Yes, on Aug 26, I had posted, Incredible India will make CWG happen (read here).
I had no doubts about it after my experience of how the Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 3 became a reality despite so many apprehensions.
And as I watched the opening ceremony, I only wished I was there after having been there for three and-half months working with the Organising Committee.
Congratulations was indeed in order for a spectacular show which was saw the diversified rich cultural background of India portrayed India in the best possible way.
President Pratibha Patil, her husband Devi Singh Shekhawat, Britain's Prince Charles, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur at the opening ceremony of Commonwealth Games at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in New Delhi on Sunday.
There was so much criticism over the spending on the aerostat - the biggest helium ballon in the world to be used for the first time for an entertainment event -, but in end, it stole the show.
From the time child prodigy, even-year-old Keshav stole the limelight as he mesmerised the spectators, including President Pratibha Patil and Prince Charles, synchronising his tabla with the beat of a variety of drummers numbering over 800, it indicated that the worst was behind India.
From Auroville in Puducherry, the child prodigy's performance was part of 'Rythms of India' segment of the ceremony which was tipped as an Indian invocation of the ceremony bringing together folk drums of the country.
Beats of a variety of 800 drums -- from Pung Cholom of Manipur to Chenda of Kerala to Gudum Baja -- reverberated the stadium as spectators were left spell-bound.
The 1,000 children from various schools in the national capital performing a choreography, creating a formation of 'Namaste' (folded hands) - the sign of welcome and respect to the honoured guests from all over the world - was a true picture how down to earth the Indians are.
The students' painting images of hands with 'mehandi' on a giant cloth was simply amazing.
As the students attired in tricolour choreographed the Namaste sign, the aerostat welcomed the guests from abroad and various parts of the country in 23 different languages.
Then on, there were no looking back.
Beats of a variety of 800 drums -- from Pung Cholom of Manipur to Chenda of Kerala to Gudum Baja -- reverberated the stadium as spectators were left spell-bound.
The 1,000 children from various schools in the national capital performing a choreography, creating a formation of 'Namaste' (folded hands) - the sign of welcome and respect to the honoured guests from all over the world - was a true picture how down to earth the Indians are.
The students' painting images of hands with 'mehandi' on a giant cloth was simply amazing.
As the students attired in tricolour choreographed the Namaste sign, the aerostat welcomed the guests from abroad and various parts of the country in 23 different languages.
Then on, there were no looking back.
Never mind that a staggering US$6 million (RM18 billion) was spent for the Games to happen.
The stage has been set for the Games to begin and they now have to live up to the spectacular opening ceremony for the next 10 days of competition.
A record 6,800 athletes from 71 countries will be competing and now that the opening ceremony is out of the way passing with flying colours, they now have to ensure mechanics of the Games will go on as smoothly too.
It must be mentioned here too, that for once the athletes at a Games were actually seated after their marched into the Stadium and were part of the celebration and enjoyed the show, unless in most Games where the athletes are not there to enjoy the show put up or have to stand through long hours to watch the opening ceremony. Kudos India for taking the interest of the athletes and official to heart! After all, the Games is all about the athletes.
As the competitions get underway, there are bound to be hiccups with a Games of such magnitude, but to silence the critics once and for all, the organisers have to minimise hitches and put their best foot forward before we wait for an even more breathtaking closing ceremony come Oct 14.
Mubaarak India!
The stage has been set for the Games to begin and they now have to live up to the spectacular opening ceremony for the next 10 days of competition.
A record 6,800 athletes from 71 countries will be competing and now that the opening ceremony is out of the way passing with flying colours, they now have to ensure mechanics of the Games will go on as smoothly too.
It must be mentioned here too, that for once the athletes at a Games were actually seated after their marched into the Stadium and were part of the celebration and enjoyed the show, unless in most Games where the athletes are not there to enjoy the show put up or have to stand through long hours to watch the opening ceremony. Kudos India for taking the interest of the athletes and official to heart! After all, the Games is all about the athletes.
As the competitions get underway, there are bound to be hiccups with a Games of such magnitude, but to silence the critics once and for all, the organisers have to minimise hitches and put their best foot forward before we wait for an even more breathtaking closing ceremony come Oct 14.
Mubaarak India!
1 comment:
On a serious note are you comparing the Opening Ceremony of the Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010 to that of the Beijing Olympics?
However, I will agree with you that it is a correct depiction of India from the rickshaw to the food wallas and of course the Great Indian Railways.
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