Commonwealth Games 2010: A memorable start |
The 19th Commonwealth Games were declared open on Sunday in a spectacularopening ceremony which might repair some of the damage to India's image after a calamitous buildup to the sporting festival.
The preparations for the $6 billion event, dubbed the "friendly games," have been marred over the last few weeks by a series of setbacks to India's ambition of showing off its soft power on the international stage.
The opening ceremony was held in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. This is the nineteenth Commonwealth Games and the ninth to be held under that name.
Commonwealth Games 2010 will be held in Delhi from Oct 3rd, 2010 to Oct 14th, 2010. This is the first time that the Commonwealth Games to held in India and second time in Asia.
The ceremony opened in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which can hold up to 60,000 people. The opening ceremony started with Swagatham, in which around one thousand children sung the opening song. This was followed by “Rhythm of India,” featuring one thousand drummers from various Indian states.
Pakistan was provided with yet another embarrassing moment on the world stage, this time courtesy of the country’s chef-de-mission at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi where Dr Muhammad Ali Shah pulled off something that can only be described as a cheap stunt.
For all those who missed the glittering opening ceremony of the Games yesterday, here is what happened: The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) had decided over a month ago that Shujauddin Malik, the country’s gold medal winning weightlifter at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, would lead the Pakistan contingent during the ceremony. It was an honour well deserved for a man who not only won gold but also scripted his name in the record books for his 2006 effort. But as the ceremony started yesterday and teams strode into the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium one by one, the Pakistani contingent despite receiving the most rousing reception out of all the participating nations, experienced a moment of great embarrassment. It wasn’t Malik who was seen carrying the flag and leading out the contingent but instead, it was Dr Shah – despite TV screens around the world displaying the name ‘Shujauddin Malik’. Fine, one thought. ‘maybe Malik wasn’t feeling up to it.’ But only moments later when people saw Dr Shah pushing aside Malik as cameras rolled, it was clear what the actual deal was.
After the ceremony was over, weightlifting team manager Rashid Mehmood came on air and revealed that Shah had told Malik that it was the chef-de-mission’s right to lead the contingent as he was the ‘senior’ most out of all the personnel. Malik also came on air moments later and made another shocking revelation. He claimed, Shah after a tussle over the flag minutes before the opening ceremony, had threatened to send the weightlifter home if he did not respect Shah’s decision.
I don’t know what’s more shocking, the insult meted out to the country’s unsung hero, who despite a lack of facilities and even proper shoes remains the most likely medal hope at the Games or Dr Shah’s claim that it was his right to lead the contingent. How he has earned that right is anyone’s guess. But it seems investing in a few club level cricket tournaments, jousting like a knight after a female sprinter achieved the unthinkable and criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board while being a part of the same setup, gives him the right to publicly humiliate a national star along with the whole nation in a desperate effort for airtime.
Malik also revealed that he had controlled his emotions for Pakistan’s sake even as he was pushed and shoved into the background. After the incident, the weightlifting team had threatened to pull out of the games unless Shah apologised but later decided that it was best for the country’s image that they stay put. The Pakistan Olympics Association (POA) has announced it would be sanctioning the provincial minister over the matter. But Shah sahab has his connections, which would be enough to help him overturn POA’s decision. And we all know how much authority the POA really has. In a latest development Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has also demanded a report on the incident. I can safely predict the outcome of that: a meeting between Gilani and Shah and a press conference where the latter will apologise over the ‘misunderstanding.’ Even if Shah, in a most unlikely turn of events, is stripped of his position as Sindh Sports Minister, it will never come close to the honour Malik was robbed off.
No amount of sanctions will really make a difference now for the damage has already been done. Can we seriously expect the weightlifter to compete in the event with the same intensity after his spirit was already deflated at the starting line? Whatever the outcome, it has to be said that Pakistani athletes must be the toughest mentally contrary to the common belief around the world as these guys face the most bizarre hurdles and yet once in a while manage to bedazzle the world.
The whole incident while making a joke out of the country has also exposed the kind of mentality Shah and other people whom we thought were well-intentioned, passionate sports supporters really possess. They do it for the name and nothing else – especially not for the game.
syed bashir ahmed says:
October 4, 2010 at 18:27
This incident shows the attitude of our elite in power. The most embarrassing incident in the history of sporting events. Other nation’s squads were lead by handicapped athletes and gold medalists. Inspite of this cheap stunt, I am sure that our chief de mission will display his photos in his prestigious clinic in karachi, adding insult to injury. Let wait an see what action the govt will take against him. Well, for the people of Pakistan, Malik is still our hero as he showed tolerance and sportman’s spirit by keeping silent. People like Mohd Ali Shah think they can get their way out of any situation, even if it damages the nation’s prestige. An apology is not enough to repair the damage. Sack him.
