New Delhi: Two presidents, a prince and a governor general will attend the opening of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in New Delhi on Sunday.
New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, Monaco's Prince Albert II, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and Nauru President Marcus Stephen will be among those at the ceremony, official sources said on Friday.
According to British High Commissioner Richard Stagg, Prince Charles and India's President Pratibha Patil will declare the Games open. Some 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories will take part.
Sixty six-year-old Sir Anand, the 19th governor general of New Zealand, is the first of Indian descent to hold the post.
The head of state as well as the personal representative of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, the governor general is appointed by her on the advice of New Zealand's prime minister, usually for five years. Sir Anand was appointed in 2006.
Fifty two-year-old Albert II, took over as the ruler of Monaco the second smallest country in the world in 2005 after the death of his father, Rainier III. His mother was an American actress Grace Kelly.
Founder of the Maldivian Democratic Party, 43-year-old Nasheed won the presidential election in the Indian Ocean atoll nation in 2008 defeating long-time president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Stephen, a former weightlifter with a haul of seven gold and five silver medals in CWG, took over as president of western Pacific Ocean island nation of Nauru in 2007.
The 40-year-old Stephen is also the president of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation and of the Nauru National Olympic Committee.
New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, Monaco's Prince Albert II, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and Nauru President Marcus Stephen will be among those at the ceremony, official sources said on Friday.
According to British High Commissioner Richard Stagg, Prince Charles and India's President Pratibha Patil will declare the Games open. Some 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories will take part.
The head of state as well as the personal representative of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, the governor general is appointed by her on the advice of New Zealand's prime minister, usually for five years. Sir Anand was appointed in 2006.
Advertisement
Founder of the Maldivian Democratic Party, 43-year-old Nasheed won the presidential election in the Indian Ocean atoll nation in 2008 defeating long-time president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Advertisement
The 40-year-old Stephen is also the president of the Oceania Weightlifting Federation and of the Nauru National Olympic Committee.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Sheikh Hasina's Son Thanks New Delhi For ''Saving Her Life'', Warns Of ''Chaos'' Without Swift Polls 9 New Restaurants In Delhi You Must Visit In Aug-Sep 2024 CBI Arrests Probe Agency ED Official Over Rs 20 Lakh Bribe Nurse Raped, Killed On Way Home, Body Found 9 Days Later In UP "Took Advantage Of His Addiction": 5 Charged Over Matthew Perry's Death "Don't Expect Anything From Me": Kolkata Hospital's New Principal Loses Cool Ukraine, Russia Both Claim Advances In Kursk Region Gaza Ceasefire Talks Underway In Qatar As Deaths Top 40,000 Trump To Hold Press Conference, His Campaign Adds Senior Advisers Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.