Melbourne Commonwealth Games
Mark End of Competition

Karak, the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games mascot, bade goodby to participants and guests alike at the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony which marked the end of competition at the quadrennial Friendly Games held in Melbourne this year.

Pageantry, color and pyrotechnics marked tonight's ceremony which featured Australian performers in an unabashedly Melbourne-centric program and singing and dancing acts from India, host of the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Named flag bearer for Australia during tonight's event was swimmer Leisel Jones, winner of four gold medals at this year's Games. But by a quirk or change in programming I never saw her carry the flag.

Among the featured performers were Australian band Grinspoon, entertainer Dame Edna Everage, and singers Paul Kelly, Ben Lee, Sarah Blasko, Casey Donovan and John Farnham.

Notable among the Indian Bollywood performers was actress and former Miss Universe Aishawarya Rai who played the lead in the recent film Bride and Prejudice.

Dignitaries at the closing ceremony included Prince Edward, Duke of Wessex, vice patron of the Commonwealth Games; Australian Prime Minister John Howard; and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Named outstanding athlete of the Games was Indian sharpshooter Samaresh "Goldfinger" Jung who had claimed five gold medals on the firing range.

How Australia and New Zealand Fared at this Year's Commonwealth Games