Opening Ceremony

Choreographer of Big Things

Interview by Julie Copeland on ABC Radio National available for download

The Choreographic Director of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Wanda Rokicki, veteran of the Athens, Los Angeles and Manchester Games and other mega events, describes how she brought together hundreds of volunteer Dame Ednas, balletic footballers, aerial fairies and a duck for the city's biggest spectacular since the 1956 Olympics. - ABC Radio National 23rd April

All hail Vladimir, beloved duck

I must confess that I love ducks more than I love sport, and it is my hope that one day Australia will be known as a nation that is duck mad rather than sport mad. - By Michael Leunig, The Age, 16th Mar

Five of the best

It began with a boy who held a duck and dared to dream, and ended when a governor gave a baton to the Queen. In between, 70,000 spectators at the MCG, tens of thousands more on the banks of the Yarra and a massive television audience across the globe were enthralled by the most ambitious opening ceremony in the 76-year history of the Commonwealth Games. - The Age, 16th Mar

Theatre of dreams puts on a show

It began with the familiar, transformed into a dreamscape and made you want to believe that anything is possible. - The Age, 16th Mar

Games open in dry style

THE XVIII Commonwealth Games were officially opened last night in a flash of colour at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but a somewhat less dazzling display of stars. Fox Sports, 16th Mar

Melbourne's night of nights

MELBOURNE has turned on a spectacular, if somewhat obscure, Opening Ceremony in answer to the doubters and critics. Fox Sports, 16th Mar

A great stage loses simplicity

The flying tram was, as all trams are, long-awaited. But in the end, it did not so much fly as descend jerkily by pulleys and plop, without a single flap of its limp wings, onto the MCG. From its doors disgorged dancers and a coterie of tram conductors, fondly remembered relics of a time when trams carried passengers, not customers. Soon enough, they disappeared, which was at least historically faithful. - The Age 16 Mar

 Buying the tramway to heaven

Aussies still love a spectacle -- 3.5 million of us in the mainland capitals tuned in to the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games last night. - David Dale – SMH, 15 Mar

Homes wanted for 72 sea creatures

WHAT do you do with 72 giant floating fish once their fleeting moment of fame passes? - The Age, 16th Mar

Poetry in motion as the world's greatest event begins

Embargo? What embargo? Jonathan Green was at a dress rehearsal and risks his liberty by lifting the lid on the opening ceremony - if you can believe him. – SMH, 15 Mar

Cultural  

Indians make a song and dance of it

MELBOURNE'S adopted Commonwealth Games team, India, will take centre stage in the city tomorrow with a cultural celebration featuring all the colour of Bollywood. - The Age, 16th Mar