2010 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by GavinEspinoza2
Last edited December 16, 2025


2010 Commonwealth Games
opening ceremony
Performance of "Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto", official song of the games
Date3 October 2010 (2010-10-03)
Time19:00 – 22:00 IST
LocationDelhi, India
Coordinates28°34′58″N 77°14′4″E / 28.58278°N 77.23444°E / 28.58278; 77.23444
Filmed byDD
FootageYoutube

Template:Multi-sport event sidebar

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 10:00 PM (IST) displaying India's varied culture in a plethora of cultural showcases. Wizcraft was given the contract to produce the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.[1]

Guests of honour[edit | edit source]

The Dignitaries at the opening ceremony

The following were the guests that attended the opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games:

Royal Family[edit | edit source]

The Prince of Wales (now Charles III, representing Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth), Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex attended the ceremony.

International guests[edit | edit source]

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.h.[8] Sir Anand Satyanand, the Governor General of New Zealand (the first of Indian descent), attended the ceremony as well.[6]

Alongside the Commonwealth president, attendees included International Olympic Committee then president, Jacques Rogge and Albert II, Prince of Monaco who is a member.Rogge was quoted as saying, "I think India has set a good foundation stone for the Olympics bid and a successful Commonwealth Games can help India mount a serious bid for the Olympics."[7]

Programme[edit | edit source]

A drummer performs at the opening ceremony

The opening ceremony featured aspects of India's heritage and culture in seven segments. It featured an aerostat costing U$8 million,[9] measuring 40×80x12 meters and manufactured in Oswestry, England.[10] The original plan was to have drummers on the aerostat, but the plan was cancelled.[10] The ceremony started with the Indian national anthem which was played live at the stadium. The roof of the stadium turned into orange colour and the ground was lit up with three colours of the Indian flag – orange in the center, white in the middle and green near the boundary.

Rhythm of India[edit | edit source]

Giant Puppets hang from the aerostat

The countdown for the opening of commonwealth games started as the drums were being played, and fireworks exploded from the roof of the stadium. The aerostat slowly raised from the ground to the center space of the roof while a traditional Rajasthani hymn was being played by the musicians. Various Drummers from Assam, Kerala, Manipur, Karnataka, Odisha, Punjab and Meghalaya played a symphony that aimed to be "uniquely Indian in character, yet global in appeal". Seven year old tabla player Keshav from Puducherry played the tabla instrument in front of the audience live and he was given a big applause from the audience.[11]

Swagatam[edit | edit source]

School children from across delhi performed in this segment, intricate mehndi design was painted on large pieces of cloth in 30 seconds.

Hariharan led this segment, which created an amalgamation of Hindustani classical, Carnatic and folk music. The song was composed by A. R. Rahman, who also composed the official theme song of the games, and was performed by various artists along with Hariharan. Children from various Delhi schools participated in a simultaneous performance forming hands of an Indian woman in a pose of Namaste – a popular Indian salutation. Later, they separated and rearranged themselves in another formation representing the Indian flag colors of saffron, white and green while another group of children entered the stadium and covered the flag formations with a large white cloth. In a widely appreciated act, the children then made a mehndi – a traditional Indian art – on this large white piece of cloth in under 30 seconds on the spot.Latest News Updates Archived 28 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine

Tree of Knowledge[edit | edit source]

Pt. Birju Maharaj (Kathak), Guru Rajkumar Singhajit Singh-Charu Sija Mathur (Manipuri), Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan (Bharatnatyam), Dr. Sonal Mansingh (Odissi), Bharati Shivaji (Mohiniattam) and Raja Reddy-Radha Reddy (Kuchipudi) choreographed 480 dancers bringing alive India's "Guru-Shishya Parampara" or the master-protege tradition on stage through classical dance recitals which also depicted four different seasons of India. The aerostat (the largest ever helium balloon built for such an event) formed the leaves of the Bodhi tree, while large strips elevated from the ground, made of silk and bamboo fibre form the tree trunk. After the display of classical dance, the dancers displayed yoga moves.

The Great Indian Journey[edit | edit source]

Dancers from all the states of India performed at the ceremony

This segment will give a glimpse of the lives of the masses in India, as seen through a train window. Art director Omung Kumar created a 600-ft train of bamboo sticks for this. It portrayed a common man's life and every thing in it, such as the bangle shops, politicians campaigning, Bollywood, the cycle shop etc.

