Livingstone, Sebastian Coe, head of 2012 London Olympic Games body, and Chelsea football club's chief executive Peter Kenyon are part of a high-powered delegation visiting India with the aim of developing cultural, business and sporting links between London and India.
Indian Olympic association president Suresh Kalmadi announced in April his intention to start work on the bid for the 2020 Olympics after staging the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
The effort to host world class sporting events would enhance the opportunity for Delhi and London to develop a relationship and strengthen social, cultural and economical bonding, Livingstone told the “Host Cities: Unlocking Opportunities” conference.
Livingstone and Coe met with the 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee in Delhi to share expertise in hosting two of the world’s most prestigious sporting events.
Livingstone said: “London and Delhi are both preparing to host world-class sporting events, this provides a major opportunity for us learn from one another and also to celebrate the strength and importance of the relationship between the two cities.
Coe said staging the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games would provide the opportunity to establish a new era in sporting, cultural and trade relations and cooperation between London and Delhi. “The fact that both our cities are hosting consecutive Games will build upon the increasingly close and collaborative relationship between our two countries.”
