PM declares 33rd National Games closed
	Guwahati:Blending a collage of the cultures of the country's northeastern states with the razzmatazz of pop and Bollywood glamour, the curtain came down on the 33rd National Games on Sunday. An enthralling multi-hued closing ceremony, watched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a host of dignitaries, brought the 10-day multi-disciplinary sports extravaganza to an end at the packed Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium. The Prime Minister formally declared the Games closed, saluting the untiring efforts, undaunted spirit and enthusiasm of the sportspersons who took part in the competition. "This evening we recognise the multitude of sporting talent in our midst. We rejoice in your success. All of you may not have won medals. But I salute your untiring efforts, undaunted spirit and enthusiasm. "Success is not the yardstick to assess one's abilities. What mattes is the spirit. The spirit and the will to excel and endure," he said in his short speech. India's prowess Singh urged sportspersons to prepare themselves for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. "Time has now come to roll up your sleeves and prepare for the Commonwealth and Asian Games. The flag of the nation must fly high and we have a lot to achieve if we have to do our nation proud," Singh said. The PM said that the time has come to prove India's prowess in the sporting fields of the world. "There is no dearth of talent in our vast country. The challenge lies in harnessing this talent, nurturing it, providing the best facilities, training and exposure," he said. Singh called for all-round effort in this regard by involving central and state governments, sports federations, universities and schools.