Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi

The opening ceremony on the 4^th October was amazing which put up a showcase of traditional Indian culture. The aerostat lit up and hovered up to show images of all the shows and the teams entering the circuit. The main theme song was a bit of a dampener but the lofty Yoga structure showing the various Chakras in a Buddha image looked mesmerising. Contrary to all the negative press we had seen here in London the games village and the Delhi city with its new Metro was something to be proud of.

The games went all fine until the Ausies team threw a washing machine out of the 8^th story balcony their apartment block at the games village the night after they had lost in a cricket match. Typical lager lout behaviour but what was alarming was that the Indian newspapers were quite appeasing to the visitors as if they were following their home culture of drinking and throwing the odd washing machine out!  And all that after a Newzealand reporter jibed at the Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit as a Dick-Shit. He was of course made to apologise for his racist remark but it makes you think how people make mistakes in trying to get attention in a carnival type environment.

The CM, Sheila Dikshit, though did Delhi proud with these games.

Anil Bhanot  15.10.2010

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