Melbourne 2006 legacy lives on

The 2006 Commonwealth Games lasted only 10 days, but it left a lasting legacy on Melbourne.

Tuesday marks the 10-year anniversary of the opening ceremony, celebrated as the "best Commonwealth Games ever" at the time.

The Games cemented the city's ability to hold a large scale sporting event and promoted Melbourne's bid to be the sporting capital of the world.

Most importantly for some, the Games also boasted Australia's biggest and most successful Commonwealth team, winning 221 medals - 84 of them gold.

It also provided a rare opportunity for 39 of the 71 competing countries to take home a medal - an unusual feat.

The home crowd advantage provided Australian athletes with a little extra as Melburnians and visitors from all over the world packed into stadiums and arenas to get a taste of the action.

Ticket sales far exceeded expectations, with most events virtually sold out - whether it be every day of the swimming competition, to the first day of track and field or the badminton semi-finals.

It's hard to find a Melburnian who didn't attend the games or at least watch it on TV.

Even without the memories, the Games left a lasting impact on the city's sporting footprint.

Both the MCG and Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre got significant upgrades and sporting centres in regional towns like Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong also benefited.

Even the athletes village changed an abandoned psychiatric hospital into a 20-hectare community housing estate.

Sports Minister John Eren says the 2006 Games helped showcase the best of everything Melbourne had to offer.

"New world records on the track and in the pool were matched by enormous attendances and huge television audiences, boosting Victoria's international profile and economy," Mr Eren told AAP on Monday.

"A successful Commonwealth Games doesn't happen by chance; it's the result of considered planning, careful investment and hard work, and it's worth it."

Tuesday not only marks the 10-year anniversary of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, it also marks 750 days until the opening ceremony of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.