London , UK July 26, 2012 Thu 8:45 PM GmT
A sip of aerated water, a warm piece of the
biscuit that contains the hyper ingredient, a quiet room, disturbing
hiccups jerking my system after each drop of the sip and a barrage of
emoticons bouncing in unison in this the most sensitive portion of my
body – the brain !
Among the millions that wait in anticipation
for the start of the London Olympics 2012, I find myself in great
eagerness and resolve. Eager to spend hours of restful time in front of
replay and slow motion imagery of sporting achievements, with a resolve
that nothing but nothing shall take me away from it ! I also find myself
in invitation to participate in the Olympic Torch Relay in the city of
London, to bear the honor of holding the symbol of what this event
stands for.
Sebastian Coe, or more correctly Lord
Sebastian Coe, that heads the Olympic Organizin committee sends me a
formal letter and I readily agree. Sebastian Coe has been, quite the
champion in his own right in the 800 meters track event and I have been a
great admirer of his athleticism. I did have the opportunity to see him
tilt the scales against his arch rival Steve Ovett in the Los Angeles
Olympics in 1984 at the Collesium, and what a moment that was. So this
great sports celebrity invites me, I come to London and have just
returned from a most memorable experience of my lifetime – carrying the
Torch and running with it for some distance. The torch has been
meticulously designed in a metal that can take the pressure of a live
flame, its grill like appearance that has 8000 circular designs on it,
is the 8000 miles that the torch shall travel in Great Britain and … the
8000 bearers of the torch that shall run with it to its final
destination inside the Stadium built for the occasion of the 2012
Olympics.
This has been a singular honor, a moment of
great pride not just for me, but the entire nation and I am truly
humbled. In many ways it has reflected the spirit of the Olympics, that
of creating a platform where talent from across the world comes together
in a spirit of togetherness and camaraderie, to share harmony and
peace, leaving behind all those elements that divide us and tear us
apart !
What began as an event to exhibit a
superiority of physical strength, speed and greater height, gradually
has converted itself into a more moralistic stance – that of friendship,
honor, peace, fair play. This is now no longer just a four yearly
exercise in events that measure physical capability, but one that has
become a movement which symbolically portrays the more finer elements of
society and their rightful existence.
When different communities come together in a
spirit of sportsmanship, they bring with them not just their ability as
athletes, but bring with them a desire to compete in an atmosphere
filled with value. This is most appreciated. And this is what I have
liked the most.
Thank you Olympic Organizing Committee for
your generous invitation. Thank you Lord Sebastian Coe. And most of all
thank you City of London for your warm and generous welcome this
morning. A day that shall remain etched for life.
My thanks go out to members of the Ef that
have turned out in support, giving moral courage to an otherwise
butterflies in the stomach situation ! And of course my endless
gratitude to all the millions that have seen and felt the pride that we
all have for our Country. Your words of encouragement and the patriotic
flavor that it emanated has and will be always special for me. Thank
you !!
My love and admiration always …
Amitabh Bachchan
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