France on strike

Weeks of strikes, protests and demonstrations have brought much of France to a standstill as workers, students and others voice their strong opposition to a government proposal to raise the age for a minimum pension from 60 to 62. A quarter of the nation's gas stations were out of fuel, hundreds of flights were canceled, long lines formed at gas stations and train services in many regions were cut in half. Protesters blockaded Marseille's airport, Lady Gaga canceled concerts in Paris and rioting youths attacked police in Lyon. The unpopular bill is edging closer to becoming law as the French Senate is preparing to vote on it today. Collected here are recent images of the unrest around France. Update: Pension reform bill just now passed by French senate.

A man holds a placard which reads "Listen to the public's rage" during a demonstration in front of the French Senate in Paris October 20, 2010. French trade unions kept up their resistance on Wednesday to an unpopular pension reform due for a final vote in the Senate this week. (REUTERS/Charles Platiau)

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People march during a protest in Marseille, southern France, Saturday Oct. 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Claude Paris) #

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A truck driver walks past a line of lorries as he waits outside a fuel depot of the society SFDM near the oil refinery of Donges, near Nantes, October 22, 2010. (REUTERS/Stephane Mahe) #

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Aerial view of Tankers and other vessels waiting off shore near Marseille's port in Martigues on October 17, 2010, where two oil terminals are blocked by strike action. (ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Demonstrators gather around a puppet symbolizing the French Republic during a protest in Paris, Tuesday Oct.19, 2010. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) #

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Workers demonstrate in front of the Senate on October 20, 2010 in Paris, France. President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to raise the retirement age to 62 has prompted Oil workers to protest crippling the transport system and triggering gas shortages. Students are also attending demonstrations and have in some cases barricaded entrances to schools. (Franck Prevel/Getty Images) #

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Arcelor Mittal steel workers dressed in protective work suit demonstrate over pension reforms in Marseille October 12, 2010. (REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier) #

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Youths scramble outside a looted store during clashes with police forces in Lyon, central France, Wednesday Oct. 20, 2010. France's interior minister threatened Wednesday to send in paramilitary police to stop rioting on the fringes of protests. Months of largely peaceful demonstrations against the pension reform have taken a violent turn in recent days. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) #

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A gendarme helicopter circles overhead at low altitude during clashes between youths and police forces in Lyon, central France, Wednesday Oct. 20, 2010. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler) #

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People demonstrate on October 12, 2010 in Paris, to protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to up the retirement age to 62. (FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images) #

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High school students shout slogans as striking railway workers burn railway tracks during a demonstration at the old port of Marseille October 21, 2010. (REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier) #

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Passengers wait for a train on a platform at the Gare du Nord railway station in Paris October 19, 2010 during a nationwide strike by public sector workers to protest against pension reform. Airport staff, bus and train drivers, postal workers and the armored truck drivers who keep cash machines stocked up could join refinery workers and others in a day of nationwide strikes against the plan to raise the retirement age. (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes) #

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Passengers walk on the highway as French striking workers block the Charles-de-Gaulle airport in Roissy near Paris October 20, 2010. (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes) #

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People block the access to the Nice airport on October 19, 2010, as they demonstrate during the sixth day of coordinated nationwide protests. (VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images) #

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French police secure an entrance at Orly airport, south of Paris, as striking airport workers blocked the access to roads October 20, 2010. (REUTERS/Guillaume Bertrand) #

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Striking workers clash with police as they block the Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy near Paris October 20, 2010. (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes) #

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French police take position during clashes with youths after a demonstration over pension reform in Lyon, October 19, 2010. (REUTERS/Robert Pratta) #

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High school students shout during a demonstration against retirement reforms in Paris, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) #

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French high school students kiss on the road in front of the police at the end of a demonstration over pension reform in Paris October 21, 2010. (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes) #

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Youths overturn a car in a street in Lyon, central France, Thursday Oct.21, 2010. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani) #

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Plainclothes police officers, right, try to detain a youth during a protest in Paris, Thursday Oct. 21, 2010. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) #

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Riot police officers detain a youth during clashes in Lyon, central France, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani) #

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A demonstrator holds a flare aloft as private and public sector workers demonstrate over pension reforms in Nice October 19, 2010. (REUTERS/Eric Gaillard) #

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Civil security members requisitioned by the French government clean the streets and pile up garbage in Marseille October 20, 2010 on the ninth day of a strike by rubbish collectors. (REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier) #

