
It's showtime!The opening ceremony of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games at the Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast on April 4, 2018 gets underway.

Performers and dancers showcased the easy-going Australian lifestyle.

There was a nod to the worldwide image of Australia: golden beaches, surfboards, emus and kangaroos.

The opening ceremony celebrated the Gold Coast's Yugambeh people, Aboriginal clans of south-east Queensland.

Seventy one nations and territories will compete in the 21st Commonwealth Games.

A smoking ceremony -- an ancient tradition in Indigenous culture -- was performed.

Still widely practiced among many Indigenous Australians, the custom involves the burning of various native plants to connect with good spirits.

Luther Cora, a contemporary Aboriginal artist, and his family also conducted a traditional smoking ceremony.

Members of the South Africa delegation get into the spirit of the opening ceremony. South Africa finished the 2014 games with 13 gold medals.

Members of the Canadian team take the obligatory selfie.

Sixty seven athletes make up the Cameroon team.

Members of the Uganda delegation.

Sierra Leone's flagbearer Hafsatu Kamara leads the delegation during the opening ceremony.

Kurt Fearnley showcases the Queen's Baton, which left Buckingham Palace in March 2017 and traveled for 388 days and 143 thousand miles through the entire Commonwealth.

The Australian team arrives during the opening ceremony.

Australia's flagbearer was Mark Knowle, who is the men's hockey captain.

Australian singer Delta Goodrem was one of the performers in the opening ceremony.

No opening ceremony would be complete without a firework display.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (L) and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales opened Gold Coast 2018 on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, who is the head of the Commonwealth of countries and territories.

There are 275 gold medals to compete for ... on your marks ...





