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Delhi
put on a second flawless spectacle of song and dance Thursday to close
the Commonwealth Games on a high after at one stage threatening to
become a national embarrassment to India.

The $6 billion
Games started in crisis and struggled through a first week of
organisational blunders before finally getting into its stride to leave
athletes happy and a host nation proud of its best ever showing in the
sporting arena.

Chief local
organiser Suresh Kalmadi, who bore the brunt of public anger and was
jeered at the closing ceremony as he had been at the opening, paid
tribute to the spirit the city had shown in bringing the Games back
from crisis.

“A month ago questions were being asked about whether the Games would be held at all,” he said.

“We knew it was
about India’s ability to stand up and show the world what we are
capable of and we can achieve in the face of adversity. We did just
that.”

India’s hope was
that the Games would display its ability to put on a world class
multi-sport gathering but chaotic preparations and a series of
organisational blunders turned it into a public relations disaster.

India is proud of
being the “jugaadu” – the Hindi word for “making do” – nation, however,
and the filthy athletes’ village was quickly made fit for habitation, a
collapsed footbridge was reconstructed by the army and security was
effective.

“The organisation
of this Games has been characterised by many challenges and (they) have
overcome those obstacles to deliver a truly outstanding event,” Games
Federation chief Michael Fennell told the 60,000 crowd at the
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Earlier, India’s
badminton queen Saina Nehwal clawed her way back from match point down
to claim a 38th gold for the hosts and ensure second place on the medal
table, their best ever finish.

Australia on top

Australia topped
the table for the sixth successive Games with 74 gold medals with
England (37) just edged into third ahead of Canada (26). South Africa,
Kenya and Malaysia won 12 golds.

The center of
Indian capital was again locked down on Thursday with reports in the
British media of a specific threat to the closing ceremony a reminder
of security concerns which caused some athletes to stay away from Delhi.

Rajan Bhagat, a
spokesman for Delhi police, ruled out any new threat and said the
100,000 police and military who have been guarding Delhi and the
various Games venues were not reinforced.

“There is adequate security and there is no change in the levels of threat perception,” he said.

After marching
bands and the handover of the Games flag to the 2014 host city Glasgow,
the David Dixon award for the Athlete of the Games went to Jamaica’s
Trecia Smith, who successfully defended her triple jump title.

Passionate fans

It was India’s
success in the sporting arena, however, that helped turn the event
around with crowds flocking to venues that had been virtually empty at
the beginning of the 12-day even “This is not the end but the
beginning,” Kalmadi, who is also President of the Indian Olympic
Association, added. “For the athletes this was a life-changing
experience.

For India it was a
new beginning in sports. For the world, it was what India can do.”
Nehwal showed what she could do when she beat Malaysia’s Wong Mew Choo
in front of a delirious packed house at the Siri Fort complex.

“The crowd was
really important,” Nehwal said. “I’ve never been match point down
before so I was under pressure. I think it was the toughest match of my
career.” Kenya won both men’s and women’s gold in the marathon, which
kicked off the final day, to complete its domination of the athletics
with 11 golds.

Few spectators
braved the security barriers and morning heat but the city’s wildlife
was again out in force with police chasing stray dogs and using sticks
to clear monkeys from the course.

Indian’s men’s hockey team failed in their quest to win a first Games gold, humbled 8-0 by triple defending champions Australia.

Despite the Delhi belly stomach complaints and the security that kept them mostly locked up in the village,

athletes were mostly positive about their Delhi experience.

“There were spectacular venues and really caring people ensured all
our needs were met,” said Canada’s chef de mission Martha Deacon. “The
Games are an incredible success. We had a great two weeks in Delhi.”