If Olympic bids are based on opening ceremonies, India has given itself every chance of hosting the biggest sporting event of all.

Olympic supremo Jacques Rogge sat among the dignitaries at the Delhi Commonwealth Games opening ceremony and could not have helped but to have been extraordinarily impressed.

The stunning opening ceremony shattered the pall of gloom which has hung over the Games' build-up and set the 11 days of sport off on a feel-good start.

If only the rest of the Games could run so smoothly and impressively.

All indications before Sunday's opening ceremony were that they couldn't possibly and the prospect of India bidding for an Olympics was laughable.

Diplomatically, Rogge said on Sunday before the ceremony that India was well placed to go ahead with its plan to bid for the 2020 Olympics.

"I think India has set a good foundation stone for the Olympics bid and a successful Commonwealth Games can help India mount a serious bid for the Olympics," the International Olympic Committee president said.

His kind words were given just a little more credibility by a spectacular ceremony which was not only a triumph of Indian culture, heritage and history, but a flawless and complex technical production on a massive scale.

For one night, at least, the controversies over delayed and shoddy construction, a filthy athletes village, allegations of corruption against officials and the fear of terrorism were forgotten.

The three-hour show proved what the emerging and progressive India can do. Now, the Games must channel the positive feeling from Sunday night, put aside the appalling build-up and overcome the impending technical chaos at venues which looms as their next potential disaster.

Throughout the tumultuous preparation in the past few months, Games organising chief Suresh Kalmadi has optimistically insisted the Games would be the best ever.

All along, Kalmadi said it would all come right on the night. If the opening ceremony is an example of getting it right on the night, he could yet pull off a successful Games.

In his opening ceremony speech, he gave a defiant, if somewhat jaundiced, view of the problems which have beset his organising committee.

"There have been delays and many challenges but we have been able to rise above them all," Kalmadi said. "When we faced our many difficult challenges, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's encouragement made us feel `Yes We Can'."

The next 11 days will indeed prove if they can.

Paul Mulvey
AAP