XIX Commonwealth Games – Athletics ruled the CWG opening ceremony by Ram. Murali Krishnan

New Delhi, India – 3 Oct 2010 – Athletics, the mother of all sports, once again on the limelight as a big number of track and field stars took centre stage as “flag-bearers” of nations and territories belonging to Commonwealth.

As the athletes marched on to the Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in a colourful opening ceremony for the XIX Commonwealth Games, 20 of the 71 participating teams were led by eminent members of athletics fraternity.

Swimmers (7) and Weightlifters (7) took the next spot.  Five each from Boxing, Shooting and Netball besides four athletes from Lawn Bowls, Squash and Table Tennis had the honour for their respective teams.

Nigerian Table Tennis star Faith Obiora, represented the Elite Athletes with Disability, was traversed on a wheelchair and become the cynosure of all eyes as the crowds applauded loudly in support of the athlete.  Unlike in the Olympic Games where a separate Paralympic competition used to be held immediately after the Summer Olympics, the Commonwealth Games brings in athletes of all abilities under one roof.

Three athletes represented Badminton and Cycling, whereas one Gymnast, Wrestler, Tennis player and a Hockey exponent did the same for their respective squads.

Kenneth Pereira, the skipper of Canadian hockey team, was a very proud man as he carried the flag with Maple Leaf at JNS.   His parents originated from Goa.

Abhinav Bindra, the ace Indian shooter who won a gold medal in the Beijing Olympics two years ago was the flag-bearer for hosts India.

Popular among the flag-bearers from athletics sport include the reigning World steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi (Kenya), 2007 World University Games silver winning hurdler Kurt Couto (Mozambique), distance runner Dieudonne Disi (Rwanda) and Ghana’s world championship finalist sprinter Aziz Zakari.

Earlier the President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil has inaugurated the Games in the presence of Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and heads of various International Sport Federations including IOC President Jacques Rogge and Commonwealth Games Federation chief Mike Fennell.   

The athletics competition of the Games will be held from October 6 to 14, with 13th being a rest day!

Indian national television channel Doordarshan, the host broadcaster, and a number of other casters like BBC are beaming the Games live to their respective territories. 

Interested persons may also follow the Games on Internet by log on to www.cwgdelhi2010.org while the start-lists and results can be obtained on the Info page https://results.cwgdelhi2010.org/en/Root.mvc/  

Ram. Murali Krishnan