Doubts over Athens' readiness to host the Olympics were firmly laid to rest as a spectacular opening ceremony marked the return of the Games to their spiritual home.

Using the most advanced technology, a team of hundreds turned on a brilliant artistic display in the main stadium that weeks ago was without a roof.

The Games began with drums beating to the rhythm of the human heart and a flaming that comet crashed into a lake in the centre of the stadium, igniting the Olympic rings.

The 72,000 strong crowd roared with excitement, just as they did when the Greek flag began the procession of thousands of athletes who marched into the stadium for the world's greatest sporting contest.

Huge cheers were also reserved for the Australian team, led by six-time Olympic yachtsman Colin Beashel.

Only it was hard to spot the athletes with just 160 of the 482-member team marching.

Those who did were joined by some 140 officials all dressed in bright green jackets and carrying white crushed leather backpacks.

Australia's own princess, Tasmanian Mary Donaldson and her husband Crown Prince Frederik watched from the stands with delight when Denmark was welcomed into the stadium.

Athletes from rivals North and South Korea marched side-by-side under a neutral banner depicting a simple picture of the peninsula in a gesture laden with symbolism.

North and South Korea are divided by the world's last Cold War frontier and remain technically at war as no formal peace treaty was ever signed to end their bloody 1950-53 conflict.

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