Editing 2002 Commonwealth Games (section)

=== Opening ceremony ===
[[File:CWG007 Opening Ceremony.jpg|thumb|Opening Ceremony]]
The Project & Artistic Director for the Opening Ceremony was [[David Zolkwer]]. Five-time Olympic champion [[Steve Redgrave|Sir Steve Redgrave]] opened the two-and-a-quarter-hour opening ceremony by banging a large drum, which initiated a co-ordinated dance and fireworks act. The champion rower was joined on the stage by sporting stars including yachtswoman [[Ellen MacArthur]], heptathlete [[Denise Lewis]], long-distance runner [[Moses Kiptanui]], swimmer [[Susie O'Neill]] and sprinter [[Donovan Bailey]]. The [[Grenadier Guards]] shared the arena with pop band [[S Club]] and [[Salford, Greater Manchester|Salford]]-born opera singer [[Russell Watson]] sang the Games' theme, "[[Faith of the Heart]]", while the arrival of HM [[Elizabeth II|The Queen]] was greeted with a [[flypast]] by the [[Red Arrows]]. England football captain [[David Beckham]] helped chaperone Queen's Baton final runner [[Kirsty Howard]], assisting the terminally ill six-year-old to hand the baton to The Queen. A 4,000-strong cast took part in the £12 million spectacular, which in theme and tone consisted of a mix of "pomp and pop", combining the ceremonial aspects of the Games with a party-style atmosphere, based on Manchester's reputation as the party city of "[[Madchester]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/2002-commonwealth-games-opening-ceremony-7417848|title=WATCH: Relive the 2002 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in full|last=Swettenham|first=Lee|date=2014-07-15|website=men|access-date=2020-01-11}}</ref> The ceremony was voiced by broadcaster [[Anthony Davis (comedian)|Anthony Davis]].

[[File:CWG015 Opening Ceremony Athletes Parade.jpg|thumb|Athletes Parade at the Opening Ceremony]]
The traditional athletes' parade was led by previous hosts [[Malaysia]], and England brought up the rear before The Queen as the [[Head of the Commonwealth]], declared the Games open:

"All of us participating in this ceremony tonight, whether athletes or spectators, or those watching on television around the world, can share in the ideals of this unique association of nations,"

"We can all draw inspiration from what the Commonwealth stands for, our diversity as a source of strength, our tradition of tolerance&nbsp;... our focus on young people, for they are our future."

"It is my pleasure in this my Golden Jubilee Year to declare the 17th Commonwealth Games open."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.royal.uk/opening-ceremony-17th-commonwealth-games-manchester-25-july-2002|title=Opening ceremony of the 17th Commonwealth Games, Manchester, 25 July 2002|last=Ciara.Berry|date=2002-07-25|website=The Royal Family|language=en|access-date=2020-01-11}}</ref>