Team Cook Islands amid the culture and colour of Delhi’s Commonwealth Games

India’s cultures and colours were on full display on Sunday night for the spectacular Delhi Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

Not only did the show go without a hitch – it kept an audience of 60,000 plus about 4000 athletes and officials enthralled.

Team Cook Islands began preparing for the 7pm show at 3pm arriving by escorted bus to the Jawarhalal Stadium where a great mixing of cultures took place as athletes from the 70 Commonwealth countries exchanged country badges and posed for photos with each other.

At around 7.30pm and after a 4-hour wait, Team Cook Islands flag bearer and lawn bowls gold medallist Kanny Vaile led the team into the grounds of the stadium to deafening cheers.

In fact, the Cook Islands was the most photographed team at the ceremony as their unique Cook Islands ei drew attention, setting the team apart from everyone else.

Security fears never eventuated as India went into party mode to showcase its rich and diverse culture.

Choreographed by some of India’s most famous dancers – the show was not only a display of all things great about the host nation but also a celebration of sport and its ability to bridge cultures.

The centrepiece of the show was the aerostat, a huge floating balloon that acted as a projection screen that changed colours reflecting the passage of seasons.

Dancers from across the region and thousands of school children were mesmerised as they danced in homage to India’s famed Guru-Shishya tradition.

As a sporting event, it was only fit that a segment was dedicated to the ancient Indian philosophy of yoga representing the union of mind, body and soul.

The opening ceremony was also the stage for the final leg of the Queen’s Baton that made its way through the stadium carrying a message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

Present to read her message was the Prince of Wales.

The Queen’s message touched on the power of sport to bring peace across earth as athletes at the Commonwealth Games demonstrated this by coming together to compete in India.

The Indian journey segment honoured the country’s railways – a lifeline that connects all corners of the Indian nation.

Father of the Indian nation, Mahatma Ghandi, was also honoured as artists depicted his journey to bring peace through sand drawings.

The grand finale of the show was a celebration of India’s iconic sights such as the three wheeled cycles and the hustle and bustle of the nation’s notorious market places.

The party really kicked in when musician Rahman performed the Delhi 2010 anthem and his academy award winning Jai Ho, which had Team Cook Islands shaking their hips in celebration of a wonderful spectacle by hosts India.