View source for 2006 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

{{short description|Sporting event delegation}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox news event
| title         = 2006 Commonwealth Games<br />opening ceremony
| image_name    = File:Comm Games 2006 finale.JPG
| caption       = 
| date          = {{start date and age|2006|03|15|df=y}}
| time          = 20:00–22:30 [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]] 
| place         = [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]]
| coordinates   =  {{coord|37|49|12|S|144|59|0|E|display=it}}
| filmed by     = {{Plainlist|
* [[Nine Network]] ([[GTV (Australian TV station)|GTV]])
}}
| participants  = 
| awards        = 
| url           =  
}} 
{{2006 Commonwealth Games}}
The '''Opening Ceremony of the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]]''' was held on 15 March 2006 at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/commonwealth_games/4805592.stm|title=Spectacular ceremony opens Games|date=2006-03-15|access-date=2020-02-08|language=en-GB}}</ref> The ceremony was conceived and produced by [[Jack Morton Worldwide]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/a-billion-pairs-of-eyes-on-melbourne-2006-20030903-gdwa03.html|title=A billion pairs of eyes on Melbourne 2006|date=2003-09-03|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.specialevents.com/archive/jack-morton-lights-melbourne-commonwealth-games|title=Jack Morton lights up Melbourne for Commonwealth Games|date=2006-03-22|website=Special Events|language=en|access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref>

==Description==
[[File:Boat in Yarra River, 2006 Commonwealth Games.jpg|thumb|A boat in the [[Yarra River]] with an artificial fish over it, featuring the culture of one of 71 participating nation at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.]]
[[File:Yarra River Fireworks.jpeg|thumb|Fireworks at the [[Yarra River]] during the opening ceremony ]]

=== Countdown ===
A [[1930 British Empire Games|1930 Hamilton]]-[[1934 British Empire Games|1934 London]]-[[1938 British Empire Games|1938 Sydney]]-[[1950 British Empire Games|1950 Auckland]]-[[1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games|1954 Vancouver]]-[[1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games|1958 Cardiff]]-[[1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games|1962 Perth]]-[[1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games|1966 Kingston]]-[[1970 British Commonwealth Games|1970 Edinburgh]]-[[1974 British Commonwealth Games|1974 Christchurch]]-[[1978 Commonwealth Games|1978 Edmonton]]-[[1982 Commonwealth Games|1982 Brisbane]]-[[1986 Commonwealth Games|1986 Edinburgh]]-[[1990 Commonwealth Games|1990 Auckland]]-[[1994 Commonwealth Games|1994 Victoria]]-[[1998 Commonwealth Games|1998 Kuala Lumpur]]-[[2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Manchester]]-[[2006 Commonwealth Games|2006 Melbourne]] countdown projection on the floor of the stage was set to the melody of "Countdown" was instrumental by [[Melbourne Symphony Orchestra]] and label by [[Sony Music Australia|Sony BMG Music Entertainment Australia]] as temporary stage on the playing ground of the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[Australia]] lighting up with previous host cities.

=== Welcome ===
[[Image:Comm Games 2006 flying tram.JPG|thumb|The "flying tram" featured in the Opening Ceremony, sitting on a [[Melway|Melbourne street map]].|alt=]]

After countdown and ceremony began with the [[flag of Australia]] (current host), [[England]] (previous host) and [[India]] (next host) were raised. Surf boats which represented each of the past 18 host cities were on the [[Yarra River]] as were flags of the participating countries. A [[Trams in Melbourne#W-class|W-class Melbourne tram]] with wings attached was lowered into the stadium. A performance followed based on a poem by [[Michael Leunig]], involving a boy with a duck 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]] [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous]] 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 (band)|The Church]] played ''[[Under The Milky Way]]'' to accompany a performance by the [[Australian Ballet]], with aerial work performed by students of the [[National Institute of Circus Arts]] (NICA).{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

