Commonwealth Games: Bhangra dance at the closing ceremony

Birmingham: India’s trip to Birmingham ended with Bhangra dance. Colorful program was held at the closing ceremony of Commonwealth Games 2022. As per tradition, the flag was handed over to Australia for the next edition. England’s Alexander Stadium sparkled with Apache Indian’s power pack Bhangra performance.

This year’s state sports competition ended in a colorful evening with various cultural programs. The 11-day-long Commonwealth Games in Birmingham has taken a memorable departure.

More than 4005 athletes from 72 countries participated in this competition. India finished the trip to Birmingham with 61 medals. As per tradition, at the end of the competition, the flag of the Commonwealth Games Federation was officially lowered and handed over to the Australian state of Victoria, the host of the next edition in 2026.

Prince Edward announced the “Birmingham 2022 Closing Ceremony” and an invitation to Victoria, Australia for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Speaking at the ceremony, Edward said: “You have inspired us, and I hope the next generation will learn something from you. You have shown what unites us. On behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, our Patron and the Commonwealth Games Federation, I close Birmingham 2022.”

Indian-born Steven Kapoor, a singer-songwriter and reggae DJ known as ‘Apache Indian’, delivered a power packed performance on the chartbusters ‘Boom Shack-A-Lac’, Pas Dutch’ and Red Wine’. After this, model and activist Neelam Gill repeated the cultural phenomenon of the 80s and 90s in Punjabi Tadka Sang. The closing ceremony for the current state of the sport featured 20 musical performances, with musical legends Goldie and Beverley Knight contributing to iconic inner city life and honoring Wolverhampton’s pioneering role in rave culture and 80s street art.

Transgender British model Tallulah Eve paid tribute to a new romantic era and Birmingham’s queer culture, while current Birmingham superstars Raza Hussain, Mahalia, Zaki and Aish put on a show with an eye to the future. Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin and Birmingham 2022 CEO Martin Green gave farewell speeches at the musical event.

What a way to bring it all to an end!

Thank you, Birmingham. Thank you, thank you, thank you!@ozzyosbourne @tonyiommi @wakemanofficial#B2022 #ClosingCeremony #CommonwealthGames pic.twitter.com/2UoSFrqoeH

— Birmingham 2022 (@birminghamcg22) August 8, 2022

“The closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games was a real celebration of an outstanding Commonwealth Games and a very good performance from Birmingham, the country and the Commonwealth,” said Martin. “It’s the end of a special competition,” said Martin.

Star women’s boxer Nikhat Jarin and veteran table tennis player Achant Sharat Kamal were the flag bearers for India. As soon as they entered, Punjabi song their hit number ‘Mundiya toh Bachke’ rocked the stage. Meanwhile, Bharat Bhangra dance ended the current Commonwealth Games with a colorful evening.