The cynosure of all eyes is on a star parade that includes India's Sachin Tendulkar and Jaspal Rana, New Zealand's rugby ace Jonah Lomu, swimmer Kieren Perkins and squash's numero uno Peter Nicol.

Over the next ten days sportspersons will vie for 1,176 medals at stake in 219 events and the Australian camp is looking forward to top 100 gold medals, up from a record 87 last time at Victoria. It had won a total of 182 medals.

India, which got six gold medals out of a total of 24 in Victoria Games, is leaving no stone unturned to raise its tally and perhaps rise up the medal table from the sixth slot it occupied in the last Games.

The Games will however miss the likes of Olympic champion and world record holder Donovan Bailey of Canada, top athlete Frankie Fredericks of Namibia, Australian CathyFreeman, world record holder in the triple jump Jonathan Edwards and the fastest man in the 110 m hurdles Colin Jackson and for that matter most of the star cricketers from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

However, a chance to catch a glimpse of stars such as Perkins, Ian `thorpedo' Thorpe and Michael Klim at the pool, Lomu Waisale Serevi and David Campese in sevens rugby, Tendulkar, Steve Waugh and Curtly Ambrose on the pitch has kept the interest going.

There will be at least six Kenyans gunning for World Records-- three each in 800 metres and 1500 metres. Japheth Kimutai, Patrick Nduduri and Kennedy Ngetich will represent Kenya in the two-lap race while Daniel Komen, Laban Rotich and John Kibowen are in the fray for the 1,500 metres.

The world record for 800 metres is 1:41.11 held by Denmark's Wilson Kiptekar and the 1,500 metres by Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj, 3:26.00. Four of Kenyan coach Samuel Kipsang's wards-- Kimutai, Komen, Ndururi and Rotich-- are in South Africa for the World Cup and willarrive in Kuala Lumpur in time for the athletics event on September 16.

Besides, there are others like Cara Honeychurch in bowling, Ong Ewe Hock in badminton, Noicole Cusack in netball, Jay Stacy in hockey, Shane Kelly in cycling and Anthony Allcock in lawn bowling.

The organisers have turned a blind eye to the fact that England did not send its cricket team and nor did India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka its best squads.