Commonwealth Games Federation officials have begun evaluating New Delhi's bid to host the world's second largest multi-sport event in 2010.

A seven-member Evaluation Commission, headed by the federation's vice chairman Dick McColgan, met with Indian sports officials and discussed New Delhi's proposal for the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

McColgan and his colleagues will survey the city and inspect the venues, where the Indian Olympics Association proposes to hold the games. They will be in the Indian capital until Thursday.

"We will formulate our report by September 10," McColgan said, but added that his mandate was limited to conducting a technical review of the Indian bid. A final decision on the host city will be made at the 72-nation federation's general assembly meeting on November 13.

India faces competition from Canada, which wants to host the games in the city of Hamilton. Canada has hosted the event four times: Hamilton in 1930, Vancouver in 1954, Edmonton in 1978 and Victoria in 1994.

Indian officials, however, appeared upbeat about their chances.

"We have all the facilities. We hope to impress our friends from the Evaluation Commission," said Suresh Kalmadi, president of the Indian Olympics Association.

If Kalmadi's hopes come true, New Delhi will become only the second Asian host of the Commonwealth Games since the first edition in 1930. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hosted the 1998 games.

India made failed bids for the Commonwealth Games in 1990 and 1994, and dropped out of the race for the 1998 games in favour of Kuala Lumpur.

The only major international sports events staged by India have been parts of the cricket World Cup in 1996 and 1987 and the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. In October this year, the southern city of Hyderabad will host the first Afro-Asian Games.

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