2010 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

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Template:Infobox news event Template:2010 Commonwealth Games

The opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main stadium of the event, in New Delhi, India. It began at 7:00 PM (IST) on 3 October 2010 ending at 10:00 PM (IST) displaying India's varied culture in a plethora of cultural showcases. Wizcraft was given the contract to produce the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.[1]

Guests of honour

The Dignitaries at the opening ceremony

The following were the guests that attended the opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games:Template:Div col

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Royal Family

The Prince of Wales (now Charles III, representing Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth), Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex attended the ceremony.

International guests

A total of three heads of state from outside India attended the opening ceremony; two from Commonwealth nations and one from a non-Commonwealth nation. The three head of states are Mohamed Nasheed, President of the Maldives, Marcus Stephen, President of Nauru and a multiple Commonwealth gold medallist.h.[8] Sir Anand Satyanand, the Governor General of New Zealand (the first of Indian descent), attended the ceremony as well.[6]

Alongside the Commonwealth president, attendees included International Olympic Committee then president, Jacques Rogge and Albert II, Prince of Monaco who is a member.Rogge was quoted as saying, "I think India has set a good foundation stone for the Olympics bid and a successful Commonwealth Games can help India mount a serious bid for the Olympics."[7]

Programme

A drummer performs at the opening ceremony

The opening ceremony featured aspects of India's heritage and culture in seven segments. It featured an aerostat costing U$8 million,[9] measuring 40×80x12 meters and manufactured in Oswestry, England.[10] The original plan was to have drummers on the aerostat, but the plan was cancelled.[10] The ceremony started with the Indian national anthem which was played live at the stadium. The roof of the stadium turned into orange colour and the ground was lit up with three colours of the Indian flag – orange in the center, white in the middle and green near the boundary.

Rhythm of India

Giant Puppets hang from the aerostat

The countdown for the opening of commonwealth games started as the drums were being played, and fireworks exploded from the roof of the stadium. The aerostat slowly raised from the ground to the center space of the roof while a traditional Rajasthani hymn was being played by the musicians. Various Drummers from Assam, Kerala, Manipur, Karnataka, Odisha, Punjab and Meghalaya played a symphony that aimed to be "uniquely Indian in character, yet global in appeal". Seven year old tabla player Keshav from Puducherry played the tabla instrument in front of the audience live and he was given a big applause from the audience.[11]

Swagatam

School children from across delhi performed in this segment, intricate mehndi design was painted on large pieces of cloth in 30 seconds.

Hariharan led this segment, which created an amalgamation of Hindustani classical, Carnatic and folk music. The song was composed by A. R. Rahman, who also composed the official theme song of the games, and was performed by various artists along with Hariharan. Children from various Delhi schools participated in a simultaneous performance forming hands of an Indian woman in a pose of Namaste – a popular Indian salutation. Later, they separated and rearranged themselves in another formation representing the Indian flag colors of saffron, white and green while another group of children entered the stadium and covered the flag formations with a large white cloth. In a widely appreciated act, the children then made a mehndi – a traditional Indian art – on this large white piece of cloth in under 30 seconds on the spot.Latest News Updates Template:Webarchive

Tree of Knowledge

Pt. Birju Maharaj (Kathak), Guru Rajkumar Singhajit Singh-Charu Sija Mathur (Manipuri), Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan (Bharatnatyam), Dr. Sonal Mansingh (Odissi), Bharati Shivaji (Mohiniattam) and Raja Reddy-Radha Reddy (Kuchipudi) choreographed 480 dancers bringing alive India's "Guru-Shishya Parampara" or the master-protege tradition on stage through classical dance recitals which also depicted four different seasons of India. The aerostat (the largest ever helium balloon built for such an event) formed the leaves of the Bodhi tree, while large strips elevated from the ground, made of silk and bamboo fibre form the tree trunk. After the display of classical dance, the dancers displayed yoga moves.

The Great Indian Journey

Dancers from all the states of India performed at the ceremony

This segment will give a glimpse of the lives of the masses in India, as seen through a train window. Art director Omung Kumar created a 600-ft train of bamboo sticks for this. It portrayed a common man's life and every thing in it, such as the bangle shops, politicians campaigning, Bollywood, the cycle shop etc.

