New Delhi: India’s national flag was unfurled at the Olympic Games Athletes Village on Sunday in the presence of a small group of sportspersons and contingent officials after their request for deferring the flag-raising ceremony was turned down by the organisers.

According to an IOA media release, an elegant and colorful ceremony, formally welcomed the Indian contingent into the Olympics Games Village.

Brig P.K.M Raja, Indian deputy Chef de Mission, exchanged mementos with Games Village Mayor Charles Allan and then signed on the peace statue pledging India’s unflinching support for spreading the gospel of peace and the Olympic movement.

The athletes and the officials were overwhelmed with the warmth and energy of the troupe belonging to the National Youth theater who enthralled the audience with their amazing acrobatics and performances.

Tennis stars Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Boppana, world number 1 archer Deepika Kumari along with Bombayla Devi and Swuro, some hockey players, boxers, and  Games’ officials attended the function.

India had sought a postponement of date for its flag-raising ceremony, which is also called the ‘Welcoming Ceremony’, so that a larger contingent could be present at the function. But the London Olympic Games organisers refused to sanction any change in the schedule and stuck to the original roster.

The Indian contingent’s deputy chef-de-mission Brigadier PK Muralidharan Raja had earlier said that the flag-raising ceremony would take place as originally scheduled and a good number of athletes would be present on the occasion.