Stars vied with fireworks to add glitter to the closing of the Commonwealth Youth Games, making it a night to remember for Puneites. Breathtaking daredevilry by stunt bikers, electrifying helicopter rides and synchronised movements by hundreds of schoolchildren made the event a spectacular one.

The Bollywood stars were there to add to the glamour quotient. Shilpa Shetty sizzled, Reitesh Deshmukh rocked, Diya Mirza dazzled and Malaika Arora Khan wooed the audience.

It ended with the customary goodbye to Jigrr and welcoming of elder brother Shera, the mascot of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, as Shiamak Davar gave a foot-tapping performance.

With the state clinching one-third of the medal tally, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, the presiding chief guest, announced a special felicitation programme for winners in Mumbai shortly for distributing the promised cheques of Rs 10 lakh, Rs 7 lakh and Rs 5 lakh to gold, silver and bronze winners respectively.

“It is a proud moment for us and for Pune,” he said in his speech giving credit to the CYG Organising Committee chairman and Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi.

He lauded the good infrastructure in the city and said Kalmadi had done well. He also mentioned the support of the Prime Minister and party chief Sonia Gandhi and thanked Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who was the chief guest, for his support.

With Kalmadi repeatedly stating that Pune has the infrastructure to host even the Olympics, Deshmukh said the Maharashtra government will do all it can to bring Olympics to the state.

Pawar, in his speech, also lauded Kalmadi over the “excellent infrastructure work in the city” and said even as CYG saw India leading from the front, the Mohali test too saw Sachin doing remarkably well, which was a true toast to the sporting spirit of the country. He added what China had done by winning the maximum medals in the Beijing Olympics, India had done at this grand event which saw the participation of 71 countries.

Kalmadi said that with the PM announcing Rs 700 crore for training purpose, the sports city at Balewadi will turn out to be the best in the world. “Just as cricket, these games have to be given equal importance and more funds,” he said. He thanked the Centre for the Rs 3,000 crore released for the Games and thanked both the municipal corporation chiefs, divisional commissioner, collector, and mayors of both the corporations for the infrastructure work in the city. “The CYG has done magic for Pune infrastructure,” he said bowing and thanking Puneites for all the support they rendered for the games.

Even as the crowd revelled in the Bollywood extravaganza that unfolded at the venue, amidst fireworks, the customary passing over the quaich (torch) was done by Suresh Kalmadi to M Quail, tourism minister of Isle of Man from Scotland which will host the next CYG in 2011.

President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, Michael Fennel declared the Games closed. Ministers, Patangrao Kadam, Harshvardhan Patil, Dilipwalse Patil and Vasant Purke were also present at the closing function.

A postage stamp to commemorate the CYG was also released by SC Jarodia, post master general, Pune division.