Rehan says:
October 4, 2010 at 18:17
Minister has shown lack of intellect. But may be THAT was the reason he was made minister?
Dr aziz ul Qadir says:
October 4, 2010 at 17:12
Every word is true…. He is a cheap attention-seeker who is dreaming of becoming PCB chairman. I thought that PCB has seen its lowest but may be not yet.
Zain says:
October 4, 2010 at 17:11
Very well written article.. It was a disgrace to see Shah last night. I’m a student in Australia, and live in the dorms, and was watching the inauguration ceremony with many Indian friends who were literally bedazzled and shocked when they saw Shah (apparently Malik on TV) being labelled a weightlifter and asked if he was the best our country had to offer.. And you’re also right about the outcome of the inquiry… This nation needs change, in every quarter… And i wish Malik best of luck for the Commonwealth Games…
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday ordered an inquiry into the embarrassing scuffle that saw a top sports official snatch the national flag from a sportsperson designated as the flag-bearer during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Members of the Pakistani weightlifting team threatened to pull out of the Games after a verbal showdown between weightlifter Shujauddin Malik and the leader of the contingent, Muhammad Ali Shah, over carrying the Pakistani flag at the opening ceremony.
Shah is also the Sports Minister of southern Sindh province.
Sheikh Rashid, the coach of the weightlifting team, told the media that Malik, a gold medallist at the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, was to carry the flag and lead the Pakistani contingent.
At the last moment, Shah announced that he would carry the flag.
Rashid said members of the weightlifting team took the incident as an insult and insisted that the flag must be carried by Malik as had been announced earlier.
They exchanged angry words with Shah, who told the media that he had decided to lead the contingent as he is a provincial sports minister.
Shah refused to hand over the flag to Malik and led the contingent at the opening ceremony.
Rashid said athletes participated in the opening ceremony only for the sake of national dignity.
Senior Pakistani officials had to intervene to avert a boycott by the weightlifting team.
The Prime Minister acted after the incident was highlighted by the Pakistani media and several former sportspersons demanded an inquiry into the controversy.
Commonwealth Games 2010 will be held in Delhi from Oct 3rd, 2010 to Oct 14th, 2010. This is the first time that the Commonwealth Games to held in India and second time in Asia.
The ceremony opened in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which can hold up to 60,000 people. The opening ceremony started with Swagatham, in which around one thousand children sung the opening song. This was followed by “Rhythm of India,” featuring one thousand drummers from various Indian states.
Muhammad Ali Shah’s cheap stunt embarrasses Pakistan
Pakistan was provided with yet another embarrassing moment on the world stage, this time courtesy of the country’s chef-de-mission at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi where Dr Muhammad Ali Shah pulled off something that can only be described as a cheap stunt.
For all those who missed the glittering opening ceremony of the Games yesterday, here is what happened: The Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) had decided over a month ago that Shujauddin Malik, the country’s gold medal winning weightlifter at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, would lead the Pakistan contingent during the ceremony. It was an honour well deserved for a man who not only won gold but also scripted his name in the record books for his 2006 effort. But as the ceremony started yesterday and teams strode into the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium one by one, the Pakistani contingent despite receiving the most rousing reception out of all the participating nations, experienced a moment of great embarrassment. It wasn’t Malik who was seen carrying the flag and leading out the contingent but instead, it was Dr Shah – despite TV screens around the world displaying the name ‘Shujauddin Malik’. Fine, one thought. ‘maybe Malik wasn’t feeling up to it.’ But only moments later when people saw Dr Shah pushing aside Malik as cameras rolled, it was clear what the actual deal was.
After the ceremony was over, weightlifting team manager Rashid Mehmood came on air and revealed that Shah had told Malik that it was the chef-de-mission’s right to lead the contingent as he was the ‘senior’ most out of all the personnel. Malik also came on air moments later and made another shocking revelation. He claimed, Shah after a tussle over the flag minutes before the opening ceremony, had threatened to send the weightlifter home if he did not respect Shah’s decision.
