National Games decalred open with grand ceremony

Guwahati, Feb 9: The curtain for the 33rd National Games went upamidst a spectacular opening ceremony, with 11000 participants makingit the grandest sports extravanza of all time in the country.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi declared the Games open on a brightsunny day, ending years of uncertainty about the Games and week of badweather. It was a spectacular sight as thousands of athletes took partin the march past and thousands of children danced to the tune of thefolk music while Indian Air Force gave a glittering display.

The weather has been sunny since morning and it has lifted thespirit as tens of thousands of common people filled up the stadium toattend the ceremony long before the Opening ceremony began at 1600hours.

The highlight of the opening ceremony was the match past, asnearly 5000 athletes of the 32 teams took part in it. The home teamwith the largest contingent of 908 athletes drew the biggest cheer.

Andaman had the smallest contingent with just 15 members. Besidesthere were the army and police bands while the children and folkartists giving a spectacular display despite lack of time forrehearsals due to the inclement weather.

The Olympic torch was lit by Bhogheswar Barua, one of thelegendary member of the Indian athletic team of the sixties. Thecultural show, backed by some thrilling laser shows, was a spontaneoushit sweeping off the spectators with some thunderous display oftraditional music, dance and folk tune. There were Bihus as well asOjapali and satriya dances.

A beaming Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who was also the Chief Host,ushered in the VVIPs, which included Union Minister and representativesfrom various Federations and nearby states, who termed the ceremony agrand success.

Earlier, this morning there was bomb blast at the outskirt of theGuwahati city on a railway track, but that had no bearing on theathletes as they cheerfully took part in the opening ceremony. Theblast damaged railway track and the police source informed that bombwas planted and programmed before the ULFA withdraw the boycott call.

The police was tipped off about the bomb by sources close to theULFA and accordingly all railway operation during the stretch betweenGuwahati and Rangia had been suspended since Thursday evening.

Mrs Gandhi also released the Games official souvenir published on thisoccasion and later met some of the athletes also. Unprecedentedsecurity has been put in place for the gala opening ceremony.Authorities have taken all possible steps, including the installationof closed circuit TV cameras and deployment of dog squads and bombdisposal teams to ensure that the Games go off without any hitches.

Earlier the bands from Army, Asom Rifles and other Para militaryforces gave a scintillating display of pipe bands keeping thespectators on the edge of their seats for most of the time.

Highly trained Sniffer dogs are being used on duty as part of aspecial squad to trace explosives inside and outside of newlyconstructed Indira Gandhi Athletic stadium at Sarusajai, at thesouthern outskirt of the city for the prestigious event, National Gamessecurity sources said 1,200 personnel from Assam Police battalions and29 additional companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed inand around Guwahati during the event.

The Games are being staged at 17 different locations and all haveworld brand new infrastructure forcing IOA President Suresh Kalmadi topropose Guwahati name as the possible contender for the SAF games.

Altogether 3043 medals are up for grabs in the Games with 6999athletes vying for the top honours. Of the 3043 medals, 938 are gold,958 silver and 1127 are bronze medals. Moreover 33 teams participatingin the games, 29 are states, three union territories and other is theServices Sports Control Board (SPCB). Asom has the largest number ofteam with 908 member while Andaman has the smallest delegation withjust 15 athletes. The Games will also see four events Rugby, Lawn Ball,Wushu and Karatedo make their debut.

The weather played a crucial role, in lifting the mood of thecommon people. In fact Asom Government officially prayed in varioustemples, mosques and gurudwaras in the city and it was officiallyconfirmed.

UNI

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