Opening ceremony a cacophony of noise and colour

After months of ridicule, international condemnation and doubts the Commonwealth Games would even go ahead, tonight was the night Delhi got to let its hair down and show the world a smile.

Delhi finally got its game face on after months of uncertainty over threats of terrorism, dengue fever, massive cost over-runs, forged certification over venue construction, filth at the athletes village and poor ticket sales.

The opening ceremony, on a typically hot and balmy Sunday night at the city's impressive Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, was a 2 hour light and sound extravaganza, showcasing the best bits of this amazing but complex nation.

A bit like its chaotic traffic, it was a deafening cacophony of noise and colour, a spine-tingling message to the 71 nations that make up the Commonwealth that Delhi was at last ready to make a decent fist as host nation.

"India is ready. India's big moment is finally here," chief organiser Suresh Kalmadi said. "There have been delays and many challenges but we were able to ride over them all."

But in a sign of public anger at the problems, many among the 60,000 spectators booed him when he rose to speak.

Security, already stifling, was ramped up 100-fold for the 65,000-strong gathering of media and spectators, with snipers positioned on apartment roofs on the streets leading into the stadium.

Heavily armed police provided a suffocating but necessary presence at every gate.

Broken up into multiple segments, the opening ceremony had at its centrepiece a giant helium balloon almost dwarfing the main field, beaming a synchronised stream of lights into the night sky based on iconic Indian themes like Gandhi, Buddha, the evolution of yoga and the Taj Mahal.

The show featured 1200 moving lights, 120 space cannons and 75 tonne of floodlighting, ricocheting off mirrors attached to the underside of the blimp.

Seated just down from us were rows of dignitaries, including IOC president Jacque Rogge, Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, younger brother Prince Edward, Monaco's Prince Albert and Indian prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

More than 8500 Indian men, women and children took to the main stadium in a programme designed by Oscar-winning composer AR Rhaman.

Keeping watch over the spectators, some of who paid 50,000 rupees ($1800) for a ticket, were 50,000 police and paramilitary personnel.

Silver Ferns sharpshooter Irene van Dyk carried the New Zealand flag into the stadium shortly before 8pm local time, becoming the first athlete from a team sport to wave the Southern Cross.

The effervescent former South African led about 180 of her teammates, dressed in black adorned with a white silk khata, into the stadium, just behind Nauru, although confusion reigned when the athletes walked past their designated stopping point and exited the stadium, following van Dyk into the media mixed zone.

Chef de mission Dave Currie quickly realised the mistake, herding up as many athletes as he could find and ushering them back into the main arena.

Peter Hillary and Jamling Norgay, son of Tenzing Norgay, also marched in the ceremony, invoking the spirit of their fathers, who were the inspiration behind the Kiwi team's 29028 theme.

Tauranga's Moss Burmester, an early contender to carry the flag, along with the rest of the swim team, women's Black Sticks, table tennis and badminton and the crack cycling team, enjoyed the ceremony from the comfort of the Red Beach Grandstand at the team lounge back in the athletes village.

India's team, resplendent in maroon and gold, emerged into the stadium to a wall of noise.

It was the first time in Commonwealth Games history athletes march into the stadium and were seated in time to enjoy the celebrations. Traditionally they have marched last.