Commonwealth Games begins today
Preetom Borooah
NEW DELHI, Oct 2 – The capital city is ready for the inaugural ceremony of the 19th Commonealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium tomorrow but butterflies are running in the stomach of the top officials of the organising committee and Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit.
Around a lakh security personnel have been deputed at the Games Village and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium so that no untoward situation occur during the 12-day mega event. All the markets will remain close during the day of opening and closing ceremony.
It may be mentioned that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had asked the Prince Charles to represent her at the opening of the Games. The Prince will spend time with athletes from a broad cross-section of Commonwealth countries, the release added.
Beijing Olympic gold medallist shooter Avinabh Bindra will be the flag bearer of the Indian contingent. The Indian men athletes will be attired in red sherwani in the march past while the women will come out with saffron and green sarees.
However, ace Indian tennis player Sania Mirza will not be present at tomorrow’s opening ceremony as it was decided today that the tennis star should be given some rest before her mixed doubles match on Monday. Sania and Leander Paes are seeded second in the mixed doubles event and will open their campaign against Nykita Stacey Roheman and Alberton Richlieu of St Lucia.
The three-hour opening ceremony will start at 7 pm which will have two-minute showcasing India as a country and it will be followed by 45-minute cultural show.
The Queen’s Baton will be carried to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium by Vijendra Singh, Mary Kom, Sushil Kumar and Saina Nehwal and it will reach the stadium at 8.25 pm.
Source: The Assam Tribune