The Indigenous segment of the opening ceremony was called ''My Skin, My Life'', and was directed by [[Wesley Enoch]].<ref>{{cite web | title=My Skin, My Life, Opening Ceremony, Melbourne Commonwealth Games, 2006 | website=[[Museums Victoria]] Collections | date=4 September 2024 | url=https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/articles/1510 | access-date=4 September 2024}}</ref> [[Kirk Page]] contributed to the [[choreography]].<ref name=artsrev>{{cite interview | first=Kirk| last=Page | title=On the Couch with Kirk Page | website=Australian Arts Review | date=10 October 2014 | url=https://artsreview.com.au/on-the-couch-with-kirk-page/ | access-date=4 September 2024}}</ref> A CD was produced of the music of the ceremony, which included a song from the Indigenous segment with lyrics by [[Joy Murphy Wandin]] and sung by [[David Page (musician)|David Page]].<ref name=cd>{{cite web | title= Melbourne 2006, XVIII Commonwealth Games : official music from the Opening Ceremony [2006] | website=[[Australian Music Centre]] | url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/product/melbourne-2006-xviii-commonwealth-games-official-music-from-the-opening-ceremony | access-date=4 September 2024|quote=Also includes: My skin my life / David Page, lyrics by Joy Murphy Wandin; Under the milky way / Steven Kilbey and Karin Jansson; Cities / F. Riebel, H. Angus; Together we are one / Delta Goodrem, Guy Chambers, Brian McFadden.}}</ref>

=== Parade of nations ===
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]] in [[Manchester]]) while the host nation, Australia entered last. The athletes entered with [[The Cat Empire]] playing a specially written musical 'set', tailoring music to specific regions.

=== Queen's baton ===
The final leg of the [[Queen's Baton Relay]] included the baton being handed to the 16 captains of the [[Australian Football League]] across the floating flags and fish along the [[Yarra River]]. After each of the captains had carried the baton, the last of the captains ([[David Neitz]]) handed the baton to [[Ron Barassi]], 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]].

=== CGF flag hoist ===
The [[Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games Federation]] flag was then brought into the stadium by eight [[List of Young Australian of the Year Award recipients|Young Australian of the Year recipients]]. The athlete's oath was taken by [[Adam Pine]].

=== Queen's birthday celebration ===
Harry White, a 13-year-old boy, who was [[youth ambassador]], presented a message to Queen [[Elizabeth II]], [[Queen of Australia]]. 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]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/games-organisers-stand-firm-20060303-ge1uxb.html|title=Games organisers stand firm|date=2006-03-02|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=2018-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18289528%5E1702,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060313201854/http://theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18289528%5E1702,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2006-03-13|title=The Advertiser: No 'God Save The Queen' at Games [27feb06]|date=2006-03-13|access-date=2018-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2006/s1582006.htm|title=AM - 'God Save the Queen' dumped for Commonwealth Games opening|website=www.abc.net.au|access-date=2018-08-06}}</ref> in the Opening Ceremony, a ''[[Happy Birthday to You|Happy Birthday]]'' 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''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/opera-star-to-sing-royal-anthem-20060303-gdn2xg.html|title=Opera star to sing royal anthem|last=Hogan|first=Jesse|date=2006-03-03|website=The Age|language=en|access-date=2018-08-06}}</ref> Michael Fennel, the president of the Commonwealth Games Federation then spoke.

=== Queen's baton handover ===
The final bearers of the Queen's Baton were all former elite world-class athletes who had successfully competed at both the [[Olympic Games]] and [[Commonwealth Games]].  They were:

* [[Cathy Freeman]] (who lit the [[Olympic Flame]] at the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney Olympics]]), who brought the Queen's Baton into the stadium, and then handed the baton to
*[[Ron Clarke]] (who lit the Olympic Flame at the [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Melbourne Olympics]]), who then handed the baton to
* [[Marjorie Jackson|Marjorie Jackson-Nelson]], then-[[Governors of South Australia|Governor of South Australia]], who then handed the baton to
* [[John Landy]], then-[[Governors of Victoria|Governor of Victoria]], who presented the Queen's Baton to The Queen.

