Indigenous rights protestors, a heavy rain shower and transport issues provided a turbulent backdrop to the opening ceremony of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games on Wednesday.
About 100 noisy but peaceful protestors were contained by police outside the venue some 90 minutes before the official start of the ceremony, attended by Britain's Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Organisers also had to scramble to get spectators to the stadium after significant backlogs at transport hubs for shuttle buses.
A torrential downpour then began just minutes before the ceremony started at 8pm local time (1000 GMT) to an estimated global viewing audience of more than one billion and about 35,000 at Carrara Stadium.
Former Australian athlete Susie O'Neill during the opening ceremony. Reuters
Artists perform during the opening ceremony. Reuters
Britain’s Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend the opening ceremony. Reuters
Artists perform during the opening ceremony. Reuters
atricia Taea of Cook Islands carries the national flag during the opening ceremony. Reuters
Peace Proscovia of Uganda carries the national flag during the opening ceremony. Reuters
Delta Goodrem performs during the opening ceremony. Reuters
CGF flag is carried during the opening ceremony. Reuters
Artists perform during the opening ceremony. Reuters
Wrestler Gary Giordimaina carries Malta's flag during the opening ceremony. Reuters