Finale[edit | edit source]

Academy and Grammy award winner A. R. Rahman ended the programme with his rendition of "Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto", the theme song of the Delhi games, and "Jai Ho".[12][13][14]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

List of national flag bearers[edit | edit source]

Australia entered first as the host of the last games, and India entered last as the host. Excluding these two nations, the flag bearers entered by alphabetical order of their nations; Anguilla was the first (after Australia) and Zambia was the last (before India). Each flag bearer was preceded by a woman in traditional Indian dress, each reflecting a different part of the country, carrying a placard with the country's name.

Order Nation Flag bearer Sport Total Athletes
1 Template:FlagCGF Sharelle McMahon[15][16] Netball 377
2 Template:FlagCGF Ronnie Bryan Cycling 12
3 Template:FlagCGF James Grayman[17] Athletics 17
4 Template:FlagCGF Valentino Knowles[18] Athletics 24
5 Template:FlagCGF Asif Hossain Khan[19] Shooting 70
6 Template:FlagCGF Laurel Browne Netball 39
7 Template:FlagCGF Kaina Martinez[20] Athletics 9
8 Template:FlagCGF Kiera Aitken Swimming 14
9 Template:FlagCGF Amantle Montsho Athletics 49
10 Template:FlagCGF Joseph Chapman[21] Squash 2
11 Template:FlagCGF Ampuan Ahad Lawn bowls 12
12 Template:FlagCGF Hugo Mamba[22] Athletics 20
13 Template:FlagCGF Ken Pereira[23] Field Hockey 251
14 Template:FlagCGF Shaune Fraser Swimming 17
15 Template:FlagCGF Mata Kenny Lawn bowls 31
16 Template:FlagCGF Irodotos Georgallas Gymnastics 56
17 Template:FlagCGF Brendan Williams Athletics 15
18 Template:FlagCGF Nathan Robertson[24] Badminton 365
19 Template:FlagCGF Douglas James Clark Badminton 15
20 Template:FlagCGF Aziz Zakari Athletics 64
21 Template:FlagCGF Colin Bensadon Swimming 17
22 Template:FlagCGF Imrod Batholomew Boxing 10
23 Template:FlagCGF Peter Jory[25] Shooting 43
24 Template:FlagCGF Cleveland Forde Athletics 34
25 Template:FlagCGF Andrew Roche Cycling 33
26 Template:FlagCGF Simone Forbes[26] Netball 48
27 Template:FlagCGF Karina Bisson[27] Lawn bowls 33
28 Template:FlagCGF Ezekiel Kemboi Athletics 136
29 Template:FlagCGF David Katoatau Weightlifting 17
30 Template:FlagCGF Selloane Tsoaeli Athletics 10
31 Template:FlagCGF Mary Waya Netball 43
32 Template:FlagCGF Siti Zalina Ahmad[28] Lawn bowls 203
33 Template:FlagCGF Mueena Mohamed[29] Table Tennis 28
34 Template:FlagCGF Rebecca Madyson Shooting 22
35 Template:FlagCGF Louis Richarno Colin Boxing 55
36 Template:FlagCGF Peter Semper Athletics 5
37 Template:FlagCGF Kurt Couto Athletics 10
38 Template:FlagCGF Jafet Uutoni Boxing 30
39 Template:FlagCGF Itte Detenamo Weightlifting 6
40 Template:FlagCGF Irene van Dyk[30][31] Netball 192
41 Template:FlagCGF Faith Obiora Table Tennis 101
42 Template:FlagCGF Narita Viliamu Weightlifting 24
43 Template:FlagCGF Duncan Gray[citation needed] Squash 22
44 Template:FlagCGF Mark Montgomery[32] Wrestling 80
45 Template:FlagCGF Mohammad Ali Shah[33] Chef de mission 54
46 Template:FlagCGF Barbara Stubbings Squash 79
47 Template:FlagCGF Disi Dieudonne Athletics 22
48 Template:FlagCGF Ele Opeloge Dieudonne Weightlifting 53
49 Template:FlagCGF Ross Edgar[34] Cycling 191
50 Template:FlagCGF Steve Malcouzane Badminton 26
51 Template:FlagCGF Michaela Kargbo Athletics 31
52 Template:FlagCGF Feng Tian Wei[35] Table Tennis 68
53 Template:FlagCGF Michael Leong Tennis 12
54 Template:FlagCGF Cameron van der Burgh[36] Swimming 113
55 Template:FlagCGF Chinthana Vidanage[37] Weightlifting 94
56 Template:FlagCGF Rico Yon Shooting 4
57 Template:FlagCGF Tanika Liburd Athletics 7
58 Template:FlagCGF Lavern Spencer Athletics 13
59 Template:FlagCGF James Bentick Squash 14
60 Template:FlagCGF Siphesihle Mdluli Athletics 11
61 Template:FlagCGF Samson Ramadhani[38] Athletics 40
62 Template:FlagCGF Fanny Shonoboi Athletics 17
63 Template:FlagCGF Uaine Fa Boxing 22
64 Template:FlagCGF Cleopatra Borel-Brown Athletics 82
65 Template:FlagCGF Delano Williams Athletics 8
66 Template:FlagCGF Lapua Tuau Weightlifting 3
67 Template:FlagCGF Ganzi Mugula[39] Swimming 65
68 Template:FlagCGF Yoshna Shing Table Tennis 14
69 Template:FlagCGF David Davies[40] Swimming 175
70 Template:FlagCGF Rachel Nachula Athletics 22
71 Template:FlagCGF Abhinav Bindra[41] Shooting 495
  • Pakistan's flag bearer was scheduled to be weightlifter Shujha-ud-din Malik. However, chef de mission Muhammad Ali Shah announced that he would carry the flag and took it from the designated flag-bearer.[42]

