Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games on your marks

I love the Commonwealth Games. Love love love them! Admittedly that probably has a lot do with the fact I feel a sense of allegiance to three Commonwealth Countries, the top 3 medal winners in Manchester 2002:

I haven't noticed any growing excitement (or even a vague awareness) of the Games among Canadians, which is interesting when they came 3rd on the Manchester medal tally. Canada does better in the Commonwealth Games than they do in the Winter Olympics, but still it is the Winter Olympics that captures the attention of most people here. It must be the curling that gets 'em.

Anyway, there's only a few hours until the opening ceremony. Bring on the goldrush!