POST GAMES REPORT - Commonwealth Games Federation

impeccable technology, performances, scenic elements and
costumes enthralling a global audience of almost two billion
people. The Closing Ceremony was a spectacular culmination
of all the hard work and dedication of the athletes, organisers,
volunteers, participants and each and every person involved
in making the Games a success. The Ceremonies received
brilliant reviews from the national as well as international
media with the Opening Ceremony silencing all critics and
reinforcing the ability of India to host such large scale sporting
events. The Ceremonies of the Delhi 2010 Games will be
looked upon as a new benchmark for such future events.
The Ceremonies succeeded in instilling a sense of pride,
achievement and belonging in the heart of every Indian.
treated to Celebrating India - a graceful exposition of dance
from across the nation before Oscar-winning composer and
musician Mr. A.R. Rahman took his place on stage for the
Grand Finale!
The first segment of the Closing Ceremony was Agni,
a tribute to India’s sporting spirit. A total of 650 musicians
from the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy performed Military
Martial Music. Then 2010 children dressed in white came onto
the field in a Tribute to Our Motherland. This was followed by
the Athletes Parade. Flanked by Delhi United volunteers, the
athletes from across the 71 nations of the Commonwealth
came together in a Wheel of Life formation that signified the
The Opening Ceremony featured the Tree of Knowledge,
and the brilliantly-lit and colourful display was choreographed
by some of India’s most famous exponents of dance. Tabla,
Sitar and Mridangam players joined Bharatnatyam, Odissi,
Kathak, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi dancers in
paying homage to India’s famed Guru-Shishya tradition. In the
next segment, performers displayed some very complicated
asanas to depict the famous Yogic way of life Buddhist chants,
hymns, azaan and Gurbani sounded to remind the audience
of India’s famous diversity. The Great Indian Journey depicted
the Indian Railways, and the colours of India, the hustle-andbustle
of its markets, the variety of its folk culture. A homage
to the Father of the Indian Nation, Mahatma Gandhi was paid
in the segment Mahatma and Ahimsa. The audience was then
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