Blair congratulates India for successful Commonwealth Games bid

London, July 7 (UNI) British Prime Minister Tony Blair has congratulated India for winning the bid to host the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, saying that sports helped in bringing people from different walks of life together.

Mr Blair welcomed India's Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar at the Trafalgar Square to attend the first anniversary of London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics yesterday.

Also present on the occasion were Tessa Jowel, Britain's Culture Secretary, and London's Mayor Ken Livingstone.

Aiyar visited Manchester on Tuesday to study the facilities made available for the 2002 Games. He also met Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell and Chairman of the Organising committee of the London Olympics 2012 Sabestian Coe.

UNI XC PM DS1526