Watch the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham live on the BBC - check out the TV times, extra streams and radio coverage plans.

Allen Cook
BBC News

We are about an hour away from the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games so time for us to wrap up our coverage of the Queen's Baton Relay and final preparations for the Games.

Image source, PA Media

Our BBC Sport colleagues will take you through the ceremony itself.

We've been promised giant puppets, dancing, ballet, pop stars and a massive lemon hot air balloon.

One man who has already had quite the 24-hours - after carrying the Games baton in front of a cheering crowd - Sir Lenny Henry has had a sneak preview. So we will leave you with his words:

"There are mechanical things moving, there is colour, there are marionettes, people, volunteers."

"It is going to be really, really exciting, I can't wait."

Enjoy!

Image source, Birmingham 2022

Maeve Clarke, a writer from Birmingham who penned the story behind the Commonwealth Games opening show, said it recognised the city's many contributions.

“We’re not just the industrial revolution and we’re not just in the middle of the country, Birmingham and the surrounding regions," she said.

"We have offered so much in terms of art, culture and science and that’s part of the journey we are going to take you on.”

The show, which starts at 19:00 BST on BBC One, features dancers and choirs and aims to create an immersive, theatrical experience.

Events for the Birmingham 2022 Festival will be continuing alongside and after the Commonwealth Games.

Image source, ARTconnects

The six-month cultural event began in March and is due to conclude in September with the aim of celebrating creativity in the city and West Midlands.

Among the events will be the showing of a film about the effects of climate change on women in 15 Commonwealth nations.

"The Migration Blanket - Climate Solidarity, external" film project features 150 young refugee and marginalised women and shows how climate change is affecting their lives, producers said.

"People are going hungry in Nairobi because of climate change," one contributor, Huda, a student in Kenya, said.

The film features more than 400 pieces of handmade artwork from the women and climate activists and will be show at various festival sites from 28 July.

What a range of smiles and joy there is coming from these photos you've been kind enough to send us from the baton relay, via WhatsApp.

Thank you so much and please send any great photos from today's special events using this link: https://bit.ly/3OSVIrw, external

Image source, Sadeh Graham

Image source, Rebecca Sheehan

Image source, Ellie Jackson

Image source, Saira Khattak

BBC Midlands Today

The Queen's Baton Relay has continued in Birmingham on its final day ahead of the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games tonight.

Starting at Birmingham Children's Hospital, it visited a number of locations before arriving at 17th Century mansion Aston Hall at lunchtime.

The journey began in October last year and has involved 72 nations and territories.

BBC Arts

Alongside the Commonwealth Games sports events, there's also been a six-month culture festival taking place which kicked off in March.

BBC Arts commissioned exclusive films to reflect this celebration of talent and storytelling in the city and across the West Midlands.

You can see one of them below - Inhale, Exhale, which tells a poetic and cinematic story about grassroots sport, youth participation, diversity and inspiration.

The other two can be seen here on the BBC iPlayer.

Iqbal Khan, the artistic director of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, has been talking to the BBC about his vision for the show.

Khan said the show at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium was based on a story of 72 young people from around the Commonwealth visiting the city.

"We take them on a journey through the extraordinary history of Birmingham - of innovation. We also tell the story of immigration here - the Commonwealth children like myself," he said.

“This is my love letter to this city and this region.”

The cast, which includes 2,500 volunteers, will perform before a stadium crowd of 35,000 and millions of people watching around the world.

Giant puppets of Shakespeare and Elgar, a water ballet, Duran Duran and much more will be included in the opening ceremony of Birmingham's Commonwealth Games, organisers promise.

Image source, Birmingham 2022

The show's director, Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, has said he believes it will be better than the launch of the London Olympics in 2012.

Over three-and-a-half hours, the story of Birmingham's past and present will be traced along with reflecting the 72 Commonwealth countries and territories.

"It feels like it's Birmingham's turn to shine - and this show certainly shines," Mr Knight said.

Read more about what's in store tonight here on the BBC website.

You have been brilliant in sharing your photos from the Queen's Baton Relay via WhatsApp today.

Diane Gibbs sent this photo taken in New Hall Valley Park, Sutton Coldfield.

Image source, Diane Gibbs

Fatima Vallimohamed took this in Northfield, Birmingham:

Image source, Fatima Vallimohamed

This shot from when the baton was at Birmingham Children's Hospital earlier was taken by Murat Aksoy, an oncology and spinal theatre assistant:

Image source, Murat Aksoy

Please share any great images from today's events on WhatsApp using this link: https://bit.ly/3OSVIrw, external

Our BBC Sport colleagues will be picking up coverage of the opening ceremony of the Games this evening.

