The Melbourne Cricket Ground enveloped in blue

MELBOURNE turned on the magic last night as the Commonwealth Games exploded into life with airborne koalas, a flying tram, ballerinas, bikers and a duck. Eighty thousand revellers at the MCG saw a $40 million sound and light show.

The flying tram

Hundreds of thousands flocked to the city and the banks of the Yarra to see the final spectacular leg of the Queen's Baton Relay.

At the MCG, the Queen declared the Games open, Delta Goodrem sang an anthem for the athletes, opera legend Dame Kiri Te Kanawa sang Happy Birthday to Her Majesty and a cast of thousands soared, sang and danced through a magnificent theatrical show.

Two hundred thousand lining the banks -- 50-deep in parts -- immersed themselves in the magic. Keeping with the fishy theme, they packed in like sardines from St Kilda Rd to Swan.

One of the Commonwealth Games fish on the Yarra

Families camped on the grassy banks from around midday, eager not to miss a minute or a sight.
So huge was the crowd, 2km of vantage points was hardly enough. Dinghies patrolled the reeds, security guards the banks to keep over-eager spectators from a Yarra drenching.

Face-painted children, teenagers draped in flags and older folk on camp chairs squeezed on to the Yarra banks.

Huge screens dangled from a crane halfway along, but most eyes were locked on the river as 72 giant creatures burst into life.

Metal scales and what looked like dull patches of mesh sparkled like jewels, lit from the inside. Lights played as water spurted up from the fish and cascaded back down.

The kilometre of the Yarra became a river of fire as orange and red lights bathed eels, dolphins, prawns and sharks.

Then, suddenly blue, it became a river of ice stretching from the city's centre to its sporting heart.
Last night the biggest show in Melbourne's history was more than just free -- it was priceless.

Ron Barassi carries the Queen's Baton walking on water across the Yarra River