2006 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...

was held on 15 March 2006 at Melbourne Cricket Ground

Melbourne Cricket Ground

The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...

in Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

, Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. The ceremony was conceived and produced by Jack Morton Worldwide, which also produced the ceremonies for the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Description

The ceremony began with the temporary stage on the playing ground of the Melbourne Cricket Ground lighting up with previous host cities. The flags of Australia (current host), England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

(previous host) and India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

(next host) were raised. Surf boats which represented each of the past 18 host cities were on the Yarra River

Yarra River

The Yarra River, originally Birrarung, is a river in east-central Victoria, Australia. The lower stretches of the river is where the city of Melbourne was established in 1835 and today Greater Melbourne dominates and influences the landscape of its lower reaches...

as were flags of the participating countries. A W-class Melbourne tram with wings attached was lowered into the stadium. A performance followed based on a poem by Michael Leunig

Michael Leunig

Michael Leunig , typically referred to as Leunig, is an Australian poet, cartoonist and cultural commentator. His best known works include The Adventures of Vasco Pyjama and the Curly Flats series...

, involving a boy with a duck

Duck

Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...

which was an artificial one at first, and koalas, (people dressed in koala 'suits'). At the end of the display, the boy came into the Stadium with a real white duck. The opening ceremony had many themes, including Melbourne's Wurundjeri

Wurundjeri

The Wurundjeri are a people of the Indigenous Australian nation of the Woiwurrung language group, in the Kulin alliance, who occupy the Birrarung Valley, its tributaries and the present location of Melbourne, Australia...

Indigenous

Indigenous Australians

Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....

heritage and Melbourne's fickle weather. The role of the boy was performed by 12-year old (almost 13) Sean Whitford, who had been selected from thousands of candidates. Australian rock band The Church

The Church (band)

The Church is an Australian rock band formed in Sydney in 1980. Initially associated with new wave and the neo-psychedelic sound of the mid 1980s, their music later became more reminiscent of progressive rock, featuring long instrumental jams and complex guitar interplay...

played Under The Milky Way
Under the Milky Way
"Under the Milky Way" is a single by Australian alternative rock band The Church released in February 1988 with their album, Starfish. The song was written by bass guitarist and vocalist Steve Kilbey and his then-girlfriend, Karin Jansson...

to accompany a performance by the Australian Ballet, with aerial work performed by students of the National Institute of Circus Arts

National Institute of Circus Arts

The National Institute of Circus Arts is the only government-accredited institution that provides professional training in contemporary circus arts in Australia. It is a subsidiary of Swinburne University of Technology and is based at the university's Prahran campus.NICA is a registered cultural...

(NICA).

Contrary to tradition, the nations did not enter the stadium in alphabetical order, but by regions of the Commonwealth. European nations entered the stadium first, followed by those from Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Caribbean and finally, Oceania. English athletes and officials entered the stadium first (as the host of the 2002 Commonwealth Games

2002 Commonwealth Games

The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...

in Manchester

Manchester

Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...

) while the host nation, Australia entered last. The athletes entered with The Cat Empire

The Cat Empire

The Cat Empire are an Australian ska and jazz band formed in 1999. Core members are Harry James Angus , Will Hull-Brown , Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwhala , Ollie McGill , Ryan Monro and Felix Riebl...

playing a specially written musical 'set', tailoring music to specific regions.

The final leg of the Queen's Baton Relay

Queen's Baton Relay

The Queen's Baton Relay, similar to the Olympic Torch Relay, is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The Relay traditionally begins at Buckingham Palace in London...

included the baton being handed to the 16 captains of the Australian Football League

Australian Football League

The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...

across the floating flags and fish along the Yarra River

Yarra River

. After each of the captains had carried the baton, the last of the captains handed the baton to Ron Barassi

Ron Barassi

Ronald Dale Barassi, Jr AM is a former Australian rules football player and coach. During a long and decorated career, Barassi has been one of the most important figures in the history of Australian football. His father, Ron Barassi, Sr., was the first Australian footballer killed at Tobruk during...

, who walked on a semi submerged pontoon, giving the effect that he was walking on water (some commentators joked that the stunt "proved what most of us suspected"). Barassi then handed the baton to Herb Elliott

Herb Elliott

Herbert James "Herb" Elliott AC MBE is a former Australian athlete, one of the world's greatest middle distance runners...

