Bangladesh News

There are only two seasons in Sri Lanka: rain and sunshine. And nature showed both of its variety as the Sri Lankan capital — decorated like a young, shy bride — unveiled the 10th South Asian Games amidst sunshine, rain and foolproof security here Friday with hopes that the ‘Olympics’ of the region will help shift focus from terror to sports.

Festoons, banners and spectacular paper lanterns of eight colours had already given a festive mood to this teardrop-shaped island of the Indian Ocean which — despite Monday’s terrorist bomb attack in the heart of Colombo that killed eight people — showed signs of returning to normalcy with singing cuckoos announcing the arrival of clear weather after the monsoon.

All roads led to the Sugathadasa Stadium where President Mahinda Rajapakse declared the eight-nation event open with a 40,000-pack stadium roaring in cheers.

Even the journalists had to go through a gruelling security check from 12 noon for the 5pm-start of the gala opening ceremony and cell phones were totally banned inside the venue, also guarded by sniffer dogs apart from thousands of security personnel.

The march past began after the national anthem of Sri Lanka, the traditional Porapol contest, the Udarata Kadukara or the Tea Dance and parachute displays by the Sri Lanka Air Force and Army.

The teams appeared in alphabetical orders with Afghanistan, a new member included to the Games of the Saarc nations, leading the way. And as it always happens at Games, hosts Sri Lanka brought the rear.

Swimmer Rubel Rana carried the Bangladesh flag but the contingent, that followed the Afghans, was very small as most of the teams were yet to reach Colombo and football opted to stay out for training.

Star athlete and Sri Lanka athletics team captain Susantika Jayasinghe carried out the athletes’ oath taking act, Asiad gold medalist runner Nagalingam ignited the Games flame and Sunil Edirisinghe performed the theme song.

And even a late shower could not dampen the spirit of 7,000 students who after a month’s preparation, delivered a cultural programme highlighting the rich Sri Lankan traditions.

Noisy whip crackers and fireworks, organised with the help of the Chinese government, lit up the night sky of Colombo, gracing the breathtaking five-hour pageantry that enthralled the heart and mind of the spectators with soothing music backed by the beat of drums, dances from all provinces and callisthenics.

Competition in the Games of nearly one-and-a-half billion people of seven Saarc countries — Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka — and Afghanistan has begun on August 14 and India won the first gold medal yesterday, sweeping all five badminton honours.