About XIX Commonwealth Games

XIX Commonwealth Games

Ø  The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010.

Ø  A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 17 sports and 272 events.

Ø  It was the largest international multi-sport event to be staged in Delhi and India, eclipsing the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982.

Ø  The opening and closing ceremonies were held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main stadium of the event. It was the first time that the Commonwealth Games were held in India and the second time it was held in Asia after Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998.

Ø  All member nations of the Commonwealth of Nations participated in the event, except Fiji, which is suspended from the Commonwealth. and Tokelau, which didn't send a team.

Ø  The final medal tally was led by Australia. The host nation India gave its strongest performance yet to emerge second, while England placed third.

Ø  The games closed on 14th October in a colorful and appreciated closing ceremony featuring both Indian and Scottish performers.The Commonwealth Games flag was handed over to representatives of Glasgow, Scotland, which will host the XX Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Bids

Ø  The two principal bids for the 2010 Commonwealth Games were from Delhi, India and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. A ballot of members was held in November 2003 at the Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Delhi bid won by a margin of 46 votes to 22, confirming India's first successful bid for the Games. The bid was Canada's attempt to hold the games for the fifth time.

Ø  India also thanked Latif Butt, former vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia, for his support in the winning bid.

Organising Committee

Ø  The Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi  (OC CWG Delhi 2010) came into being on 10 February 2005, as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act 1860.

Ø  It was resolved by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) in the General Assembly held in Jamaica on 13 November 2003 to entrust the organising and hosting of the XIX Commonwealth Games to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Ø  Jarnail Singh, a former Secretary of the Government of India, was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi was appointed as head of the committee.

Ø  At the launch of the Queen's Baton Relay in October 2009, the Business Club of India (BCI) was formed through the partnership of the organising committee, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The BCI was formed to both market the Games and promote Indian business interests internationally.

Logo

Ø  The logo of the XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi is inspired by the Chakra, the national symbol of freedom, unity and power. Spiralling upwards, it depicts the growth of India into a proud, vibrant nation. Her billion people coming together to fulfil their true destinies. India`s journey from tradition to modernity, her economic transformation into a super power… reaching out to the world and leading the way, even as she enthusiastically embraces all the 71 CGA nations and territories of the Commonwealth to become one and host the best ever Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Opening ceremony

Ø  The opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main stadium of the event, in New Delhi, India. It began at 7:00 PM (IST) on 3 October 2010 ending at 11:00 PM (IST) displaying India's varied culture in a plethora of cultural showcases. It was watched live by a global audience of around three billion.

Ø  Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (representing Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth) and President of India Pratibha Patil officially declared the Games open. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of the host nation, India, attended the opening ceremony as well.

Ø  A total of three heads of state from outside India attended the opening ceremony; two from Commonwealth nations and one from a non-Commonwealth nation. The three head of states are Mohamed Nasheed, President of the Maldives, Marcus Stephen, President of Nauru and a multiple Commonwealth gold medallist, and Prince Albert II of Monaco, whose country Monaco is not a member of the Commonwealth. As well, Sir Anand Satyanand, the Governor General of New Zealand (the first of Indian descent), attended the ceremony.

Theme song

Ø  The XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi's theme song, Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto (Live, Rise, Ascend, Win), music maestro A. R. Rahman's call to the people and athletes of India and the Commonwealth to come out and play was launched on 28 August 2010.

Official mascot

Ø  The official mascot for the 2010 Commonwealth Games is Shera, an anthropomorphised tiger.

Ø  The song 'Shera' was conceived and produced by Vikramjit Sahney. The music composer is Jeetu J. The song has been sung in Hindi and English by Vikramjit Sahney, Shibani Kashyap and Millind. It reflects the spirit of Shera, representing majesty, power, charisma and grace.

Green Commonwealth Games

Ø  Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games being recognised as the first ever "Green Commonwealth Games"

Ø  The organisers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Environment Programme to show the intention to host a "sustainable games" and to take the environment into consideration when constructing and renovating venues. Thyagaraj Stadium is intended to be a key example of environmentally considered construction.

Queen's Baton Relay

Ø  The Queen's Baton Relay began when the baton, which contains Queen Elizabeth II's message to the athletes, left Buckingham Palace on 29 October 2009.

Ø  The baton arrived at the 2010 Games opening ceremony on 3 October 2010, after visiting the other 54 nations of the Commonwealth and travelling throughout India, reaching millions of people to join in the celebrations for the Games.The baton arrived in India on 25 June 2010 through the Wagah Border crossing from Pakistan.

Ø  The baton was designed by Michael Foley, a graduate of the National Institute of Design. It is a triangular section of aluminium twisted into a helix shape and then coated with coloured soils collected from all the regions of India. The coloured soils are a first for the styling of a Queen's Baton. A jewel-encrusted box was used to house the Queen's message, which was laser-engraved onto a miniature 18 carat gold leaf—representative of the ancient Indian 'patras.

Ø  The Queen's baton is ergonomically contoured for ease of use. It is 664 millimetres (26.1 in) high, 34 millimetres (1.3 in) wide at the base, and 86 millimetres (3.4 in) wide at the top and weighs 1,900 grams (67 oz).

Ø  The Queen's baton has a number of technological features including: a) The ability to capture images and sound. b) Global positioning system (GPS) technology so the baton's location can be tracked  c) Embedded light emitting diodes (LEDs) which will change into the colours of a country's flag whilst in that country

Ø  A text messaging capability so that people can send messages of congratulations and encouragement to the baton bearers throughout the relay

Sports for the 2010 Commonwealth Games

There were 17 sports for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

1. Aquatics :  Diving,  Swimming,  Synchronised swimming.

2. Archery (8)             3. Athletics (46)          4. Badminton (6)         5. Boxing (11) 

6. Cycling  : Road,  Track.

7. Gymnastics : Artistic gymnastics,  Rhythmic gymnastics.

8. Hockey (2)              9. Lawn bowls (6)       10. Netball (1)             11. Rugby sevens (1)              12. Shooting (44)              13. Squash (5) 

14. Table tennis (7)  15. Tennis (5)                16. Weightlifting (15)             17. Wrestling (21) 

Ø  Kabaddi was a demonstration sport at the Games.

Ø  Triathlon was excluded from the games as there was no suitable location for the swimming stage.

Ø  The organisers have also removed basketball, but included archery, tennis and wrestling.

Ø  Cricket, although in strong demand, did not make a come-back as the Board of Control for Cricket in India were not keen on a Twenty20 tournament, and the organisers did not want a one day tournament.