.

The Commonwealth Games Federation

Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....

flag was then brought into the stadium by eight Young Australian of the Year recipients. The athlete's oath was taken by Adam Pine

Adam Pine

Adam Pine is an Australian freestyle and butterfly swimmer. Adam is married to Sasha Pine and is the father of 3 children, Maximillian, Buster and Xander....

.

Harry White, a 13 year old boy, who was youth ambassador, presented a message to Queen Elizabeth II. After a rather controversial furore before the start of the Games regarding the decision by the Organising Committee not to include God Save the Queen
God Save the Queen
"God Save the Queen" is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms and British Crown Dependencies. The words of the song, like its title, are adapted to the gender of the current monarch, with "King" replacing "Queen", "he" replacing "she", and so forth, when a king reigns...

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/push-to-play-british-anthem-at-games/2006/03/02/1141191766320.html, http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18289528%255E1702,00.html, http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2006/s1582006.htm in the Opening Ceremony, a Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to You
"Happy Birthday to You", also known more simply as "Happy Birthday", is a song that is traditionally sung to celebrate the anniversary of a person's birth...

medley was sung by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in tribute of the Queen's 80th birthday (37 days hence), ending with eight bars from God Save the Queen http://www.theage.com.au/news/commonwealth-games/opera-star-to-sing-royal-anthem/2006/03/03/1141191823788.html. Michael Fennel, the president of the Commonwealth Games Federation then spoke.

The final bearers of the Queen's Baton were all former elite world-class athletes who had successfully competed at both the Olympic Games

Olympic Games

The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...

and Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....

. They were:

Cathy Freeman
Cathy Freeman
Catherine Astrid Salome "Cathy" Freeman, OAM is former Australian sprinter, who specialised in the 400 metres event. She became the Olympic champion for the women's 400 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics, at which she lit the Olympic Flame.Freeman was the first ever Aboriginal...

(who lit the Olympic Flame
Olympic Flame
The Olympic Flame or Olympic Torch is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus, its origins lie in ancient Greece, where a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. The fire was reintroduced at the 1928...

at the 2000 Sydney Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...

), who brought the Queen's Baton into the stadium, and then handed the baton to
Ron Clarke
Ron Clarke
Ronald William "Ron" Clarke, MBE is a former Australian athlete, writer, and current Mayor of the Gold Coast. He is one of the best known middle and long distance runners in the 1960s, notable for setting seventeen world records.- Early life and family :He attended Melbourne High School...

(who lit the Olympic Flame at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...

), who then handed the baton to
Marjorie Jackson-Nelson
Marjorie Jackson
Marjorie Jackson-Nelson, AC, CVO, MBE is a former Governor of South Australia and a former Australian athlete...

, then-Governor of South Australia
Governors of South Australia
The Governor of South Australia is the representative in the Australian state of South Australia of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. The Governor performs the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the state level as does the Governor-General of Australia at the national level.In...

, who then handed the baton to
John Landy
John Landy
John Michael Landy, AC, CVO, MBE is an Australian former Olympic track athlete. He was the second man to break the four-minute mile barrier in the mile run, and he held the world records for the 1500 metre run and the mile race...

, then-Governor of Victoria
Governors of Victoria
The Governor of Victoria is the representative in the Australian state of Victoria of its monarch, Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. The Governor performs the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the state level as does the Governor-General of Australia at the national level...

, who presented the Queen's Baton to the Queen.

The Queen then read the message of greeting which she had placed in the baton (366 days earlier on Commonwealth Day

Commonwealth Day

Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations held on the second Monday in March, and marked by a multi-faith service in Westminster Abbey, normally attended by HM Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, with the Commonwealth Secretary-General and Commonwealth High...

, 14 March 2005), declaring the games open.

Australian singer Delta Goodrem

Delta Goodrem

Delta Lea Goodrem is an Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress. Signed to Sony at the age of 15, Goodrem rose to prominence in 2002, starring in the Australian soap opera Neighbours as Nina Tucker. Goodrem has achieved eight number-one singles and three number-one albums in her home...

sang Together We Are One, the theme song for the 2006 games while many fireworks were ignited, within the stadium, on the backs on roller-bladers circling the singer, and fireworks were also ignited on the banks of the Yarra, as well as the floating pontoons, and Melbourne's larger skyscrapers.