I don’t know what’s more shocking, the insult meted out to the country’s unsung hero, who despite a lack of facilities and even proper shoes remains the most likely medal hope at the Games or Dr Shah’s claim that it was his right to lead the contingent. How he has earned that right is anyone’s guess. But it seems investing in a few club level cricket tournaments, jousting like a knight after a female sprinter achieved the unthinkable and criticising the Pakistan Cricket Board while being a part of the same setup, gives him the right to publicly humiliate a national star along with the whole nation in a desperate effort for airtime.
Malik also revealed that he had controlled his emotions for Pakistan’s sake even as he was pushed and shoved into the background. After the incident, the weightlifting team had threatened to pull out of the games unless Shah apologised but later decided that it was best for the country’s image that they stay put. The Pakistan Olympics Association (POA) has announced it would be sanctioning the provincial minister over the matter. But Shah sahab has his connections, which would be enough to help him overturn POA’s decision. And we all know how much authority the POA really has. In a latest development Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has also demanded a report on the incident. I can safely predict the outcome of that: a meeting between Gilani and Shah and a press conference where the latter will apologise over the ‘misunderstanding.’ Even if Shah, in a most unlikely turn of events, is stripped of his position as Sindh Sports Minister, it will never come close to the honour Malik was robbed off.
No amount of sanctions will really make a difference now for the damage has already been done. Can we seriously expect the weightlifter to compete in the event with the same intensity after his spirit was already deflated at the starting line? Whatever the outcome, it has to be said that Pakistani athletes must be the toughest mentally contrary to the common belief around the world as these guys face the most bizarre hurdles and yet once in a while manage to bedazzle the world.
The whole incident while making a joke out of the country has also exposed the kind of mentality Shah and other people whom we thought were well-intentioned, passionate sports supporters really possess. They do it for the name and nothing else – especially not for the game.
syed bashir ahmed says:
October 4, 2010 at 18:27
This incident shows the attitude of our elite in power. The most embarrassing incident in the history of sporting events. Other nation’s squads were lead by handicapped athletes and gold medalists. Inspite of this cheap stunt, I am sure that our chief de mission will display his photos in his prestigious clinic in karachi, adding insult to injury. Let wait an see what action the govt will take against him. Well, for the people of Pakistan, Malik is still our hero as he showed tolerance and sportman’s spirit by keeping silent. People like Mohd Ali Shah think they can get their way out of any situation, even if it damages the nation’s prestige. An apology is not enough to repair the damage. Sack him.
Rehan says:
October 4, 2010 at 18:17
Minister has shown lack of intellect. But may be THAT was the reason he was made minister?
Dr aziz ul Qadir says:
October 4, 2010 at 17:12
Every word is true…. He is a cheap attention-seeker who is dreaming of becoming PCB chairman. I thought that PCB has seen its lowest but may be not yet.
Zain says:
October 4, 2010 at 17:11
Very well written article.. It was a disgrace to see Shah last night. I’m a student in Australia, and live in the dorms, and was watching the inauguration ceremony with many Indian friends who were literally bedazzled and shocked when they saw Shah (apparently Malik on TV) being labelled a weightlifter and asked if he was the best our country had to offer.. And you’re also right about the outcome of the inquiry… This nation needs change, in every quarter… And i wish Malik best of luck for the Commonwealth Games…
Gilani orders probe into Pak’s CWG flagbearer row
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday ordered an inquiry into the embarrassing scuffle that saw a top sports official snatch the national flag from a sportsperson designated as the flag-bearer during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Members of the Pakistani weightlifting team threatened to pull out of the Games after a verbal showdown between weightlifter Shujauddin Malik and the leader of the contingent, Muhammad Ali Shah, over carrying the Pakistani flag at the opening ceremony.
Shah is also the Sports Minister of southern Sindh province.
Sheikh Rashid, the coach of the weightlifting team, told the media that Malik, a gold medallist at the last Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, was to carry the flag and lead the Pakistani contingent.
At the last moment, Shah announced that he would carry the flag.
Rashid said members of the weightlifting team took the incident as an insult and insisted that the flag must be carried by Malik as had been announced earlier.
They exchanged angry words with Shah, who told the media that he had decided to lead the contingent as he is a provincial sports minister.
Shah refused to hand over the flag to Malik and led the contingent at the opening ceremony.
Rashid said athletes participated in the opening ceremony only for the sake of national dignity.
Senior Pakistani officials had to intervene to avert a boycott by the weightlifting team.
The Prime Minister acted after the incident was highlighted by the Pakistani media and several former sportspersons demanded an inquiry into the controversy.
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