Dazzling opening ceremony launches Commonwealth Games

MELBOURNE, Mar 15 (Agencies): A dazzling and vibrant opening ceremony showcasing the cultural heritage of Australia marked the inuguration of the 18th Commonwealth Games here today.

Queen Elizabeth II formally declared the Games open amidst thunderous applause by about 80,000 spectators who thronged the Melbourne Cricket Ground to herald the biggest and the costliest Commonwealth Games ever.

The Queen acknowledged the cheers of the crowd before returning to her seat, setting the stage for twelve days of intense competitions in which a record number of 4500 athletes will battle for glory and fame.

A breathtaking display of fireworks lit up the Melbourne skyline immediately after the dignitaries made an appearance on the specially erected dias in the middle of the stadium.

After the formalities of hoisting the flags and introducing the dignitaries, the opening ceremony began with a cultural programme on diverse themes related to the country's heritage.

The march past for the 71 participating countries began with England walking onto the arena first and hosts Australia bringing up the rear.

A vociferous roar greeted the large Australian contingent as it made a grand entry much to the jubilation of the capacity crowd.

Reports said Queen Elizabeth II was greeted with protests as well as pomp when she arrived in the southern Australian city of Melbourne today to open the Commonwealth Games.

About 200 demonstrators backing claims by Aborigines that British colonizers stole the land that became Australia from its original inhabitants more than two centuries ago, were among about 500 people who gathered outside the site where the monarch was to have an official lunch.

"Make sure you tell the queen she's standing on our land and we want it back," an Aboriginal protester shouted into a megaphone as the official motorcade approached.

The demonstrators, who stayed behind barricades set up about 15 meters (50 feet) from the venue entrance, also jeered Australian Prime Minister John Howard as he arrived to host the lunch, shouting, "Always was, always would be, Aboriginal land." Hundreds of police, including officers mounted on horses wearing helmets with riot visors, stood guard.

The lunch was being held in the building where the first sitting of Australia's federal Parliament was held in 1901, an event that heralded the end of Britain's direct colonial rule.

Protest organiser Robbie Thorpe urged the queen to sign a treaty with aboriginal Australians and said if she didn't the demonstrators would march to Government House where the queen will stay while in Melbourne.

Hundreds of well-wishers also gathered as the queen arrived, wearing a mint green hat with white bow and a patterned skirt and top with mint green and dark green floral pattern.

One supporter held aloft a huge portrait of the queen.

She stopped briefly to accept bouquets of flowers from children, including two who were picked from the crowd of protesters at the last minute by police.

One bore an Aboriginal flag painted on her face as she handed the queen a eucalyptus bouquet.

Earlier, Victorian state Premier Steve Bracks said protesters would not be allowed to interrupt the Royal visit or the games, saying there would be no "hijacking" of the events for political purposes.

"All the security and other logistics are in place, and we don't expect any problems at all." After lunch, the queen - under heavy guard and carefully steered away from the protesters - spent about two minutes chatting with well-wishers at the barricades, before climbing into a car and leaving.

Accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and youngest son Prince Edward, the queen was on the fourth day of her 15th royal visit to Australia, where she is still the head of state although her role in government is almost completely ceremonial.

Later today, she will officially open the games in a ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, kicking off 12 days of sporting events, ranging from swimming and cycling to lawn bowls and rugby.

Taking part will be 4,500 athletes from 71 countries and territories of the Commonwealth, former British colonies or dependencies headed by the queen.

Like many former outposts of the British Empire such as Canada, Australia still recognizes the British monarch as head of state, though a debate rages about whether the country should formally become a republic.