Very nicely done, great scene from a photography viewpoint.
I think the original was better. Look at the sunlight, there were shadows there - why take them out?? This isn't a portrait of someone for their own use, it's a photograph of an event.
It would depend on how it would be used, but for photojournalistic purposes it would be unethical to remove what was there. But for your own use, do whatever! I just don't get the reason to take things away that were there or to change existing conditions.