The country's Sports Minister Uma Bharti told reporters the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will bid to host the Games with the full support of the government.

"I want the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to prepare for bidding for the 2012 games," Bharti said.

Although no host city candidate was mentioned, New Delhi would be the probable option.

Berlin, Madrid, Budapest and Moscow along with four U.S. cities -- Washington D.C., New York, San Francisco and Houston -- have all expressed intentions of bidding for the 2012 Games.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will decide in 2007 which city will host the 2012 Olympics. The next Summer Games will be held in Athens in 2004, followed by Beijing in 2008.

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Far from being disheartened by India's inability to win any Olympic gold medals in two decades, Indians should be inspired by Beijing's successful bid to hold the 2008 Games in China, Bharti said.

"A successful Olympic bid will help generate a sporting culture in our country, which has been curtailed by the lack of resources available to us," Bharti told reporters Wednesday after launching a partnership with industry leaders aimed at generating funds for sports development.

"I have directed the Indian Olympic Association to prepare the bid for the 2012 Olympics and the Sports Ministry will provide it full backing for this," Bharti said.

He said India would aim to build up its sports infrastructure and improve its performance in the next two Olympics to strengthen its bid.

Mediocre track record

The world's second most populous country with over a billion people has only ever won eight Olympic golds -- all in men's field hockey -- and managed just one women's weightlifting silver at the 2000 Sydney Games. Tennis player Leander Paes in took bronze in 1996.

But the lack of success on the field is not being seen as a deterrent to hosting the world's premier sporting event.

The government has turned to the private sector to raise sponsorship and develop its sports infrastructure in a bid for more on-field success and the perceived credibility it would bring.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has signed a three-year agreement with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the country's main sports body, to provide funds to help prepare for major events.

FICCI officials said they would travel to China this year to study preparations for the 2008 Olympics.

Battling the odds

The chances of India wresting a second consecutive Asian Olympiad from European and U.S. aspirants would appear slim given its recent track record in bidding for major sporting events.

Asked if India was wasting its time considering its bid for the 2006 Asian Games received just two of the 43 votes cast at the Olympic Council of Asia ballot, Bharti said: "We should not be disappointed by past failures."

"We've got to learn from China, which won the right to host the Olympics after losing the race to host the 2000 Games to Sydney."

Indian sports are mostly state-funded and sports federations often blame lack of resources for poor performances in world level competitions.

"There's no shortage of talent in India. It's us, the administrators to be blamed for India's poor record in the international arena," Bharti was quoted as saying by Associated Press. "We set aside a pittance for sports. Once this attitude changes, Indian sports will take a big leap."