Melbourne spruced up for Games

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Australia

Melbourne, Tuesday, Melbourne, the host city for the eagerly awaited Commonwealth Games beginning in March is being spruced up for the big event. Though the Victoria Bitter Triangular cricket series between Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka will start off on Friday, the Commonwealth Games has not been confined to second best.

The Games organizers here are leaving no stone unturned to see that they conduct the best ever Games and if what is going on with more to follow is an indication, the organizers should realize their dream of conducting one if not the best ever Games.

Paul Kelly, one of the music greats here has coined a song for the Games titled - TONIGHT OUR FIRES- which organizers are confident would become the Games popular anthem.

Kelly is expected to sing the song at several celebrations during the Games and also at the closing ceremony. The songs exciting lyrics describes talk of battle, fate and creating history.

An award winner and one Kelly has written tunes in the past honoring even the late great Sir Donald Bradman and the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Kelly who has done a lot for charity has donated the commission from the song - Tonight our Fires - to the Charity Water Aid which provides safe domestic water, sanitation and hygiene education to the world's poorest people.

Like it happens everywhere, it is no different here in Australia with the Federal and Government MPs enjoying the best seats for the Games opening and major swimming and athletics events. According to the 'Sunday Herald Sun' $113,000 worth of premium tickets available to ministers and parliamentary secretaries and their spouses and partners.