The 2006 Commonwealth Games has been declared open this morning b her Majesty the Queen of England in a glittering ceremony in front of a sell-out 81,000 crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The BBC team in Melbourne reported a "two-hour spectacular, thought to have cost £20m, kicked off with the arrival of a 'flying' Melbourne tram."

Now we awaits the start of 12 days of intense athletic competition.

With the Track and Field events starting on Sunday 19th, Africa chances in the sprints has brightened with the withdrawal of defending 100m champion Kim Collins of St Kitts & Nevis from the Games due to injury.

Look out for Nigerians Olusoji Fasuba, Uchena Emedolu and Deji Aliu in the 100m on Sunday.

(Photo) Nigerian-born Ambroze Ezenwa will compete for Australia at the Games.