October 2, 2010 (New Delhi, India) – Already, at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, Team Canada has experienced the chills and excitement of watching the Canadian flag rise as the familiar sounds of Canada’s national anthem bring emotion forth. At a flag raising ceremony hosted in the Athletes’ Village for Team Canada by the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games organizing committee, Games organizers celebrated Canada and talked of exciting days to come.

At the event, held in a colourful amphitheatre style outdoor venue in the International Zone of the Athletes’ Village, “Bollywood” style music accompanied festive dancers. Members of Team Canada attended the event with flags waving while dressed in Canadian team clothing. Dalbir Singh, Mayor of the 2010 Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village, welcomed the team and thanked Canada for their help and guidance as the final preparations for the athlete arrivals were made. Team Canada Chef de Mission Martha Deacon, who arrived on Thursday, accepted the thanks and could barely contain her excitement as she spoke to her team with pride.

The event also marked the beginning of a new Commonwealth Games Canada tradition. Commonwealth Games six-time gold medallist, three-time gold medalist at the Pan Am Games and five-time Senior National Champion, Alexandra Orlando, who was Closing Ceremony flag bearer at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, presented a commemorative bracelet to Ken Pereira. Pereira, captain of the men’s field hockey team, will be Canada’s flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony on October 3.

The event marked an opportunity for Team Canada to look forward to the possibilities of hearing the anthem many times in the coming weeks and to mark a milestone as the additional team members arrive in the next few days to complement the team.

Prior to leaving the event for training, Pereira admitted at the ceremony to being emotional at the sound of the national anthem.

“I get goose bumps every time I hear our national anthem,” said Pereira to the cheers of the Canadians present at the ceremony. “If you don’t mind, I plan on walking very slowly on Sunday so I can savour every moment.”