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It?s over to Delhi now
In terms of organising sporting events, four years is but an instant. On Sunday here at the G, it was time to say "Welcome to Delhi". Four years from now, India's Capital city will host the XIX Commonwealth Games.
In terms of organising sporting events, four years is but an instant. On Sunday here at the G, it was time to say "Welcome to Delhi". Four years from now, India's Capital city will host the XIX Commonwealth Games.
Today, the symbolic "passing of the baton" took place with a traditional ceremony at the MCG. The flag party lowered the Commonwealth Games Federation flag and presented it to Lord Mayor John So. So presented it to Victorian Premier Steven Bracks who handed it over Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit. Dixit in turn gave it to IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi, who finally passed it on to IOA secretary Randhir Singh. The deed was done.
Melbourne, a throbbing, vital city that didn't sleep this past fortnight, a city whose people have given their all to make sure this Games was a success, can finally rest. As the Sacred Weird Little Guys on the stage hummed Today we've made the most of Melbourne, the moments transcended reality and everyone got lost in the moment.
As the pyrotechnics broke the spell, reality descended. "We are ready and will do better than Melbourne," Dixit had said. Will we?
Later though, it was Bollywood at its best. Amidst the blowing of conches and beating of drums, Aishwarya Rai took centrestage. As hundreds of artists captivated the G in the fast bhangraish music, Dilli dhamaal, the mascot of the 2010 Games, Shera, ascending a chariot and did a lap around the G with sporting greats like Sunil Gavaskar, Michael Ferriera, Ajit Pal Singh, PT Usha on its side.
And 11 minutes of a cultural show by Shiamak Davar's troupe had brought the ground alive.
