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London Olympics chiefs have promised coaching and other expert assistance for India as it prepares to stage the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Sebastian Coe, head of the 2012 Olympic Games body, and chief of the Commonwealth Games organising committee, Suresh Kalmadi, signed a deal pledging cooperation in many areas on Tuesday.

Coe said the two sides would look to pool their expertise to ensure an excellent Games as well as medal success for their own athletes.

"We want athletes in both countries to be competing at the highest level," Coe, twice winner of the Olympic 1,500 metres gold medal, told a news conference.

"Both cities need to focus on the concept that these have to be an athlete-focussed games and you need to also think about how to present sport."

"We will get their expertise on organising, infrastructure development, volunteers, coaches and how to win more medals," Kalmadi added.

"This is the first step, we'll be discussing more."

Coe is part of a high-powered delegation taken to India by London mayor Ken Livingstone with an aim to develop cultural, business and sporting links between London and India.

Indian Games organisers have been criticised for the slow pace of building various sports venues, but Kalmadi said work on all stadiums would be completed by the end of 2009.

(Source: Reuters)