Some 5,000 athletes will compete in sports ranging from athletics to wrestling.

Among the leading figures attending from sport will be Olympic gold medallists Ian Thorpe, Jonathan Edwards and Jason Queally as well as other established names such as Sevens specialist Waisale Serevi and squash player Peter Nicol.

Manchester will host the games, with Bolton housing the badminton and road race cycling, Salford the triathlon and the 20km and 50km walks, and Bisley, in Surrey, the shooting.

This year will be only the second time that England has ever hosted the event, the last time coming back in 1934.

The Games themselves, though, originated in 1930 in Ontario, Canada, and have taken place every four years except for 1942 and 1946.

Only eight different countries have held the "friendly Games", as they have become known.

This year, for the first time in Commonwealth Games history, mountain biking, the triathlon, women's weightlifting and table tennis have been included in the programme.

Also on the agenda will be disabled events, which debut at the Games as well, with Wales' Tanni-Grey Thompson among the major contenders.

As always, Her Majesty the Queen will watch over the spectacle, which lasts until 4 August.

In a statement, she explained the purpose of the Games.

"Sport is a great leveller," she said. "It brings together people from every background.

"It demonstrates the value of co-operation, teamwork and team spirit. It touches the need to abide by rules and regulations.

"Sport emphasises the importance of self-control and how to take victory with good grace."

The right kit

This year's face of the Games will come in the guise of Kit, the official mascot for Manchester 2002.

Tony Hill, marketing manager for the Games, explained: "Everybody who meets Kit falls in love with him.

"He's very Mancunian - young, vibrant, friendly, dynamic, a little mischievous and lots of fun."

All the action of the Games will be covered on BBC television, radio and online.