October 3rd, 2010
12:55 PM ET

Commonwealth Games begin in India amid scrutiny

After harsh criticism and controversy, the 2010 Commonwealth Games began Sunday in New Delhi with a lavish opening ceremony.

Jawarharlal Nehru Stadium gleamed with multi-colored lights as representatives from Commonwealth countries walked the length of the field by turns, waving their flags and wearing traditional native costumes.

It's the first time India has hosted the international sporting event between countries of the former British Empire.

Britain's Prince Charles and Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil officially declared the games open. Prince Charles was representing his mother, Queen Elizabeth.

As the spotlight shines on the country, a team official of the nation's bowling team was suspected of having dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease.

Ruptu Gogoi is undergoing tests and the doctor will get the results Sunday evening, said Dr. Om Bharti, who was on duty at GB Pant hospital.

Despite the setback, the event began as planned.

Still, India remains a country with millions of poor people, who feel brushed aside as the new India tried to put its best face forward.

Read the complete story on CNN.com

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Filed under: Dengue fever • India • Sports • World
soundoff (25 Responses)
  1. evargh

    Read this article:
    http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/acsbr09-1.pdf

    It says that the number of people living in poverty in the US in 2009 was 42.9 million. That number has certainly increased now due to the prolonged recession. Sounds to me like the author's statement, "India remains a country with millions of poor people", applies equally to the USA.

    Just because you don't see poverty on the surface while you drive down the streets of NY to the same extent as you would in Bombay or Calcutta, doesn't mean that the situation here is that much better. There are millions here who can’t afford to feed their children three meals a day.

    India has slums and shantytowns in the cities. The US has ghettos and homeless people living in the streets. Poverty is just as much a problem in the US as in India. It just looks prettier on the surface.

    October 4, 2010 at 12:38 pm | Report abuse |
  2. MR

    Really feels good and proud after this display. I think next time whenever there is an Yankees game, CNN should roam around the area in Bronx and report about 'American kids selling drugs' and 'people shooting each other' and stuff like that. Who cares about sports! it is the lanes behind the sports arenas that matter.

    October 4, 2010 at 1:32 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Nathan

    I think we should respect the purpose of the games which is to bring peace and unity and not to focus on glamor or poverty. Request to CNN please appreciate what has been done .There are flaws in every system . Nothing is perfect.
    Also show what actually have been proved on opening ceremony after all criticism

    October 4, 2010 at 11:26 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Loren Gerber

    Who cares about the Common Wealth Games when there are people in India starving and dying. I just received an e mail from a friend of mine who has a church in India and they are desperate situation since the Common Wealth Games started as they have taken people from the slums and dumped them at a more appropriate place (for people not to see).

    Sorry i was not able to message you yesterday! Common Wealth Games is goin on in my city! So many people were forcefully displayed from slum areas, now they are dumped in a place with no house n ho food, left there to die.... when we went to them...most of them are even in senseless condition. Please pray for them intensively!!
    thank you!

    And you all care about the games it makes me sick to my stomach that people are dying for your gratification.

    October 10, 2010 at 4:39 am | Report abuse |
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