National Games decalred open with colourful ceremony

Guwahati, Feb 9 (UNI) The curtain for the 33rd National Games went up amidst a spectacular opening ceremony, with 11000 participants making it the grandest sports extravanza of all time in the country.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi declared the Games open on a bright sunny day, ending years of uncertainty about the Games and week of bad weather. It was a spectacular sight as thousands of athletes took part in the march past and thousands of children danced to the tune of the folk music while Indian Air Force gave a glittering display.

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

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

Andaman had the smallest contingent with just 15 members. Besides there were the army and police bands while the children and folk artists giving a spectacular display despite lack of time for rehearsals due to the inclement weather.

The Olympic torch was lit by Bhogheswar Barua, one of the legendary member of the Indian athletic team of the sixties. The cultural show, backed by some thrilling laser shows, was a spontaneous hit sweeping off the spectators with some thunderous display of traditional music, dance and folk tune. There were Bihus as well as Ojapali and satriya dances.

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

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

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

MORTE UNI