Grand and Spectacular Opening Ceremony flags off the 2010 Commonwealth Games at Delhi

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

03 October 2010:  Proving the critics and sceptics wrong regarding the ability of India to conduct successfully any major sporting event in  light of the controversies and allegations of corruption against the Games Organising Committee, the long awaited 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG)took off with a grand and spectacular opening ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru  Stadium, Delhi on Sunday, 3rd October 2010  at 7 pm that was witnessed by over 60,000 spectators.

 

After the arrival of the dignitaries including the President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Patil and Prince Charles representing the Queen of England, Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh and other guests,  the Indian National Anthem was played following which the show began with fireworks and lights. Thereafter, drummers from different parts of India including Manipur and Kerala manifesting their skills and huge puppets with strings attached to the  aerostat performed dances in the  centre of the stadium.

 

Hariharan sang the song ‘Swagatam’ along with school children performing to the tune. Later the children painted mehndi underneath the white cloth which could be seen from above.

 

 

Following the performance by Hariharan, the athletes parade began with the 2006  CWG host, Australia leading  the march past. Thereafter the other Commonwealth countries marched into the stadium in alphabetical order, India, the present host country being the last one in the march past. The Indian contingent of 619 athletes- 379 men and 340 women was led by Olympic Gold Medalist Abhinav Bindra as the flag-bearer.  When the Indian contingent entered the stadium there was loud round of applause to the athletes. The President, Prime Minister, other guests and the entire crowd giving them a standing ovation. Athletes from most of the countries marched in their national dresses. The flags and names of the countries marching in to the stadium were  projected on the outer side of the aerostat afloat in the centre of the stadium which could be viewed by the  spectators.

 

 

Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, Chairman of the games Organizing Committee in his introductory remark thanked the Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former Prime Minister for the Commonwealth Games being hosted in India and pointed out the benefits of holding these Games in India. Mike Fennel, President of the Commonwealth Games speaking at this juncture said that the athletes from 71 countries would compete not only for the medals but will   play in the best traditions of the sportsmanship. He also said that 15,000 volunteers have pledged their support for the successful conduct of the CWG. He thanked the people of Delhi for their hospitality.

 

Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh addressing the gathering said, ‘Welcome to India, welcome to the games’ and conveyed his best wishes to all the athletes. He emphasised on sportsmanship and brotherhood.

 

The Queen’s Baton that had travelled throughout the Commonwealth countries was brought into the stadium by Vijender Sing the Indian Boxer and finally handed over to Prince Charles by another Indian athlete Sushil Kumar the wrestler. After receiving the Queen’s Baton, prince Charles read out the message from Queen Elizabeth II. In the message the Queen said that she sends the best wishes to all the athletes. After reading out the message from the Queen, Prince Charles declared the Commonwealth Games open.

 

Addressing the gathering Mrs. Pratibha Patil, President of India said that sports has been a powerful bridge and everyone would  see human endeavour at its best during these Commonwealth Games. She also said that India is a country with diversity but tremendous unity. At the end she declared that the  Games have opened and said loudly “Let the games begin..”

 

Following the declaration of the opening of the Commonwealth Games, the CWG Federation Flag  was brought into the stadium by the military personnel to the sound of the military band and was  hoisted which will remain there till the end of these games. Thereafter, Abhinav Bindra took the oath on behalf of all the participating athletes of the CWG.

  

Following the formal declaration of the opening of the 2010 Commonwealth Games,  the history and tradition of India was presented,  first through the tree of knowledge with the Bodhi Tree rising and the ‘guru-shishya’ tradition with verities of dances  right from Odissi , Bharata Natyam, Kathak, Mohini Attam to Kuchipudi. It was a brilliant showcase of Indian dances directed by experts in respective dances.

 

One of the prominent Indian cultural traditions, Yoga was presented next.  Tribute was paid to the common man of India as seen through the train journey. The scenes that one comes across usually included Bollywood songs to politicians seeking votes to rickshaws and cycles, dabbawalas, chaiwallas, sweetmeat sellers, bricklayers, folk dancers from Rajasthan to koli dancers of Maharashtra and other verities of activities of common people from different parts of India.

 

Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi was paid with the artists drawing the picture of the Dandi March. This was followed by showcasing India’s folk dances from different regions. Meanwhile fireworks were also displayed. Commonwealth theme song “Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto” was then presented by music maestro-A. R. Rahman. Then he continued with the ‘Jai ho..’ song from the film ‘Slumdog millionaire’.

 

The opening ceremony was indeed a great show and it is hoped that the next 11 days will provide an excellent treat to the sports lovers of this country with thrilling sporting competition. There is great expectation from the large contingent of  the Indian athletes that they will put up sterling performance and make India really proud of not only staging the Nineteenth Commonwealth Games successfully but also   winning maximum number of medals.