Thursday night's Delhi Commonwealth Games closing ceremony was more like an episode of Dancing with the Stars as the curtain fell on the sometimes-troubled event in spectacular fashion.

A who's who of Australian athletes used Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as their own dance floor in stark contrast to the "tunnel of terror" experience during the opening ceremony.

About 200 Australian athletes - almost half the team - were all smiles as they paraded in front of a packed stadium before soaking up the entertainment.

Traditional music set to a pulsating beat got a clear thumbs up from the Aussies.

"It was good to have a boogie," Hockeyroos star Kate Hollywood said.

"And all the girls (in the gold medal winning Hockeyroos team) got up on their chairs and had a dance."

What a difference 11 days make.

Australian chef de mission Steve Moneghetti sought assurances ahead of the closing ceremony that there would not be a repeat of their treatment during the October 3 opening.

Moneghetti slammed officials for treating his team "like cattle", forcing them to wait for an hour in stifling conditions in the tunnel before entering the stadium.

There were no complaints on Thursday night after athletes waited outside of the stadium on the warm-up track under a marquee peppered with fans.

"It was a good night, a great celebration," world pole vault champion Steve Hooker said.

"It was a good way to finish in India."

Alicia Coutts was flag bearer for Australia, but she could not lay claim to being the biggest athlete to stride out at Thursday night's closing ceremony.

No one could match Coutts' stunning five gold haul in the Delhi pool - a tally that has ensured a swimmer hardly noticed just two weeks ago has made rivals sit up and take notice ahead of the London Olympics.

But even as flag bearer, Coutts looked like a lightweight compared to the teammate who strode out alongside her - super heavyweight weightlifting champion Damon Kelly.

Laine Clark and Drew Cratchley
AAP