Spectators' response[edit | edit source]

In the opening ceremony the head of organizing committee faced embarrassment, when he was booed by the spectators at the start of his welcome speech to 60,000 spectators in the opening ceremony. The atmosphere otherwise for the teams and officials was fine, especially when they offered warm applause to the neighbouring Pakistan squad, with whom it has tense relationships. Sri Lanka also got a loud applause. The head finished his speech in five minutes and then handed over to Michael Fennell, the Chief of the Commonwealth Games Federation.[43]

Baton procession[edit | edit source]

Boxer Vijender Singh carried the Queen's Baton into the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, at the Opening Ceremony.[44][45] The baton was then passed to boxer Mary Kom, 5-time world champion.[44][45] It was then passed to Samresh Jung, who was named best competitor of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia .[44][45] It was then passed to Sushil Kumar, world champion wrestler,[44][45] who finally handed the Queen's Baton to the Prince of Wales (now Charles III).[44][46]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Molekhi, Pankaj (3 October 2010). "Wizcraft puts together the CWG inaugural event". The Economic Times. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  2. ↑ ANTHONY HUBBARD – Sunday Star Times (2 October 2010). "At Her Majesty's service". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  3. ↑ "2010 CommonWealth Games Opening Ceremony – What a Show – Mind Blasting I Say!!! « www.dilipkumar.in". dilipkumar.in. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  4. ↑ "CWG critics failed to judge new India: Nasheed – Rediff.com Sports". sports.rediff.com. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "Games all set for a gala opening on Sunday". India Today. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Biography of The Right Honourable Sir Anand Satyanand". Government of New Zealand. Archived from the original (biography) on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Games good foundation for Olympic bid by India: Rogge". Times of India. New Delhi. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  8. ↑ "Four heads of state to attend CWG opener". New Delhi: NDTV. 1 October 2010. Archived from the original on 5 October 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  9. ↑ Beckett, Paul (4 October 2010). "The Aerostat: Tech Marvel or Stage Prop? – India Real Time – WSJ". Blogs.wsj.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Controversy-hit aerostat lights up Games ceremony". Hindustan Times. 4 October 2010. Archived from the original on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  11. ↑ Sarkar, Urvashi (4 October 2010). "Child prodigy delights spectators". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  12. ↑ "commonwealth games 2010 opening ceremony A.R.Rahman". YouTube. Archived from the original on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  13. ↑ "A R Rahman's grand finale with 'Jeeyo, Utho'". Times of India. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  14. ↑ "Rahman brings CWG ceremony to electrifying climax". Sify. Archived from the original on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
  15. ↑ "McMahon named Australian team flagbearer". www.smh.com.au. 1 October 2010. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  16. ↑ "McMahon as flag bearer boosts Diamonds". www.smh.com.au. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  17. ↑ "ABNOC announces 2010 Commonwealth Games team | Antigua Observer Newspaper". Antiguaobserver.com. 25 September 2010. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  18. ↑ "The Tribune". Tribune242.com. 2 October 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  19. ↑ "CW GAMES OPENINGRatna to carry Bangladesh flag | Sport". bdnews24.com. 2 October 2010. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  20. ↑ "The Reporter – Sports". Reporter.bz. 24 February 2010. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  21. ↑ "Tahesia arrives in Delhi, foresees great Commonwealth Games « Virgin Islands News Online". Virginislandsnewsonline.com. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  22. ↑ Nouvelles sola [dead link]
