When music mixes with sport, it is all fun, and that is plain to see at the amphitheatre in the Games Village. As the sun sets, the Village turns into a place of fun, laughter and merrymaking for those inside. The athletes may not understand the language of the songs played at the rock shows, but the spirit and energy with which the bands perform usually keep them on their feet.
“It’s great fun. No, I don’t understand the language, but I am enjoying the drum beats. It’s foot-tapping music and I love to dance,” said Cassie Field, an Australian wrestler who was dancing to Punjabi pop star Daler Mehndi’s performance on Saturday.
The programme was part of ‘Delhi Celebrates’, planned by the state and central governments to present India’s music during the Commonwealth Games. The packed concert was attended by a number of athletes, including India’s ‘Golden Finger’ Gagan Narang, who has already won four gold medals.
The sober, well-mannered shooter could not resist the foot-tapping music and songs of the Punjabi singer either, and when prodded to celebrate his gold medals, he began to dance in time with the number.
Daler Mehndi also found a great fan in a Nigerian athlete, who kept matching the singer’s songs with funny and inventive moves on the floor of the international zone’s corridor. “I am loving it. Language is no barrier when it comes to music. I can connect with the beats and my feet start moving on their own. He is singing very well and the music is foot-tapping,” said Rashid Sarafu of Nigeria.
The concert began with Ek Onkar, a spiritual song, and the King of Punjabi Pop then thrilled the crowd with songs such as Bolo Ta Ra Ra, Dardi Rab Rab Kardi, Ho Jayegi Balle Balle and Rang De Basanti.
“It’s a good place to be. After a hard day’s work, we need to relax a bit. There are long and tiring practice sessions during the day, and we come to this international zone to rejuvenate ourselves. Since the amphitheatre is here, it’s always a pleasure to watch live performances by Indian rock bands. Some of them are really good. Their performances make you want 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 been drawn in by the beats of Mehndi’s band.
By Rakesh Jha
Indian Sports News
