It’s over to you, kids

Closing ceremony to celebrate Coast youth

TINY ballet dancers, singing schoolkids and a sea of volunteers will take centre stage alongside Australia’s biggest pop stars at the closing ceremony, with just a handful of tickets left to the last event of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Games chairman Peter Beattie has revealed a few details about the highly confidential event, where the Gold Coast will formally hand over its host city status to Birmingham.

As revealed in the Gold Coast Bulletin, stars including Guy Sebastian, Dami Im, The Veronicas, Amy Shark and Samantha Jade are tipped to perform at Carrara Stadium for the finale.

Yothu Yindi and the Treaty Project and Anthony Callea are also expected to take centre stage.

Mr Beattie said the ceremony would celebrate the athletes, the city, the Commonwealth and the bright volunteers who had made the event friendly and possible.

“It’s the final showcase of who we are as a destination, our cultures and community and a celebration of Australian talent,” he said.

“We’ll be congratulating the athletes, thanking everyone – the volunteers, the Gold Coast community who had to put up with some inconvenience but have also enjoyed the Games.

“It gives us the chance to send a really powerful message.”

Mr Beattie said six dance schools would take part in the spectacle, lead by choreographer and staging director Drew Anthony – a former student of Palm Beach Currumbin High School.

“Young ballet dancers were auditioned from dance schools all over southeast Queensland, for the opportunity to dance alongside Queensland Ballet company dancers, Mia Heathcote and Alexander Idaszak, in the closing ceremony,” he said.

“The young, aspiring ballerinas were selected based on their strong technique, artistry, performance quality and passion to be a part of the biggest event the Gold Coast has ever seen.”

A choir made up of singers from nine Gold Coast high schools will also join the show.

“It’s our show of commitment to the youth of the Gold Coast, and in acknowledgment of the youthful population of the Commonwealth,” Mr Beattie said.

The chairman denied reports games organisers were disappointed with the opening ceremony, which drew criticism of music director and artists Katie Noonan and was described by some as being “flat” and running for too long.

“We are very happy with Katie Noonan and the opening ceremony,” he said.

“We are happy with the opening ceremony and how it’s been received and very happy with Jack Morton.”