IF there is a sports Mecca, then it must be Australia. "People down here are absolutely fanatical about sport," said Bermuda's Chef de Mission for the Commonwealth Games, Philip Guishard yesterday. "Not only do Australia have great sportsmen and women, but the fans are fanatical and of course all the officials are very knowledgeable. Everyone here is excited and informed about sports which makes everything a little easier," said Guishard who has experienced numerous Olympics as well in his time with the Bermuda Olympic Association.

Bermuda jumped into action on Thursday after the Opening Ceremony staged on Wednesday evening when swimmers Michael O'Connor and Ronald Cowen competed in their 50 metres backstroke heat and 400 metres freestyle heat respectively on Thursday. But both failed to advance to the finals.

However the island's two squash players, Nick Kyme and James Stout had better luck winning their opening round matches. Kyme downed Malawi's Chikumbutso in straight games (9-0, 9-2, 9-1) while Stout also has an easy three-games win over Kenya's Joseph Karigthe (9-2, 9-0, 9-0).

However both players were bounced out of the singles later in the second round when they came up against two of Great Britain's best. Kyme went down 7-9, 1-9, 1-9 to world number nine John White from Scotland while Stout lost to world number 20 Alex Gough from Wales. Stout lost the first game 4-9, the second 1-9 and at 1-7 in the third the Bermudian withdrew feeling sick.

All of Bermuda's four swimmers are set to compete today as are the gymnasts while the rest of Bermuda's large team will get into action this weekend and early next week.

Guishard said the athletes will find these Commonwealth Games more friendly than that found at the Olympics.

"These Games are a bit more informal than the Olympics which tend to be locked in stone. I think the Olympics have a lot more tradition and formality. I also think that the officials at the Commonwealth Games probably know their sports better than those at the Olympics. They are quite different."

And Bermuda's competitors will probably be more comfortable in their Athletes Village in Melbourne than they would be at any Olympics. "The village is brand new and I must admit I could not compare it to any other village that I have been to," he said.

Secretary General of the Bermuda Olympic Association, Judy Simons, agreed. "The facilities are first class," she said from Melbourne. "Everything is up to date and top notch. I would say the village is one of the best villages I have ever seen and I think all the athletes are quite happy."

Bermuda has a contingent of nearly 40 people at the Games ? 26 of whom are athletes. And while nearly all are staying in the village, a few are not for practical reasons. Full bore target shooters Nelson Simons and Walter Trott along with full bore coach Norman Pogson are staying near their competition venue. Guishard explained: "They would have to travel about two hours to get there so it made more sense for them to stay near the venue ? actually is a small Athletes Village."

And Guishard said he gave permission for triathletes Karen Smith and Flora Duffy along with coach Steve Petty to stay at a hotel in St. Kilda. "That is a temporary situation. They wanted to stay there before they compete to help with their final training and I agreed," he said.

Also along for the triathlon is Patty Petty. But although she is from Bermuda, strictly speaking she is not with the Bermuda delegation.

Guishard said: "Patty is here in Melbourne as a technical delegate for the International Triathlon Union. It is quite a honour for her."

Petty said: "I am actually a technical official for the Melbourne Games which I have been told is a first for Bermuda."

Petty added that it was not only the Bermuda triathletes who are staying in St. Kilda. "It is interesting to note that all of the Australians ? with the exception of 10 athletes are staying in the village. And six of those 10 are the triathletes."

Duffy and Smith are both in action on Saturday.

Wednesday night's Opening Ceremony was just the kind of event to get things rolling for Bermua's team said Simons.

"Everybody looked great ? the whole evening was fantastic," she said.

The ceremony began on the playing ground of the Melbourne Cricket Ground lighting up with previous host cities. The flags of Australia (current host), England (previous host) and India (next host) were raised. Surf boats which represented each of the past 18 host cities were on the Yarra River as were flags of the participating countries. A Melbourne Tram with wings attached was lowered into the stadium.

The Opening Ceremony had many themes, including Melbourne's Wurundjeri Indigenous heritage and Melbourne's fickle weather.

Contrary to tradition, the nations did not enter the stadium in alphabetical order, but by regions of the Commonwealth. European nations entered the stadium first, followed by those from Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Caribbean and finally, Oceania. English athletes and officials entered the stadium first (as the host of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester) while the host nation, Australia entered last.

The final leg of the Queen's Baton Relay was completed by the 16 captains of the Australian Football League across the floating flags and fish along the Yarra River.

After a rather controversial furore before the start of the Games regarding the etiquette of singing God Save the Queen, a Happy Birthday medley was sung by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in tribute of the Queen's 80th birthday (still over a month away), ending with eight bars from God Save the Queen.