Opening ceremony of Commonwealth Games 2018 celebrates indigenous culture, beaches and diversity
From PV Sindhu-led Indian contingent to celebrations of Australian culture, images from the opening ceremony of the 21st Commonwealth Games 2018
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The Commonwealth Games is set to begin on 5 April. On Wednesday, the opening ceremony was held in front of a vociferous audience at Carrara Stadium. The Indian contingent was led by ace shuttler PV Sindhu. AFP
There are 71 countries participating at the 21st Commonwealth Games. India has sent a strong 227-member contingent for the Gold Coast event. Reuters
The Opening Ceremony was filled with a lot of fanfare and depicted in detail the idea of inclusivity. In this particular display, the ceremony depicts the story of the 'seven sisters' of Australia. Image Courtesy: Facebook/GC2018
In a display of the indigenous culture of Australia, an aboriginal tribe perform the 'smoking ceremony' that is believed to have cleansing properties and wards off bad spirits. Reuters
Gold Coast, Australia, a place synonymous with its culture of beaches and celebration depicted the quintessential idea of Queensland through a song and dance performance at the opening ceremony. Image Courtesy: Facebook/GC2018
The parade of the nations was kick-started by previous edition hosts Scotland. As the host country, Australia held the final spot at the parade and was led by hockey captain Mark Knowles who led the country's biggest-ever contingent. Image Courtesy: Facebook/@GC2018
A colourful display of fireworks and lasers held the attention of the audience who were watching from the stadium and the viewers from all over the world. Image Courtesy: Facebook/@GC2018
However, the opening ceremony had its share of detractors too. There were protests outside the Carrara Stadium. AFP
The Opening ceremony was widely considered to be a success in accordance with its content, theme and execution. Image Courtesy: Twitter @GC2018