MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Queen to open Commonwealth Games

The 2006 Commonwealth Games are to be officially opened today by the Queen at a spectacular ceremony in Melbourne.

An impressive show of music, light and dance is expected, featuring hundreds of performers who will entertain an audience of about 80,000.

The Queen's baton, which has travelled to all 71 nations of the Commonwealth Games Federation during the past 12 months, will be carried into the event, staged at Melbourne cricket ground.

But organisers have been criticised by monarchists, who claimed the British national anthem would not be sung at the ceremony.

Ron Walker, chairman of the Games, said the event's format was decided months ago in consultation with Buckingham Palace, and that part of the anthem would be sung by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

He said: "Eight bars of the Royal anthem will be included as part of a simple and elegant musical tribute to the Queen.

"The Australian national anthem will be performed in its entirety, as is appropriate according to the constitution of the Commonwealth Games Federation."

Despite high interest in the start of the Games, organisers said they will give away 5,000 tickets to friends and family of the show's cast but hope to sell the remaining 5,000 by the time the ceremony starts.

England diver Tony Ally will lead his team-mates into the stadium after being chosen as their flag-bearer, and Scotland shooter Ian Marsden will perform the same duty for his country.

Wales team captain Tanni Grey-Thompson has already been chosen to carry the Welsh flag during the ceremony.

The sporting powers of the British Commonwealth -- Australia, England and Canada with New Zealand, South Africa, India, Scotland and Kenya expected to figure prominently on the medals tally.

Yet the Commonwealth family also embraces its tiny member states, with diverse nations such as Gambia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Cayman Islands, St Kitts & Nevis, Maldives, Brunei, Vanuatu, Niue, Kiribati and the Falkland Islands will be at the big party.