=== Opening of the games ===
The Queen then read the message of greeting which she had placed in the baton (366 days earlier on [[Commonwealth Day]], 14 March 2005), declaring the games open.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/start-xviii-commonwealth-games-melbourne-australia-15-march-2006|title=A speech by The Queen at the XVIII Commonwealth Games, Australia, 2006|last=Ciara.Berry|date=2006-03-15|website=The Royal Family|language=en|access-date=2020-02-08}}</ref>

=== In the end ===
Australian singer [[Delta Goodrem]] 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-blading|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.

== Ceremony key team ==
The ceremonies were produced by Jack Morton, Artistic Director and Executive Producer [[Andrew Walsh]] with Producers David Proctor (Opening Ceremony), Adam Charles (Closing Ceremony) and Keith Tucker (River).

==CD==
A CD was produced of the music of the ceremony, which includes all of the official music composed by [[Christopher Gordon (composer)|Christopher Gordon]], as well as the Indigenous segment mentioned above and other songs.<ref name=cd/>

==Parade of Nations==
In a break of tradition the teams entered the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] in the opening ceremony of the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]] by regions, instead of by alphabetical order.

Last host nation

{{flagicon|England}} [[England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|England]] -  [[2002 Commonwealth Games]] in [[Manchester]].

=== Europe ===
{{flagicon|Cyprus}} [[Cyprus at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Cyprus]] | {{flagicon|Gibraltar}} [[Gibraltar at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Gibraltar]] | {{flagicon|Guernsey}} [[Guernsey at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Guernsey]] | {{flagicon|Isle of Man}} [[Isle of Man at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Isle of Man]] | {{flagicon|Jersey}} [[Jersey at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Jersey]] | {{flagicon|Malta}} [[Malta at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Malta]] | {{flagicon|Northern Ireland}} [[Northern Ireland at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Northern Ireland]] | {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[Scotland at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Scotland]] | {{flagicon|Wales}} [[Wales at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Wales]]

Then followed the African countries.

{{flagicon|Botswana}} [[Botswana at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Botswana]] | {{flagicon|Cameroon}} [[Cameroon at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Cameroon]] | {{flagicon|The Gambia}} [[The Gambia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|The Gambia]] | {{flagicon|Ghana}} [[Ghana at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Ghana]] | {{flagicon|Kenya}} [[Kenya at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Kenya]] | {{flagicon|Lesotho|1987}} [[Lesotho at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Lesotho]] | {{flagicon|Malawi|1964}} [[Malawi at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Malaŵi]] | {{flagicon|Mauritius}} [[Mauritius at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Mauritius]] | {{flagicon|Mozambique}} [[Mozambique at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Mozambique]] | {{flagicon|Namibia}} [[Namibia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Namibia]] | {{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Nigeria at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Nigeria]] | {{flagicon|Seychelles}} [[Seychelles at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Seychelles]] | {{flagicon|Sierra Leone}} [[Sierra Leone at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Sierra Leone]] | {{flagicon|South Africa}} [[South Africa at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|South Africa]] | {{flagicon|Swaziland}} [[Swaziland at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Swaziland]] | {{flagicon|Uganda}} [[Uganda at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Uganda]] | {{flagicon|Tanzania}} [[Tanzania at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|United Republic of Tanzania]] | {{flagicon|Zambia}} [[Zambia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Zambia]]

=== Asia ===
{{flagicon|Bangladesh}} [[Bangladesh at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Bangladesh]] | {{flagicon|Brunei}} [[Brunei Darussalam at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Brunei Darussalam]] | {{flagicon|India}} [[India at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|India]] | {{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[Malaysia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Malaysia]] | {{flagicon|Maldives}} [[Maldives at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Maldives]] | {{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Pakistan at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Pakistan]] | {{flagicon|Singapore}} [[Singapore at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Singapore]] | {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} [[Sri Lanka at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Sri Lanka]]

