NEW DELHI -- Decked out in white caps and flashing beaming smiles, Canadian athletes earned a loud cheer from the crowd when they marched during Sunday's opening ceremonies at the Commonwealth Games.
Flag-bearer Ken Pereira led the Canadian team into the 60,000-seat Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to the pulsating rhythms of traditional Indian drums and snake-charming wind instruments.
Carrying the Maple Leaf was a special honour for Pereira, the field hockey team captain. He was born in Toronto but his parents were raised in India. Seated among the cheering fans was his mother.
Dressed in red-and-white jackets and dark shorts, the Canadians managed to look crisp on a hot, muggy night. Some of the athletes danced around the stadium while others snapped pictures. They all waved.
Among the dignitaries who watched the parade was Prince Charles, who represented the British royal family.
Also on hand was Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee. The stadium announcer introduced Rogge as head of the international Olympic council.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canadian athletes competing in India have plenty of support back home.
"Beginning today, Canada's athletes will once again have the chance to shine on the international stage, this time at the XIX Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India," he said in a statement. "Canadians from coast to coast to coast will be cheering them on."
Drummers performed mid-air twirls and a giant Helium balloon floated over the main stage. There were empty seats visible in the stadium, but a vocal crowd roared its approval when a group of children uncovered layers of their costume to reveal the Indian national flag.
Organizers hope the elaborate ceremonies will brighten the image of a Games that has been darkened by scandals, construction delays, an outbreak of dengue fever and the withdrawal of some big sports names.
Worries over athletes spending hours in the boiling heat without water or bathrooms almost kept Canada from marching in the ceremonies. Organizers finally agreed to allow team officials to set up tents and bring water to the staging area where athletes waited prior to marching into the stadium.
Canada has sent a team of 260 athletes to the Games, but only around 120 participated in the opening ceremonies. The swimmers, some track athletes and gymnasts who compete in Monday's opening day of competition elected to watch from the cool comfort of the athletes village.
Security was tight. An estimated 100,000 police and military personnel threw a blanket over the city. Soldiers armed with automatic weapons prowled roof tops around the stadium and stood guard in hallways inside the massive building. Police dogs watched the crowd, sitting beside their unsmiling masters.
Shops and markets were closed.
Media and spectators faced long lineups entering the stadium. Bags were searched by hand, camera gear inspected and water bottles tossed.
Cost estimates for the Games have ranged from US$3 billion to more than $10 billion.
The Games will bring together 6,700 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories.
Canada finished third at the 2006 Games with 86 medals. The strength of this year's team is in swimming, diving, weightlifting and wrestling.
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