Finale

Academy and Grammy award winner A. R. Rahman ended the programme with his rendition of "Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto", the theme song of the Delhi games, and "Jai Ho".[12][13][14]

List of national flag bearers

Australia entered first as the host of the last games, and India entered last as the host. Excluding these two nations, the flag bearers entered by alphabetical order of their nations; Anguilla was the first (after Australia) and Zambia was the last (before India). Each flag bearer was preceded by a woman in traditional Indian dress, each reflecting a different part of the country, carrying a placard with the country's name.

Order Nation Flag bearer Sport Total Athletes
1 Template:FlagCGF Sharelle McMahon[15][16] Netball 377
2 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Cycling 12
3 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[17] Athletics 17
4 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[18] Athletics 24
5 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[19] Shooting 70
6 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Netball 39
7 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[20] Athletics 9
8 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Swimming 14
9 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 49
10 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[21] Squash 2
11 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Lawn bowls 12
12 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[22] Athletics 20
13 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[23] Field Hockey 251
14 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Swimming 17
15 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Lawn bowls 31
16 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Gymnastics 56
17 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 15
18 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[24] Badminton 365
19 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Badminton 15
20 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 64
21 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Swimming 17
22 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Boxing 10
23 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[25] Shooting 43
24 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 34
25 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Cycling 33
26 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[26] Netball 48
27 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[27] Lawn bowls 33
28 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 136
29 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Weightlifting 17
30 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 10
31 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Netball 43
32 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[28] Lawn bowls 203
33 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[29] Table Tennis 28
34 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Shooting 22
35 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Boxing 55
36 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 5
37 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 10
38 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Boxing 30
39 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Weightlifting 6
40 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[30][31] Netball 192
41 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Table Tennis 101
42 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Weightlifting 24
43 Template:FlagCGF Template:SortnameTemplate:Citation needed Squash 22
44 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[32] Wrestling 80
45 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[33] Chef de mission 54
46 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Squash 79
47 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 22
48 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Weightlifting 53
49 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[34] Cycling 191
50 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Badminton 26
51 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 31
52 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[35] Table Tennis 68
53 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Tennis 12
54 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[36] Swimming 113
55 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[37] Weightlifting 94
56 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Shooting 4
57 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 7
58 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 13
59 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Squash 14
60 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 11
61 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[38] Athletics 40
62 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 17
63 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Boxing 22
64 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 82
65 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 8
66 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Weightlifting 3
67 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[39] Swimming 65
68 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Table Tennis 14
69 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[40] Swimming 175
70 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname Athletics 22
71 Template:FlagCGF Template:Sortname[41] Shooting 495
  • Pakistan's flag bearer was scheduled to be weightlifter Shujha-ud-din Malik. However, chef de mission Muhammad Ali Shah announced that he would carry the flag and took it from the designated flag-bearer.[42]

Spectators' response

In the opening ceremony the head of organizing committee faced embarrassment, when he was booed by the spectators at the start of his welcome speech to 60,000 spectators in the opening ceremony. The atmosphere otherwise for the teams and officials was fine, especially when they offered warm applause to the neighbouring Pakistan squad, with whom it has tense relationships. Sri Lanka also got a loud applause. The head finished his speech in five minutes and then handed over to Michael Fennell, the Chief of the Commonwealth Games Federation.[43]

Baton procession

Boxer Vijender Singh carried the Queen's Baton into the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, at the Opening Ceremony.[44][45] The baton was then passed to boxer Mary Kom, 5-time world champion.[44][45] It was then passed to Samresh Jung, who was named best competitor of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia .[44][45] It was then passed to Sushil Kumar, world champion wrestler,[44][45] who finally handed the Queen's Baton to the Prince of Wales (now Charles III).[44][46]

