The Victorian government, organisers and performers hailed the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games a success, brushing aside suggestions of disappointing ticket sales and potentially dangerous pyrotechnic displays.

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks said the ceremony had seamlessly united the thousands of people inside the MCG with the estimated 100,000 people who assembled along the banks of the Yarra to watch the Queen's Baton make its way to the stadium.

"We said from the start that this would be an opening ceremony which is the best opening ceremony of any Commonwealth or Empire games in history and it was," Mr Bracks told reporters.

Asked about some empty seats, organising committee CEO Ron Walker said: "I think we did a very good job. We have a huge stadium here, it's one of the largest in the world.

"You'll notice there are some sidelines where we couldn't sell the seats (because of obstructed views)."

Pop star Delta Goodrem, who performed a song she co-wrote especially for Games' athletes, said she had initially been disconcerted by the prospect of being surrounded by a large pyrotechnics display, which showered sparks across the stage and above the heads of some audience members.

"I can't say I didn't fear for my safety a little bit," Goodrem said after the ceremony.

"In rehearsal there was all these fire hydrants ... and people with oxygen masks ... but it was fine and I had a ball.

"To tell you the honest truth I just felt very safe up there, very secure and I was just so focused on what I was doing I didn't even notice how much smoke was going on."

Melbourne Commonwealth Games chief executive John Harnden brushed aside any suggestions of last minute ticket glitches.

However, he conceded that a group of patrons, some of whom paid the more than $400 ticket price, were moved to different seating on arrival.

"There was an area where there was a small number of people we did shift because when we constructed the walkway ... it did obstruct a few more seats than we actually planned initially and we actually moved those people to a better seat."

Melbourne Games chairman Ron Walker said the Queen appeared thrilled when New Zealand opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa sung to her ahead of her 80th birthday next month.

"I was watching her face particularly when the young boy came to greet her and announced that we were going to sing her happy birthday," Mr Walker said.

"I think that was one of the highlights of the evening for her."

Ceremony executive producer Andrew Walsh paid tribute to Victorian Governor and former Olympian John Landy who ran the final leg of the Queen's Baton Relay,

He made history at the MCG in the 1500 metres final at the 1956 Australian national championships before the Melbourne 1956 Olympics by stopping to help up a competitor who fell.

"John Landy is one of the most iconic sportsmen in Australian sporting history and any follower of Australian sport would always remember his historic actions in this very place," he told reporters.

Australian flag bearer Jane Saville was on "cloud nine" after leading the Australian team onto the MCG at the opening ceremony.

"What can I say? It was just one of the most exciting moments of my sporting career," she said.

"A home Games. You couldn't ask for anything better."

The walker said she wasn't nervous as she led her team mates onto the ground and said the atmosphere was incredible.

She said morale within the Australian team was soaring.

"I'm so proud to be leading the team," she said.

"It is hard to describe. Everyone is on cloud nine.

"I think we have all got sore cheeks from smiling."

Australian chef de mission John Devitt described the ceremony as "magical".

"That was spectacular as far as I was concerned," he said.

Devitt said he was greeted by a sea of faces when he looked up into the grandstand.

"I think anyone who has never been to an opening ceremony will remember this for the rest of their lives."

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