From Melbourne Cricket Ground, the curtain-raiser that heralds 11 days of sporting endeavour at the 18th Commonwealth Games. Celebrating the competition's tag as the Friendly Games, up to 3,000 performers and volunteers will be involved in a spectacle that will flow out of the stadium and along the Yarra river. With Barry Davies and Hazel Irvine. Highlights at 7.30pm on BBC2; the action proper starts at 11.10pm.
Executive producer Martin Webster
Executive editor Dave Gordon Live online at www.bbc.co.uk/sport (UK broadband only)
Digital viewers can access four extra streams (two on Freeview) - see www.radiotimes.com/commonwealth for timetable - plus a text service
New kids off the blocks: page 20