England's athletes participate in the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
England's athletes participate in the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Images are projected on an aerostat as pyrotechnics go off during the closing ceremony for the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India. Lights are projected skywards over an aerostat during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
School children, draped in the colours of the Indian national flag, perform during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Laser beams fill the arena as artists perform during the closing ceremony for the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India. The most controversial games in history, marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout, came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
An Indian Police officer keeps watch from a roof top as fireworks light up above the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India. The most controversial games in history, marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout, came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
School children, draped in the colors of the Indian national flag, perform during the closing ceremony for the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Pyrotechnics goes off marking the end of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial games in history, marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout, came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Lights are projected skywards over an aerostat during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
School children, draped in the colors of the Indian national flag, perform during the closing ceremony for the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Canadian athletes wave to the crowd, cheered on by volunteers during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Artists perform during a laser show at the closing ceremony for the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India. The most controversial games in history, marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout, came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Indian school children perform, as colored powder in the tricolors of the Indian national flag lie scattered, during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
The Indian national flag is projected on an aerostat during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Lights are projected skywards during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Laser beams fill the arena as images are projected on an aerostat during the closing ceremony for the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India. The most controversial games in history, marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout, came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Indian school children perform during the closing ceremony for the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Artists perform during the closing ceremony for the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Pyrotechnics goes off marking the end of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial games in history, marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout, came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Indian school children perform during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
School children, draped in the colours of the Indian national flag, perform during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
The Indian national flag is projected on an aerostat as artists perform during the closing ceremony for the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Indian school children perform during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Fireworks go off as martial artists perform during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India. The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Photo: AP
Published Oct 14, 2010
Share
The most controversial Commonwealth Games in history - marked by oppressive security and low spectator turnout - came to a close without any major glitches as India celebrated the finale with an extravagant cultural show. Indian administrators were roundly criticised by local and international media and foreign sports delegations before the games for delays in getting the facilities ready but once the games started, all the venues were cleaned up and ready.
Athletes praised the facilities at the venues and at the village, and only a handful of the more than 6 000 players and officials were reported sick during the games, belying fears of contaminated water and “Delhi belly.”