Give yourself goosebumps by watching this and raise the roof...by order of the Peaky Blinders:

Every baton bearer has obviously had the baton to carry but Bhangra artist Gurcharan Mall went one better today and carried it while playing the Dhol drum.

He was one of the relay's final baton bearers and said he was feeling “on top of the world” before his important role.

"I’m so proud that these Commonwealth Games are actually happening in our hometown," he said.

Mr Mall added: “It is such a big honour for all of us, for all the Asian community around the UK that feel so proud that the Commonwealth Games are happening in Birmingham, in the UK.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he is "supremely confident" there will be a legacy from the £778m of taxpayers' money which has gone into the Commonwealth Games.

Image source, Getty Images

Ahead of the opening ceremony in Birmingham, he spoke to the Commonwealth Business Forum in the city.

With the country facing a cost of living crisis, Mr Johnson said there had been questions over would the event be worth it and if there would be a legacy.

"Right now, I want you to know I am here to tell you that I am supremely confident that the answer to that question is yes. A thousand times, yes," he said.

Thousands of people have been recruited as volunteers for the 2022 Commonwealth Games which begins this evening.

Among them will be Sharon Brown, who was born in Birmingham and now lives in Sandwell.

She told BBC Breakfast she will be a Games ambassador, directing people where to go alongside other duties.

She described the role as a "fantastic opportunity".

"So excited about it all, in my hometown," she said.

The baton has finished its global relay and reached its final destination of Aston Hall in Birmingham.

You can see the huge crowd which turned out for its arrival:

A family fun event featuring activities from jousting to welly tossing is taking place until 16:00.

The baton, though, has not entirely finished its journey, and is due to be taken into the Alexander Stadium this evening for the opening ceremony.

Once there, it will be opened and a special message from the Queen, sealed inside it, will be removed and read out.

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston believes the emotion of the Commonwealth Games' opening ceremony will bring him to tears later.

The launch event, masterminded by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, will see hundreds of performers trace the story of host city Birmingham.

It will also reflect the links between the 72 countries and territories in the Commonwealth Games.

Mr Huddleston, who is also minister for the Commonwealth Games, said he saw an early sample of what might be in the show and "shed a tear then".

"I think I will be in buckets later this evening and I don't think I will be the only one," he said.

The baton's journey around Birmingham has seen it pass through Pype Hayes Park this lunchtime.

Baton bearers were greeted by applause and support - with photos and videos shared on social media capturing the atmosphere:

Giles Latcham
BBC Midlands Today

A protest has been held at the final destination of the Queen's Baton Relay calling for laws opposing LGBT+ rights in Commonwealth countries to be abolished.

The demonstration at Aston Hall has been led by veteran activist Peter Tatchell.

It is illegal to be gay in more than half of the 54 countries competing at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Mr Tatchell said he was joined at the protest by LGBTQ+ people who have fled Commonwealth countries due to persecution.

The protest comes as Olympic diving champion Tom Daley will campaign for LGBT+ rights in the Commonwealth for a new BBC documentary.

He will also make a powerful "historic" statement against homophobia at today's opening ceremony.

Daley will enter as a final baton bearer in the Queen's Baton Relay, accompanied by some athletes and advocates he met for his documentary.

Games organisers said they had been working with Daly and a wider group to make the event "inclusive" for athletes and spectators.

"We can't go in to change the rules in countries, but what we can do is create opportunities for people to discuss issues in a safe environment," said Katie Sadleir, head of the Games federation.

LGBT athletes will be able to wave the rainbow flag on the podium for the first time at the Games.

Tom Daley: Illegal to Be Me, will be shown on BBC One on Tuesday 9 August at 21:00 BST and also available on the BBC iPlayer.

Here are more great photos from our readers via WhatsApp from along the Queen's Baton Relay route this week.

Chris Richards took this one in Hockley Heath during its visit to Solihull on Tuesday:

Image source, Chris Richards

While Hazel Read was in Perry Hall Park this morning:

Image source, Hazel Read

Keep those photos of the relay coming to us on WhatsApp using this link: https://bit.ly/3OSVIrw, external

BBC Radio WM

A "very, very proud day today" for Handsworth and Birmingham is how local reggae star Apache Indian has summed up the baton relay in the area today.

The singer, born Steven Kapur, grew up in Handsworth, Birmingham, and is best known for fusing musical elements of bhangra, reggae and pop. His hits include Boom Shack-A-Lak and Make Way for the Indian.

He told BBC Radio WM he would be involved in the Games closing ceremony and that the relay just made him proud of the area.

"To see everyone coming in here so early in the morning, the diverse crowd celebrating success, it is absolutely fantastic, what a great feeling it is," he said.