New Delhi, Nov 20 : London Olympics organising committee chief has promised to provide coaching and other expert assistance to India for successfully hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman, London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, and Chairman of the Commonwealth Games organising committee and President, Indian Olympic Association, Suresh Kalmadi, signed a deal pledging cooperation in several areas here on Tuesday.

Coe said the two sides would look to pool their expertise to ensure that the Games goes off in the best possibly way, as well as ensuring medal success for their own athletes.

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.

"The mayor of London is here with his team and he's had very high level discussions with city councillors and local members of parliament and some transport officials. They were look at the opportunities between our cities to promote engagements in sports, that's why I was so pleased to take the coaching session yesterday at the schools and at the warm up track at the Nehru stadium." said Coe.

Kalmadi said, ”They would help us in many areas like volunteer services and games organizing. We need their coaches and their expert advice in winning medals."

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

New Delhi is to stage the 2010 Commonwealth Games at an estimated cost of 70 billion rupees. Delhi beat the Canadian city Hamilton in the bid for the games.

India wants the Commonwealth Games to boost its image as a global powerhouse. The games are also likely to provide rich pickings for real estate developers. (ANI)