Indian to bid for 2012 Olympics

India is to put in a bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

The sports minister, Uma Bharti, has asked the Indian Olympic Association to start preparing the bid, which she said would have the full backing of the government.

India failed in its bid to host the Asian Games in four years' time, but Ms Bharti said India should not be deterred by previous failures.

The International Olympic Committee is due to decide in three years' time who should host the 2012 games.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service