The 2010 Commonwealth Games seems to have forged a new bond between disputing neighbours India and Pakistan.
First, it was the Pakistan squad that got a huge cheer from the Indian fans during the opening ceremony of the Delhi Games. And now, Pakistan has extended its whole-hearted support to India if they want to host an Olympic Games in the future.
"We would be happy if India hosts the Olympics," Pakistan's International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Syed Shahid Ali said.
However, Ali warned India that hosting the Olympics is a completely different and a much bigger prospect than the Commonwealth Games.
"The Olympics are bigger, not only in terms of the number of countries participating but also the infrastructure needed. This is a stepping stone for India and if they feel they have learnt from this and can better this, then certainly they must try for the Olympics.
The Commonwealth Games is a testing ground for India to see if they are capable of hosting big events. But at the same time, the Olympics are completely different because they are much bigger than the Commonwealth Games," he added.
Ali also rubbished reports that India had bought the Games as opposed to having won the bid, saying all the members supported India's bid to host the Delhi Games.
"India is a big country and their economy has grown so much recently, so definitely they deserved to host an important event like the Commonwealth Games. I believe that India got it on merit. A lot of people have worked hard towards getting this Games to India."
Just one Pakistani female athlete came to India for the Delhi Games, but, Ali believes that the scenario could change in the future with more women eager to take up sports.
"It is true that women were not at the forefront in Pakistan over the years. But recently, we have seen that women in Pakistan are taking the lead in almost every industry, including sports.
"We would definitely want more Pakistani women to take up various sport. But the problem is funding, and, if the government and corporates don't come forward and help, then their participation becomes difficult. The concept of commercial sponsorship is yet to take off in Pakistan so till that happens it would be difficult to send more female athletes outside the country to take part in sports," he said.