=== America ===
{{flagicon|Belize}} [[Belize at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Belize]] | {{flagicon|Bermuda}} [[Bermuda at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Bermuda]] | {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Canada at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Canada]] | {{flagicon|Falkland Islands}} [[Falkland Islands at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Falkland Islands]] | {{flagicon|Guyana}} [[Guyana at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Guyana]] | {{flagicon|Saint Helena}} [[Saint Helena at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|St Helena]]

=== Caribbean ===
{{flagicon|Anguilla}} [[Anguilla at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Anguilla]] | {{flagicon|Antigua and Barbuda}} [[Antigua and Barbuda at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Antigua and Barbuda]] | {{flagicon|Bahamas}} [[Bahamas at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Bahamas]] | {{flagicon|Barbados}} [[Barbados at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Barbados]] | {{flagicon|British Virgin Islands}} [[British Virgin Islands at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|British Virgin Islands]] | {{flagicon|Cayman Islands}} [[Cayman Islands at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Cayman Islands]] | {{flagicon|Dominica}} [[Dominica at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Dominica]] | {{flagicon|Grenada}} [[Grenada at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Grenada]] | {{flagicon|Jamaica}} [[Jamaica at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Jamaica]] | {{flagicon|Montserrat}} [[Montserrat at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Montserrat]] | {{flagicon|Saint Kitts and Nevis}} [[Saint Kitts and Nevis at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|St Kitts & Nevis]] | {{flagicon|Saint Lucia}} [[Saint Lucia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Saint Lucia]] | {{flagicon|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}} [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|St Vincent & the Grenadines]] | {{flagicon|Trinidad and Tobago}} [[Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Trinidad & Tobago]] | {{flagicon|Turks and Caicos Islands}} [[Turks and Caicos at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Turks & Caicos]]

=== Oceania ===
{{flagicon|Cook Islands}} [[Cook Islands at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Cook Islands]] | {{flagicon|Fiji}} [[Fiji at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Fiji]] | {{flagicon|Kiribati}} [[Kiribati at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Kiribati]] | {{flagicon|Nauru}} [[Nauru at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Nauru]] | {{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[New Zealand at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|New Zealand]] | {{flagicon|Niue}} [[Niue at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Niue Island]] | {{flagicon|Norfolk Island}} [[Norfolk Island at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Norfolk Island]] | {{flagicon|Papua New Guinea}} [[Papua New Guinea at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Papua New Guinea]] | {{flagicon|Samoa}} [[Samoa at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Samoa]] | {{flagicon|Solomon Islands}} [[Solomon Islands at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Solomon Islands]] | {{flagicon|Tonga}} [[Tonga at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Tonga]] | {{flagicon|Tuvalu}} [[Tuvalu at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Tuvalu]] | {{flagicon|Vanuatu}} [[Vanuatu at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Vanuatu]]

=== Host nation ===
{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australia at the 2006 Commonwealth Games|Australia]]

==Broadcast==
The opening ceremony was broadcast in Australia on the [[Nine Network]]. It was one of the highest rating programs of 2006 with 3,561,000 viewers across the five metro areas.

The [[BBC]] showed coverage in the [[UK]].

==See also==
*[[Commonwealth Games: Melbourne 2006 Opening Ceremony]]- ''(CD)''

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{wikinews|2006 Commonwealth Games open in Melbourne}}
*[https://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1142420587493&call_pageid=968332188492 Report on the Opening Ceremony] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606154523/http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar%2FLayout%2FArticle_Type1&c=Article&cid=1142420587493&call_pageid=968332188492 |date=6 June 2011 }} - "Toronto Star", Canada
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110604125904/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9011795353579908156 Opening ceremony fireworks] at [[Google Videos]]

{{Commonwealth Games ceremonies}}
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[[Category:2006 Commonwealth Games|Opening Ceremony]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games opening ceremonies]]
[[Category:Ceremonies in Australia]]
[[Category:Melbourne Cricket Ground]]