Delhi will deliver 'outstanding' Games: Oz minister

Australia today said it was sure that Delhi would deliver an "outstanding" Commonwealth Games and the "challenges" of the past few months would be forgotten.

Australia on Sunday said it was sure that Delhi would deliver an "outstanding" Commonwealth Games and the "challenges" of the past few months would be forgotten.

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"I am sure that all the challenges of the past months would be forgotten and Delhi will deliver an outstanding Commonwealth Games," Australian Sports Minister Mark Arbib said on Sunday.

He was addressing a ceremony to kick-start Australian government's official business networking programme called 'Business Club Australia (BCA) India 2010' coincideing with the Games.

The programme is expected to help in generating business opportunities around the Games through business matching, strategic meetings, networking events and a corporate hospitality programme, BCA officials said here.

Arbib announced that later this week, a sports development programme will be launched in India for people from disadvantaged groups and suffering from disabilities.

"I will officially launch Australian sports coverage programme for grassroots sports-based development in India targeting disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities," he said.

The Australian Minister said in his meeting with the officials in India the two sides have discussed ways to expand their ties through sports.

"In my meeting with Indian Sports Minister M S Gill, we talked to build closer ties between the two countries through sports like cricket and hockey but also in lesser-known ones such as weightlifting and shooting, in which they do so well and will do well in these Commonwealth Games," Arbib said.