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No to Indian animal show in Melbourne

MELBOURNE: India will not be allowed to bring tigers and elephants to Australia for next year's Commonwealth Games closing ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the organisers said on Tuesday.

Melbourne 2006 Games chairman Ron Walker said India had planned to have the exotic animals take part in a handover ceremony for the 2010 Games, to be held in New Delhi. But Mr. Walker ruled out a suggestion that elephants and tigers could appear at the MCG.

"They couldn't anyway, because they have to go through quarantine," a process that would take months, he said. "You wouldn't want tigers to get loose on the athletes, would you? The mind boggles at the thought."

India will take possession of the Games' ceremonial flag during the closing ceremony.The Commonwealth Games are scheduled for March 15-26, 2006. — AP

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