New Delhi, October 03: The biggest sporting extravaganza to be ever held in the country, the Commonwealth Games-2010 begins in Delhi today amidst unprecedented security. The games would see the largest participation of sports persons in the history of the Commonwealth Games as more than 6700 athletes and officials from 71 nations will vie for honors in 17 sporting events.
The Queen’s baton will reach its final destination, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the venue of the opening ceremony today. It continued its journey through important places in the national capital including the Games Village yesterday. The Baton will be received by the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles who will read The Queen’s message.
President of India Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil and Prince Charles will declare the games open. The opening ceremony will begin at 7 pm with hosts of the 2006 Commonwealth Games Australia, leading the march past followed by other countries in alphabetical order. India will be last with as the hosting country with its only gold medalist in the Olympics, Abhinav Bhindra being the flag bearer.
The 2-hour cultural extravaganza will highlight the rhythms and ragas of India to be performed by over 7,000 artistes including the top names from the Indian music industry including A.R. Rahman and Shankar Mahadevan.
The highlights of the opening of the games will be an Aerostat that will prop-up images of leaders, important monuments and themes representing various periods in Indian history. AIR correspondent reports that hosts India have the largest contingent of 619 athletes, 379 men and 240 women who will compete in all the 17 disciplines.
The Presidents of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed and President Marcus Stephen of Nauru are among the dignitaries who will be attending the inaugural ceremony. The guests also include New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, Monaco’s Prince Albert II. Also present at the ceremony would be International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge.
Prince Charles of Wales who will represent Queen Elizabeth of England at the opening ceremony and Duchess of Cornwall paid a courtesy call on the President Mrs. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil yesterday.
Ahead of the commonwealth games an unprecedented security has been put in place in the capital. The Indian Air Force will provide air cover to thwart any terror attack and thousands of armed personnel have been deployed across 41 games related infrastructure, including competition venues.
The Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal has said that a multi layered and multi dimensional arrangement has been made after thorough examination of all aspects. He said that there is no specific input about any terrorist attack on the games but the police is keeping strict vigil over the city.
Home Minister Chidrambram inspected the Commonwealth games village to take stock of the security arrangements.
He also visited residential complexes and spoke to senior officials in charge of security of the village. A number of guidelines have been issued and these will apply to all visitors and there will be no relaxation and no exception will be made for anybody. The spectators and visitors have been advised to reach the venues well before time. No one will be admitted without a ticket or an accreditation card together with the ticket.
For the Opening and Closing ceremonies, the visitors are requested to take their seats according to the ‘block’, ‘row’ and ‘number’ printed on the ticket. For the other Games events the entrants will be guided to the ‘block’ mentioned on the ticket, in which they must take their seats. Only a few vehicles with authorized ‘vehicle access passes’ will be allowed to go up to the designated points in the games venues.
The Home Minister Mr. P. Chidrambram inspected the Commonwealth games village yesterday to take stock of the security arrangement.
The News Services Division of All India Radio will bring six special bulletins of five minutes duration each in Hindi and English during the Commonwealth Games from today to the 14th of this month. The Special News bulletin in English will be available at 1210 hrs, 1610 hrs and 1910 hrs and the Hindi News bulletin will be on the air at 1205 hrs, 1605 hrs. and 1905 hrs. on FM Gold Channel. There will be Commonwealth Games special coverage in all major bulletins.
All India Radio, Delhi will broadcast programmes on Commonwealth Games, 2010 on Rajdhani channel MW 450.5 metres and additional frequencies and FM Rainbow till the 14th of this month. AIR will broadcast live commentary on the opening ceremony of the games from 1850 hours to 2100 hours today and highlights of the opening ceremony from 2200 hours to 2230 hours.
–Agencies