CWG 2022: PV Sindhu, Manpreet lead Indian contingent as Birmingham Games open with dazzling opening ceremony

The
opening
ceremony,
which
saw
close
to
30000
people
in
attendance,
marked
the
official
start
of
the
multi-sport
extravaganza.
With
musicians
setting
the
stage
ablaze,
athletes
of
all
competing
nations
along
with
their
flag
bearers
made
an
appearance.

In
a
tribute
to
Birmingham’s
auto
industry,
72
cars
from
across
five
decades
assembled
in
the
stadium.
The
cars
stand
in
the
formation
of
the
British
flag
in
the
middle
of
the
stadium.
As
per
commentators
these
were
locals
driving
their
own
cars.
Amongh
them
was
Prince
Charles,
driving
his
Aston
Martin

Performances
by
Tony
Lommi,
guitarist
of
heavy
metal
band
Black
Sabbath
performed,
with
ballet
dancers
performing
in
what
was
a
tribute
the
waterways
in
Birmingham.

In
the
athletes
parade,
CWG
champions
Australia
were
the
first
to
walk
out
with
a
contingent
of
433
athletes.
In
the
Asian
countries,
Bangladesh
was
the
first
one
to
walk
out.
Welcoming
the
Asian
countries,
comedian
Joe
Lycett
said,
“I’m
going
to
do
something
now
that
the
British
government
doesn’t
always
do
and
welcome
some
foreigners.”

Soon
after
the
Indian
athletes
walked
out
with
flag-bearers
–
star
shuttler
PV
Sindhu
and
hockey
captain
Manpreet
Singh
–
leading
the
contingent.
IOA
had
initially
just
named
Sindhu
as
the
flagbearer,
but
following
an
intimation
that
every
contingent
needs
to
be
led
by
a
male
and
a
female,
the
IOA
appointed
the
hockey
captain
as
the
second
flagbearer.
Pakistan
followed
soon
after
with
wrestler
Mohammad
Imam
and
cricket
captain
Bismah
Maroof
leading
the
contingent.

With
Queen’s
We
Will
Rock
You
blasting
through
the
Arena,
last
to
walk
out
was
hosts
England.
Musicians
and
artists
from
all
over
made
the
opening
ceremony
a
resounding
success
and
a
colourful
one
at
the
Alexander
Stadium!
Following
the
athletes
parade,
the
CWG
flag
was
hoisted
to
officially
open
the
game.
Diver
Tom
Daley
brought
the
baton
into
the
stadium,
which
has
travelled
90,000
miles,
following
which
the
Prince
of
Wales,
read
out
the
Queen
Elizabeth
II’s
message
and
the
22nd
Commonwealth
Games
was
declared
open.

Prior
to
the
start
of
the
opening
ceremony,
wishing
the
Indian
team,
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
said
the
Indian
contingent
will
keep
inspiring
people
of
India
with
their
stupendous
performances.

“Best
wishes
to
the
Indian
contingent
at
the
start
of
the
2022
CWG
in
Birmingham.
I
am
confident
our
athletes
will
give
their
best
and
keep
inspiring
the
people
of
India
through
their
stupendous
sporting
performance,”
wished
Prime
Minister
Modi
on
Twitter.