MEMBERS of India’s elite athletic squad were on Thursday (28) given a rapturous welcome by fans on arrival in the UK, as part of a special event organised by the Indian High Commission and hosted by Birmingham City University (BCU).
Hundreds of supporters from across the Indian diaspora -- drawn from the worlds of education, culture, sport, and business -- joined senior leaders and staff from the university and Indian government officials to honour the Asian nation's boxing, gymnastics and squash professionals who have arrived in Birmingham for the 2022 Commonwealth Games at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Professor Philip Plowden, vice chancellor of Birmingham City University, lights the ceremonial lamp at the Team India welcome event at the university's Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on Thursday, July 28, 2022. (Picture: Birmingham City University)
On the occasion, athletes, coaching staff and members of the Birmingham-based Consulate General of India were met by BCU’s vice chancellor Professor Phillip Plowden, deputy vice chancellor Professor Julian Beer and director of sport and physical activity Mark Jeffreys -- all members of the BCU India group, before being presented with gifts and being shown the renowned £57-million music and acting school.
Professor Plowden said, “Hosting members from Team India ahead of one of the biggest sporting events the city of Birmingham has seen was a tremendous honour.
“The event, delivered with our friends at CGI Birmingham, underlined our commitment to strengthening links between the UK and India – we have a clear ambition to celebrate and invest in education, culture, business and sport infrastructure projects delivering real impact for our domestic and international communities.
“We wish the whole Indian team the very best at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and look forward to following their progress over the coming weeks.”
The near-capacity audience enjoyed food provided by leading Midlands Indian restaurant Bacaba and heard Dr Shashank Vikram, Indian consul general, Birmingham; acting Indian high commissioner in London Sujit Ghosh, and professor Plowden who took part in a ceremonial lighting of a lamp symbolising knowledge over and darkness and ignorance.
Six athletes were interviewed on stage by BCU Media Production course director and head of Birmingham Indian Film Festival Dharmesh Rajput, before enjoying traditional and contemporary Indian performances from Sampad.
Dr Vikram welcomed the diaspora and lauded their spirit to cheer on Team India, highlighting that more than 65 Indian athletes are participating in Commonwealth for the first time before wishing them luck, particularly in the year when India is celebrating 75 years of Independence.
In recent months, BCU has celebrated the first phase of the opening of ground-breaking business innovation centre MBCIE in India in a partnership with India's motorbike and cycle manufacturing giant Hero Group; hosted visits by acclaimed musicians Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, and Sartinder Sartaaj; signed a cultural Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian government and undertaken visits to the Punjab region in order to further develop cultural, business, political and academic links with India.
Bob Blackman MP speaks during the event