Amid flag-bearing chaos, CW Games kick off

The Pakistan contingent is involved in an embarrassing tussle as Games commence.

KARACHI: The 2010 Commonwealth Games ceremony kicked off in New Delhi amid flag-bearing chaos as the Pakistan contingent was involved in a tussle. A near-capacity 60,000 crowd saw the country’s Chef-de-mission Mohammad Ali Shah, President of the Sindh Olympic Association and also the Sindh sports minister, carry the Pakistan flag instead of gold medalist weightlifter Shujauddin Malik.

With Shah adamant on carrying the flag, Pakistan athletes and the official were involved in a tussle after which it was Shah, who bore Pakistan’s flag during the opening ceremony.

“Shah wanted to carry the flag and requested the athletes. But they misbehaved after which Shah became adamant to carry the flag,” a Pakistan contingent’s official told The Express Tribune, who added that it was unorthodox for an official to bear the country’s flag instead of the athlete.

“Since it was only a request, the athletes could have shown more restraint. But they misbehaved and this is what led to the tussle.” The official added that there would be a meeting to discuss the incident.

Meanwhile, the event was a riposte to the months of worries over threats of terror attacks, corruption and construction delays that have dogged the event. Many of the sports venues have only been completed in recent weeks, the athletes’ village was slammed for being “filthy” and equipment has been installed hastily. But with the event now open, the Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell said it was time to focus on the sport. With additional input from AFP

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2010.