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Oil trucks leave an oil depot escorted by french riot police in Bassens, near Bordeaux, southwestern France,Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Bob Edme) #

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Riot policemen push demonstrators who blocked the fuel storage depot of Douchy-Les-Mines, northern France, to protest against French government pensions reform on October 19, 2010. (FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A nurse denounces the anticipated 67-year-old age for retirement during a workers and students demonstration ending at Place de la Bastille on October 12, 2010 in Paris, as part of a nationwide action to protest against the government reform bill on pensions. (JOEL SAGET/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A child holds a banner on the shoulders of a man during a demonstration in Lyon, central France, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani) #

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French high school students, with the message "No to the reform", attend a demonstration over pension reform on October 21, 2010 in Paris, France. (Franck Prevel/Getty Images) #

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A woman holds a sign as she demonstrates during a National Union-Led protest against retirement reform on October 16, 2010 in Paris, France. On the sign, an old woman says "When I was your age, I was already working", and a girl replies "When I am your age I'll still be working." (Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images) #

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French high school students block the entrance of the Dorian high school in Paris October 15, 2010. (REUTERS/Charles Platiau) #

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French Youth run from riot police forces during clashes on October 20, 2010 on the sideline of anti pensions reform protests in Lyon. (PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A French high school student faces riot gendarmes during a student demonstration at the Place de la Republique in Paris October 19, 2010. (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes) #

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A tear gas canister explodes near hooded youths during a confrontation with French police at a demonstration against pension reform in Lyon October 21, 2010. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse) #

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Riot police officers detain a youth during a student demonstration in Lyon, central France, Monday, Oct.18, 2010. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani) #

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A fireman tries to extinguish a burning car during riots in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris, on October 20, 2010. (Franck Prevel/Getty Images) #

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A woman walks past a message written on a road saying "Tous en greve" (everybody on strike) as part of the demonstrations by railway workers from state-run company SNCF during the nationwide day of protest against pension reform on October 13, 2010 in Chenove, eastern France. (JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Students vote during a students' general assembly, to extend the closure of Naterre's university, near Paris, to protest the government retirement reforms, Friday, Oct. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) #

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French gendarmes charge to unblock the entrance of the Grandpuits oil refinery southeast of Paris October 22, 2010 as striking workers unsuccessfully attempted to continue their blockade. (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier) #

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A view of the French Senate, in Paris, Friday, Oct. 22, 2010. The French Senate prepared to vote on a pension reform, after the government short-circuited a protracted debate. The Senate is near certain to approve the measure, which raises the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62 later Friday, despite months of strikes and protests. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon) #

The XIX Commonwealth Games

After much worry and criticism before the start, the nineteenth Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India have now reached a successful conclusion without any of the disastrous events that had been predicted. Of the 71 participating countries, Australia topped the medal chart, taking home 177 medals, 74 of them gold. Host nation India also fared well, coming in second overall with 101 medals. The games were held from October 3rd through the 14th, ending with a closing ceremony in New Delhi yesterday. Collected here are photographs of the XIX Commonwealth Games from around India over the past couple of weeks.

An athlete runs in the Men's Marathon at Vijay Chowk during day eleven of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games on October 14, 2010 in Delhi, India. (Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)

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A light installation depicts Hindu Yogic posture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi October 3, 2010. (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi) #

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Drummers perform during the opening ceremony for the 19th Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus) #

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Entertainers perform during the Opening Ceremony for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on October 3, 2010 in Delhi, India. (Feng Li/Getty Images) #

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Alison Bruce of the Australian women's hockey team trains under the sprinkler system at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium ahead of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games on October 3, 2010 in Delhi, India. (Mark Dadswell/Getty Images) #

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Australia's Emily Rosemond looks over at her competition Canada's Monique Sullivan prior to the women's track cycling sprint quarterfinals at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi October 7, 2010. (REUTERS/Andy Clark) #

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From left to right, Australia's Samantha Marshall, Leisel Jones and Sarah Katsoulis compete in the women's 100m breaststroke swimming final during the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi October 8, 2010. (REUTERS/Tim Wimborne) #

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A municipal worker fumigates a road which will be used for the road cycling race event of the Commonwealth Games at Noida in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh October 11, 2010. (REUTERS/Parivartan Sharma) #

