Spectacular show brings curtains to 33rd National Games

Guwahati, Feb 18 (UNI) Asom bids adieu to the 33rd National Games with teary eyes in a spectacular closing ceremony attended by thousands of people including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here this evening.

As the Games flame was extinguished and the IOA flag lowered to hand it over to Jharkhand, the host of the next edition, everyone from the VIP podium to the gallery got emotional as Asom hosted its grandest ever sporting show since independence.

''It was a great success and I hope many more athletes from Asom and the North East will shine,'' said Dr Singh, while IOA president Surersh Kalmadi termed it as grandest Games ever to be staged.

Cultural extravaganza, dare devil show, horse show and then a series of live performances by singing stars Usha Uthup and Debojit Saha coupled with the military bands and fire works lighted up the clear February sky of Guwahati.

There was the Bagrdumba dance of Bodos, Jhumur dance of the tea tribes besides the Bihu dance, the most famous dance of Asom, not to speak of the spectacular laser shows.

''The dream to host the 33rd National Games in this beautiful part of the country has been realised. I know that most of the participants had an apprehension about the security scenario of the state. But it took only a day or two after their arrival to dispel the misapprehension from their mind,'' said Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

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