In Pictures: Commonwealth Games 2018 Opening Ceremony at Carrara Stadium Gold Coast

The 21st edition of Commonwealth Games kick-started on Wednesday with a glittering opening ceremony at the Carrara Stadium in Gold Coast, Australia. Over 4,500 athletes from 71 nations will be up against each other for 275 gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. As far as India is concerned, a strong 218-member contingent is participating in the mega sports event. Star Indian shuttler and Rio Olympics Silver medallist PV Sindhu led the India contingent and took the tricolour to Carrara despite torrential rains.

In Pictures: Commonwealth Games 2018 Opening Ceremony

1

The 21st edition of Commonwealth Games kick-started on Wednesday with a glittering opening ceremony at the Carrara Stadium in Gold Coast, Australia. Over 4,500 athletes from 71 nations will be up against each other for 275 gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. As far as India is concerned, a strong 218-member contingent is participating in the mega sports event. Star Indian shuttler and Rio Olympics Silver medallist PV Sindhu led the India contingent and took the tricolour to Carrara despite torrential rains.

In Pictures: Commonwealth Games 2018 Opening Ceremony

2

The glittering opening ceremony of the XXI Commonwealth Games narrating the universal story, inspired by the peoples and landscape, cultures and history of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

In Pictures: Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

3

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall arrived at the Carrara Stadium to witness the official opening of the Commonwealth Games 2018.

In Pictures: Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

4

Rain or Sun, Team INDIA is one. Star India shuttler and Rio Olympics Silver medalist PV Sindhu holding the national flag as she led the 218-member Indian contingent.

In Pictures: Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

5

The Symphony Orchestra playing Australian rock band INXS and singer, actress Kylie Minogue to welcome the athletes at Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

In Pictures: Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

6

The mascot of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games is a blue, surfing koala called Borobi. The word ‘borobi’ is an aboriginal term for koala. The motto of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games is “Share the dream.”

In Pictures: Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

7

Hosts Australia has the largest contingent of 473 athletes competing in this year’s Games with the majority participating in the athletics (109), swimming (70) and cycling (36).

In Pictures: Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony

8

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will hold the largest ever Para-sport programme. As much as 300 athletes will compete for Thirty eight gold medals across seven sports - athletics, track cycling, swimming, power-lifting, table tennis, lawn bowls and - for the first time - triathlon.