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Sports & Games
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Afro Asian Games declared open
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Hyderabad, October 24, 2003
Deputy Prime Minister of India Mr. L K Advani has official declared the Ist Afro Asian Games open at Hyderabad today. The games are the first intercontinental games. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mr. Vikram Verma, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Mr. N Chandrababu Naidu, Governor of Andhra Pradesh Sri Surjit Singh Barnala, President of the Afro-Asian Council and Olympic Council of Asia Mr. HH Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President of Indian Olympic Association Suresh Kalmadi, Secretary General of Indian Olympic Association and Secretary General of Afro-Asian Games Council Mr. Randhir Sing, State Cabinet Minister, Officials, Film Stars (including Chiranjeevi, Balakrishna, Sanjay Dutt, amongst others), Tennis star Leander Paes were present at the opening ceremony of the games.
Sharoo - the Mascot of the games - at the Opening Ceremony of Afro Asian Games
"Hyderabad made history". These are the opening quotes by Dy Prime Minister lamenting at Andhra Pradesh at its competitive spirit that is driving the state forward in many areas including Information Technology, Biotechnology and more recently in the field of sports. Mr. Advani said he is surprised at the enthusiasm of Mr. Naidu in taking the state forward and thusly the country.
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Mr. N Chandrababu Naidu said that Andhra Pradesh was tuning itself to be the sports capital of Asia. He asked Mr. Advani to take the message to the center that the state is ready to host Commonwealth Games and even the Olympics. He said that Andhra has good sporting infrastructure and enthusiast volunteers who can make sporting programs great.
The Opening Ceremony made audience delightful with good festive colors, lasers and big lightings. Songs by SP Balasubramhmanyam, Usha, Shankar Mahadevan, dances by stars Mahima Chaudhary, Simran and Urmila Matondkar, performances by classical dances representing various parts of the country, the Chant of Peace, a documentary highlighting the formation of continents, the Kerala defence and attack art of Kalatpayeru, the Manipur special Thangta, acrobats and the Karate, Hauling Hauks of Kung Fu, the African Umauja are extremely attractive.
G M C Balayogi Main Athletic Stadium at Gachibowli was packed with strong 30,000 audience who came to watch the inaugural ceremony with keen interest.
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