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Australia's Steve Hooker reacts after successfully clearing the bar during the men's pole vault finals at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi October 11, 2010. Hooker won gold for the event. (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi) #

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Scotland's Victoria Clow competes in the Rhythmic Gymnastics individual all around final at Indira Gandhi sports complex during the 2010 Commonwealth Games on October 13, 2010. (MANPREET ROMANA/AFP/Getty Images) #

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New Zealand's rugby players perform a "Haka" as they celebrate after winning the gold medal at the Rugby Sevens as part of The XIX Commonwealth Games on October 12, 2010. New Zealand won the Commonwealth Games rugby sevens title by defeating Australia 24-17 in the final. (PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Silver medalist Wong Mew Choo of Malaysia plays against Saina Nehwal of India in the women's singles final badminton match of the XIX Commonwealth Games at the Siri Fort sports Complex in New Delhi on October 14, 2010. Saina Nehwal of India won the women's singles gold medal on Thursday defeating Wong Mew Choo of Malaysia 19-21, 23-21, 21-13 in the final. (INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Marilou Dozois-Prevost of Canada lifts in the women's 53kg weightlifting final during day two of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games at Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex on October 5, 2010 in Delhi, India. (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) #

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England's Nicky Hunt releases an arrow during the women's individual archery event in New Delhi on October 9, 2010. England won gold, Canada won silver and Australia won bronze. (RAVEENDRAN/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A worker sweeps the track before the evening athletics program at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi October 7, 2010. (REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett) #

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Singapore's Yang Zi plays against England's Paul Drinkhall during the table tennis men's team gold medal match at the Yamuna Sports Complex in New Delhi on October 9, 2010. (PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Australia's Leif Selby bowls against Wales' Rob Weale during the lawn bowls singles men's finals during the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi on October 13, 2010. (TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Australia's Sally Pearson cries after winning the women's 100 meter hurdles final during the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi October 11, 2010. Pearson crossed first in the 100 Thursday night, but she was disqualified hours later because of a false start - after she'd done a victory lap with the Australian flag flying behind her and almost made it to the medal podium because unofficial results were released, but later corrected and reclassified in an embarrassing glitch. (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi) #

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Simon Vallily of England kisses his gold medal as he celebrates victory over Steven Ward of Northern Ireland during the medal ceremony for the heavyweight 91kg boxing bout at The Commonwealth Games at The Talkatora Indoor Stadium on October 13, 2010. Vallily won by a knockout. (WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images) #

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South Africa's Ryno Benjamin, left, attempts to run with the ball past Wales' Gareth Davies, right, in their rugby sevens match during the Commonwealth Games at Delhi University on Monday, Oct. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) #

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An athlete clears the bar in the women's pole vault final at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during day nine of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games on October 12, 2010. (Michael Steele/Getty Images) #

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An official chases a stray dog off the marathon course during the men's and women's marathon final at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi on October 14, 2010. (REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett) #

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Dorothy Ludwig of Canada fires a shot during the women's pairs 10 m air pistol event at the Karni Singh shooting range in New Delhi on October 12, 2010. Ludwig took bronze. (INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Daniel Nemani of Niue during the men's 105+kg Weightlifting competition at JN Sports Complex during day eight of the 2010 Commonwealth Games on October 11, 2010. (Adam Pretty/Getty Images) #

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Australian swimmer Benjamin Austin competes in the final of the men's 100 meter S9 freestyle for The Commonwealth Games at the S.P. Mukherjee Aquatics Center in New Delhi on October 8, 2010. (INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images) #

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England's Nick Matthew, in white, plays against his compatriot James Willstrop, in red, in their men's single squash to win the gold medal at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in New Delhi, India, Friday, Oct. 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) #

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Ryan Cochrane of Canada competes in the Men's 1500m Freestyle Final at Dr. S.P. Mukherjee Aquatics Complex during day six of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games on October 9, 2010. (Matt King/Getty Images) #

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Robert John Auerbach of Trinidad and Tobago ejects a shell during the Men's Singles Trap final at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range on October 10, 2010 in Delhi, India. (Feng Li/Getty Images) #

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Gagan Narang of India signs his autograph for a young fan after the men's pair 50 m rifle prone event at the Karni Singh shooting range in New Delhi on October 12, 2010. (INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Tom Daley and Max Brickof England compete in the Men's 10m Synchro Platform Final at Dr. S.P. Mukherjee Aquatics Complex on October 12, 2010 in Delhi, India. (Feng Li/Getty Images) #

