Happy to be here

Squirrel, the mascot of the 8th Bangladesh Games, was welcomed with great pomp and glitz during the opening ceremony at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Squirrel symbolises the youth of the country. PHOTO: FIROZ AHMED

There might have been many shortcomings in the arrangements of the 8th Bangladesh Games, but there was no shortage of enthusiasm among the athletes who came here from across the country to attend the opening ceremony of the country's biggest sports extravaganza.
The athletes have hardly been given enough time to prepare themselves for the Games, but they are happy to just to participate in the multi-sports show in the capital.
"This is the first time I am taking part in a competition at national level and I am really excited to be part of the Bangladesh Games.
Doesn't matter what the result was, I'm just happy to participate," said Nafiza Alam, a student of Rajshahi University, who was waiting for the march past outside the Bangabandhu National Stadium after being eliminated from the under-49kg category in tekwondo.
"It is the biggest sports competition of the country and I am pleased to represent my university even if it is a token participation for me," said Dhaka University's Theatrics department's Mohammad Elias, who will compete in pole vault, triple jump and long jump events.
Rugby players of Sirajganj came here to take part with just a week's preparation and they dream of becoming champions as they have been playing the game for at least three years. On the other hand, the hockey players of Patuakhali, despite having one-month's preparation, were eliminated from the group-stage. But all of them were relaxed and excited just to attend the opening ceremony.
"Though we are out of the competition, we are all staying here to enjoy the opening ceremony at our own cost," said Arif of the Patuakhali team.
Like the athletes, the spectators also came in numbers, and with enthusiasm, to witness the colourful opening ceremony. They waited for nearly an hour outside the big bowl which was almost full long before the gala ceremony started.