The following article outlines the highlights of the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Highlights
Opening Ceremony – 15 March
Both the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Yarra River were centrepieces for the ceremony, which included many fireworks, and other spectacle. The Games were opened by Elizabeth II, in her capacity as Head of the Commonwealth. The Queen is also Head of State of a number of Commonwealth countries, including Australia.
Day 1–16 March
Cycling England managed a clean sweep of the 4,000 m individual pursuit gold medal on the cycle track. Paul Manning beat teammate Rob Hayles in the final. Steve Cummings won the bronze medal race. Australian Ben Kersten manages to beat the World and Olympic champions in the 1 km time trial. Swimming Scotland's Caitlin McClatchey beat Australia's Libby Lenton in the Women's 200 m freestyle final, setting a new Games record of 1:57.25. England's Melanie Marshall came in third. David Carry of Scotland has won the 400 m freestyle final, winning the second swimming gold for his country. Canadian Andrew Hurd picked up the silver in 3:49.08 and David Davies from Wales came third. Moss Burmester from New Zealand won gold in the 200 m butterfly in a new New Zealand and Commonwealth record time of 1:56.64. Weightlifting The Games' first gold medal was awarded in the Women's Weightlifting (48 kg class) to Nameirakpam Kunjarani from India. Marilou Dozois-Prevost from Canada won the silver, and Erika Yamasaki of Australia picked up the bronze.
Day 2–17 March
Cycling Australians Katherine Bates and Rochelle Gilmore get gold and silver respectively in the Women's 25 km Points Race, repeating their Manchester Games results. Their teammate Alexis Rhodes took ninth place after being seriously injured in Germany in an accident that took the life of Amy Gillett, in whose honour all three dedicated their ride. Rugby Sevens New Zealand won the gold medal at the Telstra Dome with a convincing 29–21 win over England. Fiji win the bronze medal with a 24–17 win over Australia in a game marred by a serious injury to Australian player Scott Fava. Swimming Australia gets all three medals in both the women's 50 m butterfly and women's 50 m breaststroke.
Day 3–18 March
Swimming Australia swept gold, silver, and bronze in both the women's 50 m breaststroke and the 50 m butterfly. Leisel Jones and Danni Miatke, respectively, won the golds. Triathlon Day 3 saw the Australians and New Zealanders completely dominate the triathlon event. After missing out on qualification for the 2004 Athens Olympics, Emma Snowsill took the gold medal with a time of 1:58:02.59. New Zealand secured silver (Samantha Warriner), bronze (Andrea Hewitt) and fourth place for the Women's event. Continuing Australia's dominance in the triathlon, Brad Kahlefeldt won gold in the men's triathlon event with a time of 1:49:16. Australian Peter Robertson was just beaten by New Zealander, Bevan Docherty for silver, while Robertson took the bronze. Cycling Australian cyclist Ryan Bayley won the men's sprint, his second gold medal for these Games. Weightlifting Australian weightlifter Ben Turner won the men's 69 kg Division, the first Australian gold medal for weightlifting at the games.
Day 4–19 March
Athletics Australian Kerryn McCann successfully defends her 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medal title by winning the women's marathon event with a time of 2:30:50. Athletics Tanzania retained the men's marathon title, Samson Ramadhani taking the gold. Kenya's Fred Mogaka took silver, and England's Dan Robinson took the bronze. Cycling The Isle of Man won their first Commonwealth gold in twenty years, when Mark Cavendish won the men's Scratch Race final. Cavendish held off Australia's Ashley Hutchinson on the final bend to triumph, with Scotland's James McCallum claiming bronze. Swimming World champion Jessicah Schipper of Australia swam a Games record in beating teammate Libby Lenton for the women's 100 m butterfly gold.