Commonwealth Games officially open!

[choco1 4]

Well, anyone who lives in a Commonwealth nation, Australia or particularily Melbourne probably just finished watching the Opening Ceremony to the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games!

And it was pretty amazing too!

It included a flying Melbourne Tram!

Pretty cool huh? Well, I didn't see a topic dedicated to this, so I thought I would start one!

Now, I was wondering if anyone outside of commonwealth countries have actually ever heard of this? Or if it gets televised. Because its quite large, nearly 5,000 athletes from 71 countries across the world!

And to those who have heard of it before, do you care about it? Are you going to watch it with interest and egg on your country? Do you think its just a rip off of the Olympic Games?

I wasn't very excited about the games before, but after seeing my home town of Melbourne lit up with all the colour of the Commonwealth, I couldn't help getting excited! I still find the queen funny though!

[Micah 16]

Yeah, it does look like the Olympics. Besides that, it actually looks interesting. Well, if I get it on my TV, then I'll probably watch it.

[beebs 129]

I wonder how Canada'll do. Probably our same old uninspired performances.

[Makollig Jezfahted 0]

I saw the last hour or so on BBC1, I liked it. Australia sure can put on a show and I hope London does in 2012 for the Olympics and (hopefully) Glasgow in the 2014 Commonwealth Games!

[lakeyboy 12]

Ok, I think we have encountered upon a problem here. There is now 3 Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games threads. This one, another one started by me in the off-topic and another one after that in off-topic also by daniel01. I think that two should be deleted and only one kept. I'll let the moderators decide. All i'm saying is that the thread I started about it was created first before all the others.

[sim1234 62]

Yes, I've heard of the Commenwealth Games but the problem is the time difference between the UK and Australia. When most of the action is taking place, it is about 11pm-9am here so you would have to stay up through the night if you wanted to watch it here.

[choco1 4]

Micah, yeah I would recomend it, it will prove to be quite entertaining, almost as much as the olympics, but I guess it makes a big difference if your country is in it or not. The closing ceremony should still be fun though!

beebs, I think Canada will do well, the top three countries are always England, Australia, and Canada, although Australia often takes the cake! This year is probably a bit biast considering there is 400 and something Aussie competeditors and only 160 or something like that Canadian ones. But, I think they'll do well.

Makollig Jezfahted, yeah it was pretty stunning, I like how they incorperated the Yarra River into the show, and the lighting from under the ground was spectacular, such good quality it looked like it was painted on! I found that really spectacular, but the koala riding the thong (sandal) was a bit odd!

Lakeyboy, I searched the forums and looked through the off-topic but fund no threads, so I'm sorry. I don't know why it didn't come up with anything... I just wanted a place to chat about the games, and couldn't find one! So I started one, if the mods want to delete it then thats fine, up to them. Until then, I feel like chatting!

sim1234, really? They aren't delaying it or anything? That seems like a bummer for Melbourne, but I guess they might still be mad about our "Bloody Hell" ad, did you hear about that one? Very funny. I hope you do catch some though.

Cheers, choco

[vidioman 21]

Originally posted by: Makollig Jezfahted I saw the last hour or so on BBC1, I liked it. Australia sure can put on a show and I hope London does in 2012 for the Olympics and (hopefully) Glasgow in the 2014 Commonwealth Games!quote>

If London gets olympics 2012, I doubt Glasgow will get Commonwealth 2014. Halifax is campaining for the 2014 games. Hope they get it! edit: London already got the 2012 games ;p

[beebs 129]

I'd like Edmonton to get it sometime again. When was the last time we had it?

[simmax 0]

My brother's in Melbourne now, so I've heard of them - but I had never heard of these games before. I don't even think that they're broadcasted in France (not sure, though).

[choco1 4]

Edmonton last had it in 1978, I don't think they'll have it again any time soon, because thats kinda recent by commonwealth standards, considering there's only been 17 games.

They are going to be held in New Delhi, India in 2010, but it hasn't been decided after that, maybe canada could have it again then? And vidioman might be right, Halifax could get it, but there are a few competeing, I'm not sure which.

With a lot of third world countries getting richer (like India for example), more can afford to host the games, and so its becoming less just swapping it between Australia, the UK and Canada. I think thats awesome!

EDIT: Simmax, really? You've never heard of them! They are quite large, but then I guess anyone outside the actual commonwealth is unlikely to hear about them. I'm sure most american's haven't. They might be on cable, I guess it depends how big france is on athletics.

2nd EDIT: Check out the newest pictures on the website:

Beautiful Melbourne and the Yarra River with fireworks!

[Voar Tok 4]

That looks pretty spectacular.  I hadn't heard of it before, but yeah, it does kind of sound like the olympics.

[your_adress_here 11]

Go Canada!

[lakeyboy 12]

Welcome to...

The Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Discussion Thread.

This is the thread where you can talk about anything you want about the Melbourne Games. I know that most Americans aren't interested, so please don't put down this thread just because your country isn't apart of the commonwealth. There is still huge countries apart of it such as Canada, England and Australia.

