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India Opens Commonwealth Games With Pageantry, Tradition

   Kurt Achin | New Delhi 03 October 2010

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS

   Members  of  the public cheer during the opening ceremony for the 19th
   Commonwealth  Games  in  New  Delhi,  India, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010. (AP
   Photo/Victor Caivano)

   India  has  opened  the  2010  Commonwealth  Games in a pageant of its
   ancient  culture  in a New Delhi stadium.  Thousands of athletes from
   around  the  world  are  set to compete in the event. The gala opening
   aimed  to wipe clean several weeks of embarrassing headlines for event
   planners.
   Dancing  schoolchildren  from  all  over  India  greeted  about 60,000
   spectators  at  Jawaharlal  Nehru stadium in New Delhi, as the largest
   public event India has ever put on gets underway.
   Seventy  one  countries  and territories with close historical ties to
   the  former  British  Empire  have  sent  athletes  to  compete in the
   Commonwealth  Games.   Britain's  Prince  Charles  stood in for Queen
   Elizabeth  in  formally  launching the event. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I
   have  much pleasure in declaring the 19th Commonwealth Games open," he
   said.
   A  giant  helium  balloon hovered over the opening ceremonies, serving
   both  as  projection  screen  and  set  piece in a sweeping tableau of
   India's diversity and culture.  Hundreds of dancers performed kinetic
   tributes  to  the  traditions  of  yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism.  Artists
   created an impromptu mural depicting the nonviolent protest marches of
   Mohandas Gandhi that won the nation its independence.
   Indian  Prime  Minister Manmohan Singh expressed his nation's honor at
   being  able  to  welcome  the world. "It is a proud moment for all our
   countrymen," he said.
   The  euphoria  at  the  opening  was a sharp contrast to the spirit of
   disgust and ridicule that pervaded the Indian capital only a week ago,
   as  planners  faced  a  gamut of public embarrassments.  A footbridge
   over  a  highway  leading to games venues collapsed, and media outlets
   displayed images of filthy accommodations in the athlete's village.
   Some  teams  were  reported  to  be on the brink of pulling out of the
   games due to concerns over security and hygiene.  Those concerns were
   largely  alleviated  as  the Indian central government stepped in with
   emergency measures.
   The  Chairman  of  the  Games'  organizing  committee, Suresh Kalmadi,
   thanked  the  government  for  believing  in  the  Games. He offered a
   defiant  message  to  those  who would doubt India's ability to handle
   such  a  large-scale  event. "Seven years, 70,000 hours of effort. The
   glare  of the world's cameras. Hopes and aspirations of a billion. And
   the  determination  of  a  rising superpower. India is ready. Ready to
   host the great Commonwealth Games," he said.
   India  has  deployed  tens  of thousands of security forces around the
   games, which are set to continue through October 14.

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