Games start with a splash – but where's the competition?

There were almost as many volunteers as spectators at Manchester Aquatics Centre yesterday as the first medals of the Commonwealth Games were handed out hours before last night's opening ceremony had taken place.

The few hundred in attendance, who were obviously caught in the tidal wave of Commonwealth fever that was forecast to sweep through Manchester, enjoyed a fine start for the host nation. Two England divers picked up medals before the Games started with a glitzy ceremony in front of a capacity crowd, including the Queen, at the City of Manchester Stadium last night.

Tony Ally won a silver in the men's one-metre springboard event, while Jane Smith, a former winner of the Gladiators television series, won a bronze in the women's event.

"Silver medal? What can I say?" Ally said. "The crowd was on my side." Smith was even more happy about the hardy few who were cheering her on. "I always wanted to come to the Commonwealth Games in Manchester," she said. "I knew there would be a great atmosphere and it hasn't let me down. To win England's first medal is fantastic and I'm really pleased."

Ally said the home nation were in for a successful Games. Statistically, his optimism is well founded. England's team, with more than 600 members, is by far the largest.

Some 3,864 athletes from 72 "countries", including the Isle of Man and Jersey, are due to attend, although numerous events are sparsely populated. One women's weightlifting event will see just four competitors vying for three medals. The 13 synchronised swimmers at the Games, meanwhile, start their event today with a 69 per cent chance each of a medal.