The ceremonies were conceived and produced by Executive Producer and Creative Director Andrew Walsh with Producers David Proctor (Opening Ceremony), Adam Charles (Closing Ceremony) and Keith Tucker (River).

Order of entry of teams

In a break of tradition the teams entered the Melbourne Cricket Ground

Melbourne Cricket Ground

in the opening ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games

2006 Commonwealth Games

The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...

by regions, instead of by alphabetical order.

First into the arena was England

England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games were represented by the Commonwealth Games Council for England . The country went by the abbreviation ENG and used the St George's Cross as flag and Land of Hope and Glory as the national anthem....

as hosts of the 2002 Commonwealth Games

2002 Commonwealth Games

in Manchester

Manchester

England

England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Then followed the European countries.

Cyprus

Cyprus at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Cyprus was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a strong contingent comprising 43 sportspersons and officials.-Medals:-Gold:* Shooting, Men's Skeet Pairs* George Achilleos, Shooting, Men's Skeet...

Gibraltar

Gibraltar at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Gibraltar was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.-Medals:-Bronze:...

Guernsey

Guernsey at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The British Crown dependency of Guernsey was represented in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 28-member strong contingent, comprising 28 sportspersons and no officials. They competed in 8 sports, including athletics, badminton, cycling, lawn bowls, shooting, squash, swimming, and...

Isle of Man

Isle of Man at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The Isle of Man was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 36-member strong contingent, comprising 27 sportsmen and women and 9 officials. Amongst their number was the Commonwealth Games' youngest ever competitor, Olivia Rawlinson, a swimmer aged 13...

Jersey

Jersey at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The British Crown dependency of Jersey was represented in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 35-member strong contingent, comprising 35 sportspersons and no officials. They competed in 7 sports, including athletics, badminton, cycling, lawn bowls, shooting, swimming, and triathlon...

Malta

Malta at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Malta sent a team of 35 athletes to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.Malta had won two bronze medals at previous Commonwealth Games.-Medals:-Silver:Shooting:-Bronze:Shooting:-Women's:*Caroline Fenech*Kirsten Micallef...

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Northern Ireland was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a team of 64 athletes.-Medals:-Silver:* Lawn Bowls Men's Triples: Mark McPeak, Jeremy Henry, Neil Booth.* David Beattie for the men's individual trap in Shooting.-Men's:...

Scotland

Scotland at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland announced on 3 November 2005 that Scotland would be sending 166 athletes to compete in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, supported by 70 officials...

Wales

Wales at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The squad to represent Wales at the 2006 Commonwealth Games was announced by the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales on 22 February 2006. It consists of 143 athletes ; 85 fewer than the squad in 2002...

Then followed the African countries.

Botswana

Botswana at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Botswana was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising 21 sportspersons and xx officials.-Silver:* Gable Garenamotse, Athletics, Men's Long Jump-Bronze:...

Cameroon

Cameroon at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Cameroon was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising xx sportspersons and xx officials.-Medals:-Silver:* Brice Vivien Batchaya, Weightlifting, Men's 85 kg-Bronze:...

The Gambia

The Gambia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The Gambia is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising xx sportspersons and xx officials.-Medals:...

Ghana

Ghana at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Ghana is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising xx sportspersons and xx officials.-Medals:-Gold:* Majeti Fetrie — Weightlifting, Men's – 77 kg...

Kenya

Kenya at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Kenya is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising 102 sportspersons and xx officials.-Gold:* Augustine Choge, Athletics, Men's 5000 m* Lucy Wangui, Athletics, Women's 10,000 m...

Lesotho

Lesotho at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Lesotho is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising xx sportspersons and xx officials.-Medals:-Silver:Moses Kopo, Boxing at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Light Welterweight 64 kg.-Bronze:...

Malaŵi

Malawi at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Malawi was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.-Medals:-Bronze:...

Mauritius

Mauritius at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Mauritius was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia by a xx-member contingent comprising xx sportspersons and xx officials.-Medals:-Silver:* Stéphan Buckland, Athletics, Men's 200 m...

Mozambique

Mozambique at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Mozambique was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.-Medals:-Bronze:* Maria de Lurdes Mutola, Athletics, Women's 800m...

Namibia

Namibia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Namibia is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising xx sportspersons and xx officials.-Medals:-Gold:* Jafet Uutoni, Boxing, Light Flyweight 48 kg-Bronze:...

