Friday, October 30, 2009

Let the Games Begin

Thank you for for prayers and good wishes friends. I was up and about today and able to go out on business.
Yesterday we watched the grand opening of the Queen 's Baton Relay in preparation for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games Oct 2010. It was a gorgeous and colorful ceremony broadcast live from Buckingham Palace . Indian sparkle and glitter against the backdrop of British pomp and pageantry. Fun to watch.



Dance, dresses and drums from different parts of India virtually turned the majestic Victoria Memorial into a mini-India as the countdown for the 2010 Commonwealth Games began with Queen Elizabeth handing over the baton to President Pratibha Patil.The relay kicked off from the Buckignham Placae in London. A bunch of British students also joined the celebrations chanting the Sanskrit verses from ancient Rig Veda.As the sanskrit prayers speaking of unity and humanity of these students from St James school revereberated in the forecourt of the Buckingham Palace, the crowd joined in withencouraging cheers and claps for their effort.The students provided the perfect icing on the vibrant function by performing Indian classical dance forms Bharatnatyam, Kuchupudi and folk dances like Bhangra and Dandia in front of Queen Elizabeth and President Pratibha Patil.Eleven athletes from India are part of the big show. Queen Elizabeth handed over the Baton to President Pratibha Patil. While England is represented by the legendary Lord Sebastian Coe, Katie Holmes, and Monty Panesar, India's bearers are its three medallists from the Beijing Olympics, former cricket captain Kapil Dev and Sania Mirza among others.




(Below -India 's legendary sprinter Milka Singh


also known as The Flying Sikh.


He is 80 years old now and he has won 77 times in


80 international competitions)But all eyes are on Suresh Kalmadi and Commonwealth Games Federation President Michael Fennell who have had differences over the utility of Federation CEO Mike Hooper."We always have issues, but we're talking," says Mike Fennell."There are issues but we will manage... as long as I can play tennis that's fine," says tennis star Sania Mirza. "It was my childhood dream to meet the queen," says Olympic medal winner Abhinav Bindra."It's interesting, you're part of your country and doing something as big as this, it's a great event, I will be happy and proud," says Kapil Dev, former India cricket captain."It's going to be fantastic, it's a matter of great honour and pride and I'm glad I'm here," says Misha Grewal, former national Squash Champion.Queen Elizabeth handing over the baton to President Pratibha Patil marks the journey that will last over 11 months before ending on October 3 next year in New Delhi.


(courtesy NDTV)

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