The Opening Ceremony and the Start of the Games

Once again I'm taken for words. My overall opinion on the opening ceremony was WOW! It is like nothing else you can experience.

At 5.40pm Team England started congregating to begin their way to the opening ceremony. Team England were on first as we hosted the last Commonwealth Games. Having got us all together we then started to make our ways into the pens they had organised for the bus journeys to the Rod Laver Arena which is where they were holding all the athletes before we would make our entrance. So we were on the first buses to leave the village at about 6pm. By 6.30pm we were at the Rod Laver Arena having arrived in style under police escort being waved to from the street along the whole journey.

On arrival we could help ourselves to a goodie bag of food to help us last through the evening. Luckily I was the third person to enter into the Rod Laver Arena which was presently occupied only by the volunteer staff full of smiles and cheering. They clapped and screamed as we made an entrance which was a funny feeling in itself I couldn't begin to imagine the feelings that I would have in front of an 80,000 crowd in a few hours time.

We were shown to our seats and then waited for the rest of the countries to enter this took about 2.5 hours. Finally Australia entered and all the countries were in which almost filled the Rod Laver Arena. After a quick run down of what was going to happen during the ceremony and how we were going to walk there Team England were off again, out the Rod Laver Arena, along the bridge between the two stadiums and into the holding bay of the MCG.
The noises could be heard from inside and the atmosphere just grew and grew it really is indescribable. Again hockey were quite near the front more from luck than judgement. We were supposed to walk out as 12th sport but in the rush of getting everyone from the Rod Laver to the MCG all sports just started making it a free for all. So near the front and on the camera side we were herded into waiting pens to make an entrance. Each time getting closer to the entrance door as it became closer and closer to the time in which we would be led on.

Then the screen opened and all you could hear was screams from the people in front as they crossed out of the darkness into the spotlights of the arena. Then OH MY GOD it was my turn and you could see what all the fuss had been about. It was truly amazing! 80,000 people flashing cameras everywhere you just didn't know where to look. It was great - all the reasons why!
The ceremony was simply awesome, I've some great pictures and video clips of all that had happened which kind of capture the atmosphere. I got so engrossed in taking video I missed the ladies hockey team depart and had to make my way back with John Hurst who kindly ushered me along with him. Ooops!
So with the games officially open we went to watch our opposition for our first game this morning - Canada v Barbados - yes Pixie was playing. Unfortunately Barbados lost 4-0 but were only down by one goal in the first half. Pixie still looks like she is suffering from her ankle injury, I will find out how she is when i see her later.

Kate Walsh (captain) had lunch with the Queen today which is fantastic i haven't seen her yet to find out how it went. The Queen was wearing an all green outfit as we peeped through the foliage to see her. A couple of the girls happened to be in the right place at the right time and also got to chat with the Queen.

I hope that gives a little flavour of the opening ceremony. I have to do some mental prep for toms game now, so will write again later, or probably after toms game now.

Take care all. x