  23. ↑ "Canada's Flag Bearer for 2010 Commonwealth Games "an inspired choice" – Corporate". Commonwealthgames.ca. 18 September 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010. [permanent dead link]
  24. ↑ "Robertson is England flag bearer in CWG". The Indian Express. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  25. ↑ "BBC Sport – Peter Jory 'honoured' to be Guernsey's flag bearer". BBC News. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  26. ↑ "Forbes to carry Jamaica's Flag at Opening Ceremony in Delhi". TrackAlerts. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  27. ↑ Gouyette, Lauren (1 October 2010). "'Tears of joy' for Jersey flag bearer » Sport". This Is Jersey. Retrieved 14 October 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  28. ↑ "Malaysian lawn bowls star Siti Zalina Ahmad excited about being Commonwealth Games flag-bearer". Thesportscampus.com. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  29. ↑ 2010 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony (TV broadcast). Presenters: Sue Barker. New Delhi, India: BBC. 3 October 2010. Archived from the original on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2010.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ↑ "Van Dyk named flag-bearer for NZ Games team". www.rnz.co.nz. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  31. ↑ "Van Dyk leads NZ into Games". www.tvnz.co.nz. 4 October 2010. Archived from the original on 5 October 2010. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  32. ↑ (UKPA) (30 September 2010). "The Press Association: Montgomery to lead Northern Ireland". Retrieved 14 October 2010.[dead link]
  33. ↑ "Pak CWG contingent hit by controversy". Thenews.com.pk. 3 October 2010. Archived from the original on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  34. ↑ "BBC Sport – Cyclist Ross Edgar carries Scotland flag at Delhi Games". BBC News. 1 October 2010. Archived from the original on 4 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  35. ↑ "55 Singapore athletes set for Commonwealth Games debut « Red Sports. Always Game". Redsports.sg. Archived from the original on 27 September 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  36. ↑ The Associated Press (1 October 2010). "South Africa names flag bearer replacement". Cbc.ca. Archived from the original on 3 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  37. ↑ "Sri Lanka to send 90 athletes to Commonwealth Games". The Sunday Leader. 29 August 2010. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011.
  38. ↑ "Tanzania team for Delhi opening ceremony". Daily News. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  39. ↑ "Daily Monitor: – Mugula named Commonwealth Games team captain". Monitor.co.ug. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  40. ↑ "BBC Sport – Commonwealth Games 2010: David Davies Wales flagbearer". BBC News. 2 October 2010. Archived from the original on 5 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  41. ↑ "Bindra to be the flag bearer, confusion over torch bearers names". Sify.com. 1 October 2010. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  42. ↑ "Pak CWG contingent hit by controversy" Archived 6 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine, The News, 3 October 2010
  43. ↑ "Sport | Spectators boo chief organiser at opening ceremony". Dawn.Com. 3 October 2010. Archived from the original on 14 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 CBC, 2010 Commonwealth Games, Opening Ceremonies, airdate 3 October 2010, 9:00am-12:30pm (Eastern), circa 2h20m mark, CBC Television main network
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 "CWG Opening ceremony: Live Blog" Archived 4 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Geetika Rustagi, 3 October 2010 . Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  46. ↑ Sify Sports, "India begins medal chase after CWG opening ceremony", ANI, 4 October 2010 . Retrieved 5 October 2010.

External links[edit | edit source]

External media
Images
Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in pictures, The Telegraph Newspaper
Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in pictures, The Guardian newspaper
Video
Opening Ceremony – Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games

Template:Commonwealth Games ceremonies

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=2010_Commonwealth_Games_opening_ceremony&oldid=482297"
Discover more