For those who are wondering, the Opening Ceremony will be taking place in around 1 and a half hours time from when I created this post. You can watch the games on the following channels around the world:

Australia: Channel Nine & Foxtel (Pay TV - Needed to buy Melbourne 2006 Channel package to view)

United Kingdon: BBC

Canada: CBC

New Zealand: TV NZ

United States: Fox College Sports

You can watch the games via the internet on this website:

Click Here to watch the games

For information about the 2006 games and some info about Melbourne:

www.melbourne2006.com.au

For detailed information about Melbourne:

Wikipedia: Melbourne, Australia

I hope that those interested in the 2006 Melbourne games will participate in this thread for the course of the games. You can tell by my avatar, signature and me creating this thread that I'm interested.

[The boy formerly known as Evil Muzz 27]

Two golds for Scotland already! YAY!

As for 2014, I'm not sure, it would be nice, but Edinburgh has had it twice in last few decades...

[Compromise 1]

Originally posted by: chocolatemax285With a lot of third world countries getting richer (like India for example), more can afford to host the games, and so its becoming less just swapping it between Australia, the UK and Canada. I think thats awesome!quote>

Yes that would be good. Perhaps one day Nairobi, Kenya can host the games but that is very unlikley currentley. The country is economically unstable and has severe problems with terrorists and crime.

I sadley have not had much of a chance to watch this years Commenwealth games so far but I do keep on top of what is happining.

[choco1 4]

Voar Tok, yeah!

[lakeyboy 12]

In answer, why did you post that? I'll say. who posted that? I have been down at the Mornington Peninsula for the last two days with no computer access! That was the first post from my own thread about the games. I guess someone has deleted the other two threads that were created in off topic, and pasted the post into here! I'm not sure if it was done op purpose or if it's another forum bug.

And I see the reason of posting the medal tally!

[sc4melbourne 0]

Here is an updated medal tally as of Sunday March 19.

The Aussies are clearly ahead with a home-town crowd to cheer our athletes on.

1. Australia

Gold - 26
Silver - 18
Bronze - 19
Total - 63

2. England

Gold - 11
Silver - 12
Bronze - 10
Total - 33

3. India

Gold - 8
Silver - 6
Bronze - 1
Total - 15

=4. Canada

Gold - 4
Silver - 11
Bronze - 6
Total - 21

=4. Scotland

Gold - 4
Silver - 4
Bronze - 3
Total - 11

For a full medal tally, go to http://www.melbourne2006.com.au/Schedule+and+Results/Medals

[Compromise 1]

Goodnes Australia are well ahead but I see good old England is second. Well done to them so far.

[sc4melbourne 0]

How is the coverage over there in the UK by the way? During Manchester 2002 we got quite good coverage over here in Australia, I was wondering it its the same in England.

[Compromise 1]

Originally posted by: sc4melbourne

How is the coverage over there in the UK by the way? During Manchester 2002 we got quite good coverage over here in Australia, I was wondering it its the same in England.quote>

Haven't watched most of it but the BBC seem to be covering it well as far as I can see.

[sc4melbourne 0]

Compromise, you'll be glad to hear that England did very well yesterday, picking up 5 gold medals: 2 in swimming, 2 in gymnastics and Peter Nicol won the men's squash final.

[lakeyboy 12]

Well, here is another medal tally fresh out of my computer and the melbourne 2006 website. All I can say is, Australia!

Enjoy!

[Compromise 1]

Originally posted by: sc4melbourne

Compromise, you'll be glad to hear that England did very well yesterday, picking up 5 gold medals: 2 in swimming, 2 in gymnastics and Peter Nicol won the men's squash final.quote>

Thats nice news but I see Australia are still in first with England second and India in third. Well done to them!

[choco1 4]

Closing Ceremony is on tonight!

Its all coming to an end, with Australia clearly ahead in the medal tally.

I went to the games on thursday, absolutely stunning! The atmosphere was amazing, and we saw many great event, including a World Record of Wheelchair racing, and a Commonwealth Games Record for Pole Vault! Great stuff, the MCG was alive, and we saw the fish statues lit up and going insain!

[sloppet 3]

Australia showed 'em all that they r the best... ha!

[lakeyboy 12]

Well, besides the closing ceremony, the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games are over. Here is the final medal tally. Sorry about the picture size. I had to shrink it to 600 pixels up & down.

I went to see the Hockey Finals today at the state netball and hockey centre. It was fantastic. Australia defeated Pakistan 3-0 and Malaysia defeated England 2-0. The atmosphere was electric. Afterwards I caught the train back to finders street, walked around the city for a while and also looked at the fish. And then for a change instead of the train, I took the 75 tram to Vermont South home again.

Great day out. Fantastic weather also. Thats sorta my story!

Go Australia! 84 gold!

[vidioman 21]

If they were winter games, Canada would whoop everyones butts.