XVIII Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

Note: This post is a continuation of my previous post on the 1st day of the XVIII Commonwealth Games. The photos I've used in this posts are a result of the efforts of my friend P who helped me take them inside the MCG where the event was taking place and also my own takings of the ceremony down on the Yarra River during the Ceremony. Thanks P, this is also your post buddy. I've also used some photos from the media because our cameras don't take very good night and fireworks shots, how I wish I have 5xmom's camera for that day!

We got to the bank of the Yarra River at around 6.30 pm and there were already lots of people camping out for the event of a lifetime. We managed to find a small plot on the grass to plonk our asses down and setup camp!

We heard that the event will start at 7.30 pm so we have an hour to kill while we waited. We noticed that the organisers were still putting the final touches to the setups like making sure the lights work and the big TV screens on the river bank work for the 100 thousand of people estimated to be there that day.

There were helicopters circling overhead and above the MCG and there were so many security guards and police officers walking up and down looking for trouble makers. If you look carefully at this photo you can see the buses taking the athletes and volunteers into the MCG for the Grand Opening.

Meanwhile inside the MCG people are arriving very punctually and early so as to get themselves settled down before the Show starts. There were over 80 thousand people at the MCG that night paying over A$400 to get the privilege to witness this! I can't afford it so I'm down by the river with the poor people.

When 7.30 pm came I found out that the real event doesn't start until 8.30 pm! So in the meantime they had TV presenters making appearance down the river and cricketers playing crickets in the MCG! How boring can that be! They could've got some entertainers to perform not bloody cricket! The organisers should be shot!

Then the moment we've all been waiting for arrived, they started the countdown starting with the first Commonwealth Games and working all the way up to today. We got to watch all that on the big screens down by the river bank.

If you've been watching it on TV you would've known what happened. The show started with the Flying Tram which is so very Melbournian. People came out from everywhere and seriously I can't remember what went on after that because...

...down by the river we had a show of our own with the light show and the water fountain fish. Everyone was mesmerised! This is what we've all been waiting for! It was spectacular! Watching it on TV gives you the best seat but when you're here in the atmosphere it was just sensational! This will stay with me for the rest of my life.

The city scrapers in the background made a stunning backdrop for the colourful fish along the river changing colours according to music and the moods of the event as it unfolds.

Then came time for the Australian National Anthem and everyone was required to stand and sing along, inside the MCG and down by the Yarra. Good coz it gave me a chance to stretch my legs but I couldn't remember the words so I just mumbled along!

Once the Anthem finish the fireworks started! It was awesome! Everyone was screaming with joy as the fireworks continue along the river and from the MCG as well.

We were surprised to see that they even have the fireworks from the sky scrapers! It was so unexpected but an excellent display of pyrotechnics.

After the fireworks the show continued inside the MCG with the flying koalas, the replica of the Arts Centre tower and the duck boy! I still don't understand what the duck boy was all about.

When that was over the athletes started pouring into the stadium and what a colourful display they made with their different uniforms and attires they wore. The Australian team of course came out last amidst cheers and standing ovations!

Meanwhile down by the river people were starting to leave thinking the athletes would take a long time to all come out. We left too thinking we could watch the remainder of the Ceremony on TV at home coz the traffic will be horrific if we stayed the whole night. Something I regret later on.

Inside the MCG the show continued with Delta Goodrem singing a new song she wrote especially for this event called Together We Are One.

Her song continued with skaters coming out with fireworks strapped on their backs and circling Delta Goodrem in the center of the stadium. It was quite amazing.

The show went on till about 10.30 pm. So it was only about 2 hours starting at 8.30pm. The waiting was even longer! Glad I didn't pay A$400 to go watch it inside the MCG!

This is the part I regret going home early. At the end of the Ceremony there was an even bigger and better fireworks from the MCG...

...fireworks from the buildings in the city!


And along the Yarra River! I missed out on the real thing! I watched it on TV and my jaw literally drop when I saw that on TV. :( I'm planning to go watch the whole thing on the Closing Ceremony!

Latest updates as I'm writing;

Australia: 10 Gold 10 Silver 8 Bronze
India: 4 Gold 3 Silver
Canada: 2 Gold 5 Silver 3 Bronze
England: 2 Gold 4 Silver 4 Bronze
Scotland: 2 Gold 2 Bronze
Malaysia: 1 Gold 2 Bronze Malaysia Boleh!