A Ceremony of Olympic Proportions

Sports commentator Joseph Romanos writes...

I felt very happy for the Indian people last night while sitting in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium watching the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

It was an opening ceremony of Olympic proportions and a magnificent showcase for Indian music, dance and culture. For the past month the worlds press and a good many sports officials of the Commonwealth have been indulging in target practice, with India the bulls-eye. There have been vociferous complaints about the security issue, health concerns, and unfinished facilities, especially the athletes village. Even the Delhi mosquitoes have come in for a bashing.

The Indians have had to take the criticism on the chin, while assuring anyone who would listen that things would be alright on the night. Well, the night came, and they were.

The village is full of athletes, the sports arenas are ready and the Indians put on a dazzling opening ceremony. The 60,000 crowd tonight let everyone know how they felt. The huge Indian team received a thunderous ovation when they entered the stadium. Indians are proud of their country, and their athletes. Whenever the chief minister of Delhis name was mentioned, there was rousing applause and cheering. Spectators knew she had come through and co-ordinated the final stages of the preparations when it seemed time was running out.

Conversely, Commonwealth Games Federation chairman Mike Fennell received a cool reception, sprinkled with boos. So did the chairman of the games organising committee. It has been galling for the Indians to know they were becoming a laughing stock of the world, and they knew who they held responsible.

The opening ceremony will be recalled for the aerostat, the massive helium balloon the worlds largest which hovered over the field, looking for all the world like one of those unwanted visitors on Independence Day. It was the focal point of the ceremony and was used brilliantly. My favourite part of a ceremony that ranged from ancient India through a tribute to Mahatma Ghandi to Bollywood was The Great Indian Journey, which was a look at India through the ages, to the accompaniment of a throbbing beat that was both appealing and enchanting. The colour, vibrancy and energy of the three-hour ceremony was astonishing, a triumph for the Indian organisers.

The Indians came up with a couple of innovations for the march-in. It began only 25 minutes after the opening ceremony got under way, meaning the athletes were able to be present for most of the proceedings, which is unprecedented at a major opening ceremony. Organisers dont generally consider the athletes a priority. Some teams marched in anti-clockwise and others clockwise, meaning all the spectators got a good view of at least some.

The term marching should not really be used any more. Teams once took pride in how they entered and presented themselves. But tonight many of them were an unruly rabble, with Australia possibly the worst offender. It is not a good look when those marching break off to do spot television interviews or to greet friends in the crowd while doing their circuit of the stadium. New Zealand had their usual unscripted moment. Previously they have caused tongues to wag by doing a haka while making their circuit. Tonight they wandered off to the side after competing half a lap.

Flagbearer Irene van Dyk, who looked stately and proud, headed for the side. I thought initially she might be looking for an early night, with a netball match looming tomorrow. Some of her netball team-mates appeared to follow her. But it was nothing like that. Dave Currie, the team chef de mission, marched in the final row, which was very good of him (many previous games team bosses have insisted on being in the front row). When Currie got to the area where the team was converging, he could see something was amiss and made inquiries. It transpired the New Zealanders were supposed to take their ringside seats at that point, but some wires had been crossed. No damage done but it was a story to tell the folks back home.

My favourite marching teams were Bermuda, as always, with their famous Bermuda shorts, and Swaziland, resplendent in purple suits. It was most heartening to hear the generous cheering for Pakistan. India and Pakistan, though neighbours, are not exactly on friendly terms and it was encouraging that the Pakistani athletes were so warmly welcomed a plus for sport, and for the Commonwealth Games. Of course, were all here for sport and thank goodness that time has arrived.

But the opening ceremony did give those of us who are visitors pause for thought. This is India, with an overwhelming population of more than 1.3 billion. They have problems we inNew Zealand cant even conceive of.  Ive certainly never seen so many volunteers so genuinely trying to be helpful. If the games go as well as the opening ceremony they will be a roaring success, despite all the head shaking of the past few weeks.

Joseph Romanos.