Nigeria

Nigeria at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Nigeria is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising xx sportspersons and xx officials.-Medals:-Gold:Athletics'WeightliftingTable Tennis-Silver:Athletics-Bronze:...

Seychelles

Seychelles at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The Seychelles was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 32-member strong contingent comprising 22 sportspersons and 10 officials. The 2006 event was the fifth time the nation has entered the Commonwealth Games, previously having won three medals – two silver and one...

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Sierra Leone was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 35-member strong contingent comprising 22 sportspersons and 13 officials.-Missing athletes:...

South Africa

South Africa at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

South Africa was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a ???-member strong contingent comprising ??? sportspeople and ?? officials.-Medals:-Gold:...

Swaziland

Swaziland at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Swaziland is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising xx sportspersons and xx officials.-Medals:-Bronze:* Simanga Shiba, Boxing, Light Flyweight 48 kg...

Uganda

Uganda at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Uganda is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 12-member strong contingent comprising 6 sportspersons and 6 officials.-Medals:-Gold:* Dorcus Inzikuru, Athletics, Women's 3000m Steeplechase...

United Republic of Tanzania

Tanzania at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Tanzania is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising xx sportspersons and xx officials. The squad ended up in 19th place in the overall medal count, with one gold and one bronze.-Gold:...

Zambia

Zambia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Zambia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. -Medals:...

Then followed the Asian countries.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Bangladesh is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising 20 sportspersons and xx officials.-Medals:-Silver:# Shooting, Men's 10m Air Rifle Pairs...

Brunei Darussalam

Brunei Darussalam at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Brunei Darussalam will be sending a Lawn Bowls team to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.-Medals:-Bronze:...

India

India at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

India was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 270-member strong contingent comprising 183 sportspersons and 77 officials. 2004 Summer Olympics silver medalist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was the flag bearer for India....

Malaysia

Malaysia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Malaysia is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 254-member strong contingent comprising 170 sportspersons and 84 officials...

Maldives

Maldives at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The Maldives is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising xx sportspersons and xx officials.-Medals:...

Pakistan

Pakistan at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Pakistan was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 75-member strong contingent comprising 53 sportsmen and women, 21 officials and 1 head of the contingent....

Singapore

Singapore at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Singapore was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 101-member strong contingent comprising 63 sportspersons and 38 officials...

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Sri Lanka is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 67-member strong contingent comprising xx sportspersons and xx officials.-Medals:-Gold:...

Then followed the American countries.

Belize

Belize at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Belize was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Belize won no medals at the 2006 Games, continuing the no-medal streak, since Belize started competing.-Medals:-Team:*Emma Wade - Women's 200m*Grogory Lovell - Cycling...

Bermuda

Bermuda at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Bermuda was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 44-member strong contingent comprising 26 sportspersons and 18 officials.-Medals:-Athletics:*Ashley Couper, track*Latroya Darrell, high jump*Michael Donawa, track...

Canada

Canada at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Canada is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xxx-member strong contingent comprising 253 sportspersons and xx officials.- Flag bearers :...

Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The British overseas territory of the Falkland Islands was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 6-member strong contingent, comprising 6 sportsmen and women and no officials. They competed in four events, all of them pairs shooting disciplines. They won no...

Guyana

Guyana at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

During the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Guyana won no medals.-Medals:-Bronze:-References:...

St Helena

Saint Helena at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The British overseas territory of St Helena was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a small team which took 9 days to reach Australia.-Medals:-Marathon:...

Then followed the Caribbean countries.

Anguilla

Anguilla at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

In only their third Games the British overseas territory of Anguilla was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 6-member strong contingent, comprising 6 sportspersons and no officials. They competed in five events in cycling and athletics. They won no...

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Antigua & Barbuda was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a contingent comprising 18 sportspersons. Even though the nation did not earn a medal at these Games, the 4 x 100 relay team, featuring N'Kosie Barnes, Ivan Miller, Daniel Bailey, and anchor Brendan Christian, broke...

Bahamas

Bahamas at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The Bahamas is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising 28 sportspersons and xx officials.-Silver:* Laverne Eve — Athletics, Women's Javelin Throw...

