2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne

The 2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne was held from March 15th to March 26. This Australian Commonwealth Games is the grandest sporting event till date. The last time Australia hosted such a sporting event was in the year 1956. The occasion was the Summer Olympic games. But compared to the latter event the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne was host to a great many more teams and participating athletes. Even the sport events outnumbered the events of the 1956 Summer Olympics.

The Melbourne Cricket ground was the place where the opening and the closing events of the Commonwealth Games where held. The mascot of the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne was the red tailed Black Cockatoo. The latter is an endangered species. The Cockatoo was named Karak. The Goodwill Partner of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games was Plan International Australia. Appointment of a Goodwill partner was for the first time in Commonwealth Games history. The opening ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne was started by the end of the traditional Queens baton relay. The last runner for this Commonwealth Games meet was John Landy. The event was opened by Her Majesty, the Queen of England. The motto of the game was “ United by the moment”.
The 2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne was host to an impressive line up of 16 Sports event. There were 12 individual Sports events. This prompts the participation of a single person from the participating Nations. Four team sports where also held. All in all the number of events amounted to a whooping 247. Some of the sporting events where categorized into different divisions.

For instance the Aquatics division housed the following events under its banner,

• Diving
• Swimming
• Synchronized swimming

Cycling had the following types of events lined up. The different cycling events included:

• Track Cycling
• Road Cycling
• Mountain Bike

Gymnastics was sub categorized into

• Artistic
• Rhythmic

The shooting division lineup were:

• Clay target shooting
• Pistol shooting
• Small bore and air rifle
• Full bore rifle shooting

The athletic, table tennis, weight lifting and the swimming events had provisions for the EAD candidates. EAD stands for Elite Athletes with a Disability. Special events in the aforesaid categories were held at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne.
The event line up at the Melbourne Commonwealth games included the following sports events.

• Aquatics
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Basketball
• Boxing
• Cycling
• Gymnastics
• Hockey
• Lawn Bowls
• 'Netball
• Rugby Sevens
• Shooting
• Squash
• Table Tennis
• Triathlon
• Weightlifting

The total number of Commonwealth nations who took part in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Melbourne were 71. Australia won the most number of golds in the meet.
For information About Commonwealth Games visit Delhicommonwealthgame.com.