Commonwealth Games

About 18 months ago when the English and Tongan, Auckland-based 26-year-old heard there was potential the modified game might be included in the Games, she set the goal to get there. And she has.

Before she heads off to Birmingham, she’s getting some 3X3 experience at the Asia Cup in Singapore. She only received the call-up for the competition last weekend.

She speaks with Zoë George about sport and her job as a firefighter:

The men's Sevens squad consists of six Olympic Gold medalists plus several from this year's World Rugby Sevens Series team.

Of those travelling, five were part of the Commonwealth Games in Australia four years ago.

Meanwhile, women's Sevens coach Saiasi Fuli has named a team that includes 10 bronze medalists from the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Veteran forward Rusila Nagasau will captain the side.

Men's coach Ben Gollings said he's confident for the Games with the talent he has been able to draw on.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) have entered an 'exclusive dialogue' period with the state's authorities.

While a submission still has to be formally evaluated, Victoria is now likely to be officially confirmed as the host in April.

The Games would be primarily held in regional Victoria.

The news will come as a major relief to the CGF which had been trying to find a host to follow Birmingham.

Birmingham will stage the 2022 Games in July.

The 27-year-old is a five time New Zealand women's discus champion and placed fourth at the last two Commonwealth Games, but after entering the Auckland Strongman Series, the New Zealand-born Tongan said she was hooked on a new sporting challenge.

"I've been doing track and field for quite a long time, since I was 12-years-old. I started travelling the world at 14 [and] it just got to a point where my love for the sport started fading away," she said.

He was awarded the David Dixon Award, given out at each Commonwealth Games.

The award is based on an athlete's performance at the event, fair play, and overall contribution to their team's participation at the Games. It is chosen by the Athletes' Advisory Commission.

In a speech at the closing ceremony, the Commonwealth Games Federation President, Louise Martin said Liti exhibited great sportsmanship and consideration for his fellow competitors while competing at the highest level.

"I can't describe it - it's been a great Games and this just tops it off", said Liti

Weightlifting led the way with 11 medals while boxing, lawn bowls, athletics, rugby sevens and beach volleyball combined for another seven.

The Pacific won 18 medals on the Gold Coast, their best return since winning 21 at the 2002 Games in Manchester.

Samoa was the region's top performer with two gold and three silver medals, their highest ever Commonwealth Games tally.

Papua New Guinea won three medals in weightlifting, including Steven Kari repeating his gold medal effort from 2014.

Blake was the favourite to be crowned men's sprint champion at Carrara Stadium, but the Jamaican could only take bronze after he failed to recover from a poor start and South Africa's Simbine eased to victory in 10.03 seconds ahead of compatriot Henricho Bruintjies.

Ahye became the first woman from Trinidad and Tobago to win 100m gold, crossing the line in 11.14secs ahead of Jamaica duo Christania Williams and Gayon Evans on the Gold Coast.

Having represented New Zealand in Glasgow, the 24-year-old fighter will now be representing her dad, and coach Fili's homeland of Tonga in the women's 69kg class.

Holding the Tongan flag at the opening ceremony has made this Commonwealth Games even more special for Maka.

Before leading the 13-strong Tongan team into Carrara Stadium on the Gold Cast last night, the beaming flagbearer spoke to 1 NEWS' Kimberlee Downs.

"I feel blessed to be walking in with my team and to be leading them.

"It's an honour to be flagbearer for Tonga."

About 100 noisy but peaceful protesters were contained by police outside the venue some 90 minutes before the official start of the ceremony, attended by Britain's Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The protesters, carrying signs that read "colonisation is not a game", had earlier disrupted a leg of the Queen's Baton Relay and demanded Britain's royal family members ask them for permission to visit "stolen" land.

But come Wednesday it will officially become the host of the 21st Commonwealth Games.

It'll be the fifth time Australia has hosted the event.

Gold Coast's Games will cost $2 billion.

Hosting the Games is seen as a coming of age for Gold Coast as it seeks to move out of the shadow of Brisbane.