This is an accepted version of this page The opening ceremony for the 2018 Commonwealth Games took place on the evening of Wednesday 4 April in the Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast.

[1] As mandated by the Commonwealth Games Charter, the proceedings of the ceremony combined the formal opening of the sporting event (including hoisting of the flags, parade of the athletes and welcome speeches) with an artistic performance to showcase the host nation's culture.

[4] The principal sections of the artistic display represented Australia's Indigenous culture, Gold Coast's Surfers Paradise, wildlife and theme parks.

Popular Australian recording artists such as Christine Anu, Delta Goodrem, Katie Noonan and Ricki-Lee Coulter performed at the ceremony.

Three Australian companies: Specktak International, World Events, Dae Global and one American company Jack Morton Worldwide (JMW) submitted bids to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) to produce the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

From here, all that we see is all that we share: Shining, fragile, awesome… …our island home in a cosmic sea.When he finished his narration, he then placed the globe in the ground which was covered with beach sand.

When the song finished, the dancers immediately stood adjacent to each other forming the shape of Australian land boundary.

[1] Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation Louise Martin, Chairman of GOLDOC Peter Beattie and President of Commonwealth Games Australia Sam Coffa entered the stadium and welcomed with a huge applause by the audience.

A group of people wearing swimsuits gathered into the stadium along with props such as umbrellas, deck chairs, and beach towels.

The Parade of Nations track, designed by Cairns based Torres Strait Islander visual artist Brian Robinson, was a specially commissioned artwork drawing on indigenous and local culture and mythology, featuring stars, surfboards, sea animals and shells.

[29] The young Surf Lifesavers of Australia, popularly called as the "Nippers", escorted the athletes carrying a surfboard bearing the country name.

[30][31] After the parade of Commonwealth Nations, Australian singer Katie Noonan sang "You’re Welcome Here" with playing a piano backed by the Gold Coast Choir.

[31][34] The Commonwealth Games flag was brought into the stadium by six athletes namely Dominican high jumper Brendan Williams, South African para swimmer Natalie Du Toit (para-sport representative), New Zealand professional racing cyclist Alison Shanks, Canadian high jumper Nicole Forrester, retired Scottish rugby union player Colin Gregor and Scottish women's hockey player Rhona Toft.

[35] Australian singer John Farnham's song "You're the Voice" was played when the athletes entered into the stadium with the flag.

And to stand up for the values and ideals that live at the heart of these Games: Our shared Humanity – the respect we give each other, finding lasting friendships and common ground in our diversity.

Images and videos of popular Gold Coast attractions were projected on the ground of the stadium such as feeding lorikeets, skydiving, dreaming in the ocean, walking in the treetops, and riding the rollercoaster.

It now gives me the greatest pleasure to declare the 21st Commonwealth Games open.Australian singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem performed her song "Welcome to Earth".

Australian singer Ruel sang his song "Golden Years" and fireworks exploded on the roof of the stadium.

Delta Goodrem's "Together We Are One" remix version single was played after Ruel's performance and a large number of fireworks exploded on the roof of the Carrara stadium and also near The Star Gold Coast hotel.

Australian pop singer Ricki-Lee Coulter sang "Technicolor Love" during the Surfer's Paradise segment in order to showcase the fun thriving beach life of Gold Coast.

The songs played by the orchestras were INXS's "Need You Tonight", Men at Work's "Down Under", The Church's "Under The Milky Way", Little River Band's "Reminiscing", Alex Lloyd's "Amazing’’, The Divinyls’ "I Touch Myself", Kylie Minogue's "Can’t Get You Out of My Head", Australian Crawl's "Reckless" and Stevie Wright's "Evie".

"You’re The Voice", recorded by Australian singer John Farnham and one of the biggest hits in 1986 in Australia was played by the orchestra when the CGF flag was brought into the stadium.

Australian pop singer Delta Goodrem, winner of nine ARIA music awards, performed the official theme song of the opening ceremony "Welcome to Earth".

[43] The Courier-Mail said "Gold Coast finally welcomed the world to its biggest ever party with a dazzling Commonwealth Games opening ceremony".

[50] The London Evening Standard said the games began with a "spectacular opening ceremony paying tribute to region's Aboriginal history.

[53] The Times of India provided live updates of the ceremony in their official website and at the end commented "What a spectacular welcome Gold Coast has given to the participating teams!".

[54] The Hindu said "...the opening ceremony of the XXI Commonwealth Games on Wednesday night was painted with colour and gaiety....".

The company constructed most of the structures, from the speech stages, flag stages, the sand centre-piece, the sand surround (compete with smoke effect and light ring), the parade path, mobile lifeguard tower, the beach showers, lecterns, the Royal Box, Migaloo's buggy, even the glowing globe that Jack Thompson used to open the show.

[59][60] Cairns based Torres Strait Islander visual artist Brian Robinson designed the Parade Track in the Carrara stadium.