Hyderabad: Asserting India should be in the forefront in international sporting arena, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on December 22 said the Centre would extend all financial help in promoting sports.

"The Centre will not lag behind in spending money on promotion of sports and it is my desire to see India in the forefront," Vajpayee said while addressing the concluding ceremony of the 32nd National Games here.

Pointing out that in modern sports, a lot of equipment was needed for training sportsmen, Vajpayee said he was told by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu that he had imported some equipment and more were needed to prepare teams in various disciplines.

"Andhra Chief Minister is prepared to spend more money and I can also say that the Centre will not lag behind," he said.

"There are many things that divide the country but sports is one sphere which unites it," Vajpayee said.

"Sports does not discriminate...it does not see colour…it has a strong power to keep the country united," the Prime Minister said.

PTI