Barbados

Barbados at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Barbados was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.-Medals:-Bronze:* Anderson Fitzgerald Emmanuel, Boxing, Heavyweight 91 kg-Women's Team:* Lana Als* Ann-Marie Alleyne* Dionne Clarke* Joana Davis* Chiaka Drakes...

British Virgin Islands

British Virgin Islands at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The British Virgin Islands was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.-Medals:-Bronze:...

Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The British overseas territory of the Cayman Islands was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.-Athletics:...

Dominica

Dominica at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth of Dominica is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a contingent comprising sportspersons and officials.-Medals:...

Grenada

Grenada at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Grenada was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising xx sportspersons and xx officials.-Medals:-Silver:* Alleyne Francique — Athletics, Men's 400 metres-See also:...

Jamaica

Jamaica at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Jamaica was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.-Medals:-Gold:* Asafa Powell, Athletics, Men's 100 m* Sheri-Ann Brooks, Athletics, Women's 100 m* Maurice Wignall, Athletics, Men's 110 m Hurdles...

Montserrat

Montserrat at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Montserrat is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising xx sportspersons and xx officials.-Medals:...

St Kitts & Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

St Kitts Nevis was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising 2 sportspersons and xx officials. However Kim Collins was not at the Games so could not defend the title he won at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.-Medals:- References :...

Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Saint Lucia was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.-Medals:...

St Vincent & the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

St Vincent & the Grenadines was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.The BBC's Hazel Irving made a classic faux-pas during her commentary of the Opening Ceremony...

Trinidad & Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Trinidad & Tobago participated with a team of 71 athletes to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, winning three bronze medals and taking part in ten disciplines including athletics, badminton, gymnastics, hockey, shooting, table tennis and triathlon....

Turks & Caicos

Turks and Caicos at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Turks & Caicos is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising 6 sportspersons and xx officials. Twice as many athletes represented the Turks and Caicos Islands than in Manchester in 2002. The athletes competed in only two sports, athletics and...

Then followed the Oceanian countries.

Cook Islands

Cook Islands at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The Cook Islands is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 32-member strong contingent comprising 32 sportspersons and no officials.-Medals:...

Fiji

Fiji at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Fiji was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.-Medals:-Bronze:* Rugby 7s...

Kiribati

Kiribati at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Kiribati was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.-Medals:Kiribati did not win any medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games....

Nauru

Nauru at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Nauru was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a team consisting purely of weight-lifters.-Medals:-Medalists:...

New Zealand

New Zealand at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

New Zealand at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia was represented by 249 athletescompeting in over 19 disciplines, with 119 officials...

Niue Island

Niue at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Niue Island was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 7-member strong contingent comprising 4 sportspersons and 3 officials.-Medals:-Bronze:...

Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Norfolk Island was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 9-member strong contingent comprising 2 sportspersons and 2 officials.-Medals:...

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Papua New Guinea was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 38-member strong contingent comprising a number of sportspersons and officials.-Medals:-Gold:* Ryan Pini, Swimming, Men's 100m Butterfly-Silver:...

Samoa

Samoa at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

-Medals:-Bronze:* Warren Fuavailili, Boxing, Middleweight 75 kg...

Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

The Solomon Islands was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a 25-member strong contingent comprising 13 sportspersons and 12 officials.-Medals:...

Tonga

Tonga at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Tonga is represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising 24 sportspersons and xx officials. The Tongan team includes a rugby sevens team, six boxers, three weight lifters and three competitors in athletics....

Tuvalu

Tuvalu at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Tuvalu was represented at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne by a xx-member strong contingent comprising xx sportspersons and xx officials. Tuvalu entered competitors in shooting, table tennis and weightlifting...

Vanuatu

Vanuatu at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Vanuatu took part in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.The country's delegation, led by chef de mission Eileen Nganga, included four athletes in track events, six in table tennis, and one in powerlifting...

and finally, the hosts of the 2006 Commonwealth Games

2006 Commonwealth Games

Australia

Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games

Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games was represented by Australian Commonwealth Games Association the , and abbreviated AUS. Athletes from Australia were given automatic qualification in all sports due to the host status....

On television

The opening ceremony was broadcast in Australia on the Nine Network

Nine Network

The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...

. It was one of the highest rating programs of 2006 with 3,561,000 viewers across the five metro areas.

The BBC

BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...

showed coverage in the UK.

External links

Report on the Opening Ceremony - "Toronto Star", Canada

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