Heavy rain dampened the closing ceremony of the 17th Commonwealth Games in Manchester on Sunday, but the downpour couldn’t dampen the spirits of the athletes and 38,000-strong stadium crowd that gathered for the celebration in light and sound. Queen Elizabeth looked on, clutching an umbrella as her Golden Jubilee Games came to a close with a spectacular fireworks display and the release of 40,000 multicoloured balloons into the skies overhead.
Dignitaries including British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie, who wore a plastic mac to protect her from the rain, watched as giant lanterns, shaped in the form of symbols of the Commonwealth’s diverse faiths, spelled out a message – “Seek Peace” – on the floor of the arena. Earlier in the ceremony, hundreds of children came on to the stadium grounds to present an enormous gift to Her Majesty, a giant portrait of the Queen to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.
Other highlights included performances by the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart, hip hop legend Grandmaster Flash and Pop Idol champ Will Young, as well as an appearance by Coronation Street stars Steve Arnold and Tracy Shaw.
The dazzling farewell closed out eleven days of sporting events in which Australia, whose city of Melbourne is hosting the next Games in 2006, came out on top with a total of 206 medals. And as athletes paraded onto the field during the ceremony, the country’s flag was carried by Aussie swimmer Ian Thorpe, who became the most successful man in the 72-year history of the Games after winning his sixth gold on Sunday.
Other strong shows came from England, who won 165 medals, and Canada, with 114. India and New Zealand rounded out the top five, with 72 and 45 medals, respectively.
Manchester 2002 chairman Charles Allen declared the 11-day sporting extravaganza “the most successful multi-sport event ever held in Britain”. “I believe for everyone touched by the spirit of these Games,” he said, “it is a memory that will be a valuable part of the rest of our lives.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
