Some Australians who woke up early this morning for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony were left rubbing their eyes after having to wait much longer than expected for the Australian team to enter the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.
King Charles and Queen Camilla kicked off the ceremony by stunning viewers with a surprise appearance, emerging from a life-size Doctor Who TARDIS to begin the ceremony on Friday morning (AEST).
The Head of the Commonwealth and the Queen emerged from the famous blue police box at the main entrance, and then spectators turned their attention to the athletes taking a walk as the entertainment continued.
But they were left confused when the Australian team didn’t show up, as is almost always the case.
Scotland has taken the unprecedented step of choosing to have the 74 countries competing in the 2026 Games divided into regions in alphabetical order.
Thus, the ceremony began with African countries, and Botswana appeared first.
“I hope you enjoy this trip around the world in a different way during the opening ceremony. Now we’re heading to the Caribbean,” Joanna Griggs told Channel 7.
About 30 minutes later, after some online confusion, it was Australia’s turn with Nina Kennedy and Tim Hodge leading the Australian team for Oceania.
It was only the fourth time in Commonwealth Games history that Australia failed to go first.
On all four previous occasions, 1938, 1962, 1982 and 2006, Australia hosted the Games and therefore came last.
For those who were patient, the wait was worth it as reigning pole vault gold medalist Kennedy led the team as Australia’s flag bearer with paraswimming star Hodge carrying the country’s torch.
Kennedy received the offer over the phone from mission chief Petria Thomas on the same day she broke the Australian pole vault record and said before the opening ceremony she had only one plan.
“I’ll be thinking, ‘Absorb this, absorb this, absorb this’ – and then I probably won’t absorb it,” she told Channel 7.
Meanwhile, Hodge made history at the opening ceremony as the first para-athlete to lead Australia, as well as the first torch bearer.
The batons are all about the Games, and Hodge said it was an “incredible privilege” to play the first role.
“Because this is an integrated program, it’s just a sign that para sports are definitely starting to move up the ladder and show themselves on par with their able-bodied counterparts,” he said.
However, some fans were confused and disappointed that they had to wait for Australia to go away.
“What kind of insult is this to the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games?” one fan wrote on X.
“Australia is funding it and the opening ceremony demotes us down the list. Australia is behind African, American, Asian, Caribbean and European countries. Plus they call our continent ‘Oceania.’
“Did we miss Australia?” – asked another.