Indian flag hoisted at Olympic Village

London - At an elegant and colourful ceremony Sunday, the Indian contingent was formally welcomed and ushered into the London Olympics’ Games Village here.

Games Village Mayor Charles Allan welcomed the Indian deputy Chef de Mission P.K.M. Raja, athletes and officials at the plush apartment as the tricolour was hoisted while the national anthem was played.

Raja exchanged mementos with Allan and then signed on the peace statue pledging India’s support for spreading the gospel of peace and the Olympic movement.

The Indian athletes and the officials were overwhelmed with the warmth and positive energy emanated by the troupe belonging to the National Youth theatre, enthralling the audience with their superlative acrobatics.

Tennis stars Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Boppana, world number one archer Deepika Kumari along with her two team mates and members of the hockey team were part of the function.

The Indian contingent has been housed in Titan House at the Seaside block.

Later Raja said that all the Indian sports persons who have moved into the village are fit and excited about the mega event beginning July 27.

He disclosed that at the daily meetings chaired by him, the coaches and managers have given positive feedback about their teams.

The athletes are supported by a medical team of four doctors – Sarla Rao (head of the team, Sanjogita Soodan, B. B. Nayak and Abhishek Choudhary, three physiotherapists: Ramesh Trivedi, HariShankar Varma and Srikant Iyengar.

Raja said that Sarla has informed him that she is going to get masseurs for athletes on permanent basis.