When the Commonwealth Games kick off today with the promise of a spectacular opening ceremony at the City of Manchester Stadium, Britain goes on sporting trial.

If the nation which gave the world so many of its major sports is to stage a football World Cup, an Olympic Games or even a World Athletics Championships in the lifetime of any of the competitors then the 'Friendly Games', as they have been dubbed, must demonstrate an eye-catching level of organisational precision.

No less would be enough to sweep away the shame of Wembley, the fiasco of Picketts Lock and the general conception that Britain's sporting administrators couldn't manage a tombola at the local gymkhana.

It would be easy to be sceptical about the chances of the largest sports event ever staged in Britain capturing the imagination.

Already an event which struggles in comparison to competitions where all the world's elite athletes attend, has been dealt several crushing blows, none greater than the drugs shame of pole vaulter Janine Whitlock and discus thrower Periss Wilkins so close to the event's opening.

The fact that one morning session in the athletics stadium has had to be cancelled and spectators refunded because of a lack of athletes to fill heats is also cause for concern.

But, enough of the doom and gloom, there is still much to anticipate at these Games, much to celebrate in the enthusiasm of a city and its 15,000 volunteers who have decked out Manchester in a myriad of sporting paraphernalia.

Not least in the presence of Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe, who won a hat-trick of Olympic swimming golds in Sydney and when the swimming gets under way next week he will be attempting to become the first swimmer to win seven golds at a major championship since Mark Spitz at the Munich Olympics of 1972.

When we search for those who might stir the home blood the list is sprinkled with golden oldies.

Gateshead's Jonathan Edwards, who has lost in his last two Golden League events, is driven by the fact that triumph in Manchester would give him membership of an elite club which includes Daley Thompson, Linford Christie and Sally Gunnell - the only Britons to have won a Grand Slam of golds at the Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic Games.

Colin Jackson is desperate to conclude a career where promise and disappointment have been delivered in equal measure with gold in the 110m hurdles.

And if anyone deserves a triumphant swan-song it is Steve Backley, the javelin thrower who seems to get beaten perpetually into the silver and bronze positions. Thankfully, his best pal and biggest rival, Jan Zelezny comes from the Czech Republic.

Paula Radcliffe should be a banker in the 10,000m despite several weeks out with a stomach illness, and Chris Rawlinson lends high expectation to the men's 400m hurdles.

But there is more to these games than athletics. Jason Queally, the man who kicked off Britain's haul of 13 gold medals in Sydney, is a hot favourite, racing on his home track in the Manchester Velodrome.

Eric Rush will lead his New Zealand rugby stars in defence of their Commonwealth title in a sevens tournament which promises to be the highlight of the entire Games.

Squash, netball, women's triathlon and the always visually-pleasing gymnastics are also on the menu at a Games with 17 sports and 72 nations - a Games which have rarely been boring, having seen their fair share of political intrigue and sporting drama.

They were conceived to reward courage, camaraderie and kinship, to promote caring and a feeling of family.

It is a grand aim. Manchester, however, also needs some spectacular winners.