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Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot celebrates her win during the women's 5000m final of the Track and Field competition of the XIX Commonwealth Games on October 12, 2010 in New Delhi. Cheruiyot led a Kenyan clean sweep with Syliva Kibet second and Ines Chenonge third. (MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images) #

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John Francis Mitchell (right) escorts Sam Michael Webster of New Zealand who crashed and injured himself during the men's team sprint event at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex during the XIX Commonwealth Games in New Delhi on October 8, 2010. New Zealand won bronze in the event. (DESHAKALYAN CHOWDHURY/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Olivia Allison and Jenna Randall of England compete in the Duet Free Routine at the Dr.S.P. Mukherjee Aquatics Complex during day four of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games on October 7, 2010 in Delhi, India. (Ian Walton/Getty Images) #

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Gold medalist Aaron Heading (left) of England celebrates with team official Allen Vincent Warren after the men's singles trap event at the Karni Singh shooting range in New Delhi on October 10, 2010. (INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Farman Basha of India competes in the Powerlifting Bench Press Open Men's Final at JN Sports Complex on October 12, 2010 in Delhi, India. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images) #

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A pair of athlete's shoes are covered in moths at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during day six of the 2010 Commonwealth Games on October 9, 2010 in Delhi, India. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #

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India's Harikrishnan competes in the Long Jump qualification event of the Track and Field competition of the XIX Commonwealth games on October 8, 2010 in New Delhi. (WILLIAM WEST/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Paraskevi Theodorou of Cyprus competes in the women's hammer throw final event at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi on October 7, 2010. (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi) #

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England's Andy Turner is seen before the start of the 110m hurdles qualification event of the Track and Field competition on October 8, 2010 in New Delhi. (MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images) #

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From left to right, England's Abiodun Oyepitan (silver), Cayman Islands Cydonie Mothersill (gold) and Canada's Adrienne Power (bronze) pose on the podium of the 200m women final of the Track and Field competition of the Commonwealth Games on October 11, 2010 in New Delhi. The Cayman Islands scored a rare gold medal when Cydonie Mothersill powered to the women's 200m title in 22.89 seconds. (MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Pakistan's Azhar Hussain, top, wrestles with Nigeria's Embikewenimo Welson for the gold in their men's 55kg free style wrestling final bout at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010. (AP Photo/ Eranga Jayawardena) #

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Gold medalist Kurt Fearnley (center) of Australia, silver medalist Richard Colman (left) of Australia and Jean-Paul Compaore (right) of Canada compete in the men's 1500 meter T54 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Delhi, India. (Mark Dadswell/Getty Images) #

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English swimmer Liam Tancock launches into the pool in a semi-final for the men's 100 meter backstroke for The Commonwealth Games at the S.P. Mukherjee Aquatics Center in New Delhi on October 7, 2010. (FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Moses Kipsiro of Uganda celebrates after winning the men's 10,000 meter final at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on October 11, 2010 in New Delhi, India. (Ian Walton/Getty Images) #

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Nigeria's Oputa Kate Nwaka (right) plays against Nigeria's Obiora Faith Chinenye (left) during the table tennis women's singles wheel chair semifinal match at the Yamuna Sports Complex in New Delhi on October 13, 2010. Oputa beat Obiora 3-2. (RAVEENDRAN/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Seth Degbe Fetrie of Ghana is pinned under the bar during an unsuccessful attempt in the men's 69kg weightlifting competition at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi on October 6, 2010. (REUTERS/Amit Dave) #

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Australian players and team members celebrate their victory in the Australia vs. New Zealand women's field hockey match for the gold medal at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on October 13, 2010. Australia defeated New Zealand 4-2 on penalties after the scores were tied 2-2 at the end of extra-time. (MANPREET ROMANA/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Artists perform during a laser show at the closing ceremony for the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer) #

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Indian school children perform during the closing ceremony for the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/Gurinder Osan) #

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Artists from Scotland make a formation depicting Glasgow's Clyde Auditorium, or the "Armadillo", at the flag handover ceremony during the closing ceremony for the 19th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010. The Commonwealth Games 2014 will be held in Glasgow, Scotland. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) #

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Fireworks explode over the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium during the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony in New Delhi October 14, 2010. (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi) #