Posted on 03/14/2006 4:30:51 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
TONIGHT Australia's greatest and most historic arena will be the setting for reaffirmation of Melbourne's fame as the nation's sporting capital.
At the MCG the flags of 71 Commonwealth countries will flutter colourfully as about 4500 athletes march into the hallowed ground.
Local and overseas VIPs will watch from the stands as the Queen opens what is the 18th in the series of unique sporting contests, which began in Canada in 1930.
They were the Empire Games then because the contest was between the colonies, dominions and territories of an Empire on which the sun never set.
Times change and the Empire became the Commonwealth on which, nonetheless, the sun still shines around the clock.
The old ties, though loosened, remain strong enough to bond this unlikely mixture of 53 sovereign nations and 18 territories whose athletes are assembling to do friendly battle at 31 competition venues across Melbourne.
But the 2006 Games are more than just an exciting sporting spectacle – they are another opportunity for athletes from far corners of the world to mingle.
The baton
A vital part of the build up to the opening ceremony has been the travels of the Queen's Baton, whose journey across this wide brown land has given a sense of involvement to Australians everywhere.
But one runner, Melbourne priest father Peter Norden, involved the baton in a protest against the hanging of Australian drug smuggler Van Nguyen – an action Commonwealth Games Minister Justin Madden rightly called "disappointing".
The Queen tonight will open the Games by reading a message contained in a computer chip inside the baton.
Melbourne began six years ago readying for the $1 billion Games, which over the next 12 days will show a return of priceless publicity for the host city as a television audience of up to 1.5 billion tunes in.
As the expected 90,000 overseas vis-itors continue to arrive, the evidence is that generally the preparation has been well done.
Among the Australian athletes, sadly, Ian Thorpe's temporary health setback will prevent him from improving on his already remarkable tally of 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals.
But the Games are not only about winning gold, though that is always a thrill.
The real spirit of the Games is a lesson to the rest of the world in what friendly rivalry can achieve.
I'm confused
"Melbourne began six years ago readying for the $1 billion Games, which over the next 12 days will show a return of priceless publicity for the host city as a television audience of up to 1.5 billion tunes in."
That makes it sound like the summer games are starting in 12 days.
Now I'm confused!
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