In what is described as an “incredible success”, the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games ended Sunday with a “spectacular” Closing Ceremony Sunday night in which 1,000 Dame Edna’s waved gladioli as they entered the stadium in massed ranks and were rearranged to form her famous horn-rimmed glasses.
The two-and-a-half hour show began as a rock concert with 4,500 performers, including gymnasts, entertaining the 80,000-strong crowd.
The Games 18,000 volunteers were honoured for their contribution and Commonwealth Games chairman Ron Walker thanked the city of Melbourne.
The ceremony was crowned by the largest fireworks display even seen in the city as 4,000 athletes danced to John Farnham’s stadium anthem.
Commonwealth Games president Mike Fennell said, “you have achieved a level of success that has set new standards for the Commonwealth Games. Melbourne, you are simply the best”.
A children’s choir sang an Aboriginal farewell song as the Commonwealth Games Federation flag was lowered and handed to Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, which began an 11-minute Indian presentation featuring several Bollywood stars. New Delhi’s 2010 Commonwealth Games mascot, Shera the lion, was unveiled during the handover.
Famous Indian landmarks including the Taj Mahal and Red Fort were depicted to an accompaniment of bhangra music before a giant three-tiered golden chariot entered the stadium from which a host of Indian celebrities waved to the crowd.
Dancers dressed in vivid costumes depicted elephants, peacocks and butterflies that demonstrated the traditional Indian kathakalis dance.
Fireworks in the white, green and saffron of the Indian flag erupted from the roof of the MCG as the dancers formed the words “See you Delhi 2010”.
Fennel said, “now we set our sights on 2010 and Delhi. With the inspiration derived from these games and the standard of excellence that has been set, it will be a hard act to follow. But we have every confidence that the bar will again be raised in 2010”.
Prince Edward formally declared the Games closed in front of dignitaries including Australian Prime Minister John Howard and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
