New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) today (Nov 19) urged the Government to create a special fund of Rs 6,000 crore to enable the athletes to finish in the top bracket in the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be hosted by New Delhi.

"The CWG bid will give boost to Olympic sports in India. But it will be meaningful only if a six-year programme to develop Olympic sports is initiated latest by April next year," IOA president Suresh Kalmadi told reporters.

"The Government should create a special fund of Rs 1,000 crore per year for the purpose so as to finish among the top in the medal tally at the Commonwealth Games 2010."

Kalmadi said he will be meeting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee soon to apprise him of the requirements.

IOA secretary Randhir Singh said the Games will provide India the perfect stage to bid for the Olympics.

"I have got messages from some senior members of the International Olympic Council (IOC) congratulating us for winning the Commonwealth bid," Randhir Singh said.

"They said they are looking forward to India hosting an Olympics. I am quite sure that we will be getting the Olympics in 2016."

The Sports Minister had yesterday (Nov 18) said that India would bid for 2020 Olympics but Randhir Singh said IOA was interested in bidding for the 2016 edition first.

Kalmadi said the Games will offer a lot of business opportunities to the country and millions of Dollars would flow in.

PTI