NEW DELHI, April 24: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will bid to host the 2012 Olympic Summer Games with full support from the government, Sports Minister Uma Bharti said Wednesday.

“I want the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to prepare for bidding for the 2012 games,” Bharti told reporters.

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

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.

The government has turned to the private sector to raise sponsorship and develop its sports infrastructure in a bid for more success.

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 study their preparations for hosting the 2008 Olympics.

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