Au Revoir Commonwealth Games
By Dr Arvind Kumar
The Commonwealth Games 2010 came to spectacular closing in a dazzling ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on 14 October 2010. The giant aerostat displaying the Indian tri-colour reflected India’s success, in both staging the event and excelling on the field of play.
At the 12-day Commonwealth Games that India made an unprecedented medal haul and earned number two position in the medals tally. The Indian competitors breached the formidable hundred barrier, bagging 101 medals in all. India eventually more than doubled its medals tally of the previous Games, in Melbourne, by taking 101 medals including 38 gold medals. It had finished fourth in 2002 and 2006.
The athletes, being ambassadors of their nations, bring the varied cultures of the Commonwealth nations into closer contact. The early qualms that in Delhi, these ideals may not be realised have been proved baseless. The closing ceremony was as spectacular as the opening, with most of the sporting events in the 11 days in between going off without a hitch. At the end, sport was the winner. The CWG did create public interest in new sports in a country where attention is usually fixed on cricket.
(Photo by courtesy – Adnan Abidi/Reuters)
Fireworks exploded over the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium during the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony in New Delhi on 14 October 2010.
