The Hindu : Sport : Opening ceremony

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 10, 2007
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Opening ceremony — a virtual treat

A. Vinod

An opportunity to promote unity, peace and goodwill among the people

— Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

A MOSAIC OF COLOUR: Amid tight security arrangements, former Assam sportsperson Bhogeswar Barua lights the torch to signal the beginning of the National Games in Guwahati on Friday. Militant outfit ULFA on Monday withdrew its call for boycott of the games.

GUWAHATI: The journey for Assam whilst preparing for the 33rd National Games has been one filled with many obstacles. Lack of finance, insurgency-related problems and flash floods, forcing the State administration and the Indian Olympic Association to postpone the 10-day mega event twice.

But then, having surmounted all these problems with determination and finesse, the much-awaited Games opened in a grand manner on Friday that showcased the rich tradition and cultural heritage of the host State in all its glory.

The five-hour-long ceremony despite its rather lengthy duration was nevertheless a virtual treat being conceived and crafted with rare ingenuity and presented with cool precision even as the UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, inaugurated the event in the presence of the Assam Governor, Ajay Singh, the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil and a huge galaxy of Ministers, senior bureaucrats and sports officials.

Entertainment

Fabricated in such a way to ensure that there was never a dull moment, the show as such was segmented into three parts, what with the drummers and the pipe band of the Assam Police providing entertainment to the early arrivals before leaving the arena open to the dancers and school children to keep the show going in full blast prior to the start of the protocol part of the ceremony.

Here again, the emphasis quite deservedly was on precision as the show began with three IAF helicopters showering marigold petals on the sizeable gathering at the Indira Gandhi stadium, Sarusajai, and this being followed by a daring sky-diving display by nine paratroopers of the Akash Ganga team, again of the IAF.

Focus on Rongmon

The welcome song, the lyrics of which were originally set to music by the legendary Bhupendra Hazarika and rendered mellifluously by Khagen Mahanta and his troupe did indeed bring about the solemnity of the occasion before the arrival of `Rongmon', the Games' mascot, had the huge throng in raptures. This was followed by a brief display by various dance troupes and the march-past of the teams.

— Photo: R. Ragu

IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY: Rongmon, the mascot, along with Manas Robin (second from left) and his troupe, performing at the opening ceremony of the National Games in Guwahati on Friday.

The Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, as he welcomed the participants of the Games, stressed that sport should inculcate competitiveness, discipline and more importantly should serve as a vehicle to promote peace and harmony among the various sections of the Indian society.

Ms. Gandhi, in her inaugural address, also touched upon the long way that the country had to traverse before emerging as a sporting nation.

The National Games, she said, was a stepping stone towards not only sporting success but also was important in the sense that it was an opportunity to promote unity, amity, peace and goodwill among all sections of the people.

"Sports unite people. The message of sports is friendship," Ms. Gandhi said.

The formal declaration of the Games open was followed by the entry of the Games torch relay into the stadium.

The flame was brought into the arena by Teyebun Nessa and was carried thereafter by Dipankar Bhattacharjee and Monalisa Barua-Mehta before Bhogeswar Baruah lighted the flame to a specially-erected cauldron.

The oath on behalf of all the participants was then taken by the Assam team captain, Paban Saikia.

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