When music mixes with sports, it’s all fun and this is quite evident at the amphitheatre at the Games Village. As the sun sets, the Village turns into a place of fun, laughter and merry making for those inside. The athletes may not understand the language of the songs being played during the rock shows, but the spirit and vigour with which the bands perform, usually keeps them on their feet.

“It’s a great fun. No, I don’t understand the language but I am enjoying the drum beats. It’s a foot tapping music and I love to dance,” said Cassie Field, an Australian wrestler who was dancing to Punjabi Pop Daler Mehndi performance on Saturday.

The programme was a part of 'Delhi Celebrates', planned out by both the state and central governments to showcase the wonders of India's music during the Commonwealth Games. The concert, which was jam-packed, was attended by a number of athletes, including India’s ‘Golden-finger’ Gagang Narang, who has already won four gold medals.

The sobre, well-mannered shooter, too could not resist to the foot tapping music and songs sung the Punjab singer and started gyrating his body when prodded to celebrate his gold medals in sync with the dance number.

And Daler Mendi found a great fan in a Nigerian athlete, who kept on matching the singer’s songs with some funny and interesting moves on the floor of international zone’s corridor. “I am loving it. Language is no barrier when it comes to music. I can associate with the beats and my feet starts moving on my own. He is singing quite well and the music is foot tapping,” said Rashid Sarafu of Nigeria.

The concert started with Ek Onkar, a spiritual song and later, the King of Punjabi Pop enthralled the crowd with songs like Bolo Ta Ra Ra, Dardi Rab Rab Kardi, Ho jayegi Balle Balle and Rang De Basanti.

“It’s a good place to be at. After a day hard work, we do need to relax a bit. It’s long and tiring practice sessions during the day time and we come to this zone (international) and rejuvenate ourselves. And since this amphitheatre is here, it’s always a pleasure to watch some live performances by the Indian rock bands. Some of them are really good. Their performances automatically compel you to dance. So what if we don’t understand the lyrics. We can feel the soul of the songs,” said some of the athletes who had attracted by the gyrating beats of Mehndi’s band.

By Rakesh Jha