References

  1. ↑ Wizcraft puts together the CWG inaugural event. The Economic Times(3 October 2010). Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  2. ↑ At Her Majesty's service. Stuff.co.nz(2 October 2010).
  3. ↑ 2010 CommonWealth Games Opening Ceremony – What a Show – Mind Blasting I Say!!! « www.dilipkumar.in. dilipkumar.in. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  4. ↑ CWG critics failed to judge new India: Nasheed – Rediff.com Sports. sports.rediff.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  5. ↑ Games all set for a gala opening on Sunday. India Today. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Biography of The Right Honourable Sir Anand Satyanand. Government of New Zealand.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Games good foundation for Olympic bid by India: Rogge. Times of India(4 October 2010).
  8. ↑ Four heads of state to attend CWG opener(1 October 2010).
  9. ↑ The Aerostat: Tech Marvel or Stage Prop? – India Real Time – WSJ(4 October 2010).
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Controversy-hit aerostat lights up Games ceremony(4 October 2010).
  11. ↑ Child prodigy delights spectators. The Hindu(4 October 2010). Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  12. ↑ commonwealth games 2010 opening ceremony A.R.Rahman. YouTube.
  13. ↑ A R Rahman's grand finale with 'Jeeyo, Utho'. Times of India(3 October 2010).
  14. ↑ Rahman brings CWG ceremony to electrifying climax. Sify.
  15. ↑ McMahon named Australian team flagbearer(1 October 2010).
  16. ↑ McMahon as flag bearer boosts Diamonds(2 October 2010).
  17. ↑ ABNOC announces 2010 Commonwealth Games team | Antigua Observer Newspaper. Antiguaobserver.com(25 September 2010).
  18. ↑ The Tribune. Tribune242.com(2 October 2010).
  19. ↑ CW GAMES OPENINGRatna to carry Bangladesh flag | Sport. bdnews24.com(2 October 2010).
  20. ↑ The Reporter – Sports. Reporter.bz(24 February 2010).
  21. ↑ Tahesia arrives in Delhi, foresees great Commonwealth Games « Virgin Islands News Online. Virginislandsnewsonline.com.
  22. ↑ Nouvelles sola Template:Dead link
  23. ↑ Canada's Flag Bearer for 2010 Commonwealth Games "an inspired choice" – Corporate. Commonwealthgames.ca(18 September 2010). Template:Dead link
  24. ↑ Robertson is England flag bearer in CWG(1 October 2010).
  25. ↑ BBC Sport – Peter Jory 'honoured' to be Guernsey's flag bearer(1 October 2010). Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  26. ↑ Forbes to carry Jamaica's Flag at Opening Ceremony in Delhi. TrackAlerts(2 October 2010).
  27. ↑ 'Tears of joy' for Jersey flag bearer » Sport, Gouyette, Lauren. This Is Jersey(1 October 2010).
  28. ↑ Malaysian lawn bowls star Siti Zalina Ahmad excited about being Commonwealth Games flag-bearer. Thesportscampus.com(1 October 2010).
  29. ↑ Template:Cite AV media
  30. ↑ Van Dyk named flag-bearer for NZ Games team(3 October 2010). Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  31. ↑ Van Dyk leads NZ into Games. www.tvnz.co.nz(4 October 2010). Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  32. ↑ The Press Association: Montgomery to lead Northern Ireland(30 September 2010).Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore
  33. ↑ Pak CWG contingent hit by controversy. Thenews.com.pk(3 October 2010).
  34. ↑ BBC Sport – Cyclist Ross Edgar carries Scotland flag at Delhi Games(1 October 2010). Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  35. ↑ 55 Singapore athletes set for Commonwealth Games debut « Red Sports. Always Game. Redsports.sg.
  36. ↑ South Africa names flag bearer replacement(1 October 2010). Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  37. ↑ Sri Lanka to send 90 athletes to Commonwealth Games. The Sunday Leader(29 August 2010).
  38. ↑ Tanzania team for Delhi opening ceremony(2 October 2010).
  39. ↑ Daily Monitor: – Mugula named Commonwealth Games team captain. Monitor.co.ug.
  40. ↑ BBC Sport – Commonwealth Games 2010: David Davies Wales flagbearer(2 October 2010). Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  41. ↑ Bindra to be the flag bearer, confusion over torch bearers names. Sify.com(1 October 2010).
  42. ↑ "Pak CWG contingent hit by controversy" Template:Webarchive, The News, 3 October 2010
  43. ↑ Sport | Spectators boo chief organiser at opening ceremony. Dawn.Com(3 October 2010).
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 CBC, 2010 Commonwealth Games, Opening Ceremonies, airdate 3 October 2010, 9:00am-12:30pm (Eastern), circa 2h20m mark, CBC Television main network
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 "CWG Opening ceremony: Live Blog" Template:Webarchive, Geetika Rustagi, 3 October 2010 . Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  46. ↑ Sify Sports, "India begins medal chase after CWG opening ceremony", ANI, 4 October 2010 . Retrieved 5 October 2010.

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