The People and the Packet.

 

All is well that ends well.

The CWG carnival is over, and there was no news of bridge collapse during the games. And thanks to the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies (and 107 medals) that world (especially the media) is now calling the games a success.

     The opportunity to hold the CWG in India was perceived as a chance to showcase India’s ability to conduct a big international event. In view of the virtual race between India and China (of becoming world power), it was a challenge for India to organize CWG at ‘Beijing Olympics’ level, if not better than that. But as the games approached near all those bad stories of rampant corruption, dubious contracts and falling bridge erupted; people questioned India’s eligibility to hold the games. In short, country’s reputation was badly damaged.

      And it was well choreographed and rehearsed performances at opening and ending ceremony which removed some of “the great Indian mud” of inefficiency and sub-standardized execution of its commitments. Thanks to the designers and the dancers. Great job guys!

      The opening ceremony, decorated with various items displaying Indian cultures and  traditions, gave a bouncy start to the games and reassurance of successful games. The kind of confidence it provided, helped the organizing teams work more strongly for making the event a success. At least, it was something which the world had praised until now.

      Then came the closing ceremony, with more then 60,000 people gathered at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and around 16 million people glued to TV to witness. The spectacular performances by children and young people and the dazzling lazer show, fireworks left people mesmerized!

       There are two implications I draw from the whole affair; one, as in commercial world “packaging” determines, to a certain extent, whether the product will stay in market or not, something similar happened in Delhi CWG, if we consider the ceremonies a wrapper. Two, where there are people involved in any job, supposed to be fulfilled by administration, it surely becomes a success (the designers and dancers were not Kalmadis or Dixits).

[one of my articles, written in Oct 2010]