Summary

  • The Queen declares the 20th Games open after a colourful ceremony

  • 4,500 athletes from 71 nations/territories paraded into the stadium

  • Huge roar greeted Scotland's team into Celtic Park stadium

  • Sporting action begins at 08:45 BST on Thursday

Live Reporting

Mike Henson

  1. Last up is Europe, with Cyprus the first out in some blue and orange trackkies.

  2. St Helena have made it to Glasgow after two flights, a lift on a Royal Mail ship, 8,500 miles and 10 days of travelling.

    The party of eight, six athletes and two officials, set off on a five-day crossing to Cape Town on 11 July and stopped off for three days before arriving, via Amsterdam, on Monday.

  3. Hazel Irvine
    BBC Sport presenter on BBC One:

    "It is great to see the smiles on the faces of the athletes in Celtic Park tonight, it is totally joyous."

  4. Would Bermuda have been brave enough to sport the shorts their nation is famous for had this been Glasgow in January rather than July?

    We'll never know. But they are rocking red with black socks and some knobbly knees in between...

  5. BBC News presenter Jane Hill tweets: "Spoke to some of the volunteer performers earlier; they said they've had 42 rehearsals in last 5 weeks. Commitment! #CommonwealthGames"

  6. Chris McLaughlin
    BBC Sport's Commonwealth Games reporter at the opening ceremony in Glasgow

    "There was a petition setup against Scotland's uniforms, but I'm sure it won't what matter what they are wearing when they come because they will get a huge cheer."

  7. The Americas section of the athletes parade begins with Belize. They will be represented in the triathlon for the first time by Kent Gabourel, who used to captain the nation's football team.

    Cycling on a beach cruiser bicycle that has one fixed gear and no brakes has not been ideal. Neither has swimming in the Caribbean when tepid is the best he can hope for in Glasgow.

  9. Aimee Lewis
    BBC Sport at the opening ceremony in Glasgow

    "I wonder what the medley will be for the European nations? Bonnie Tyler perhaps to get it all started, followed by a bit of Elaine Page and Johnny Loughrey? Or maybe Stiff Little Fingers and Van Morrison, followed by a bit of Deacon Blue. Interesting times ahead of us."

  10. BBC Radio 5 live

    Former Scotland rugby union international Gavin Hastings: "Celtic Park has put on a great show for the opening ceremony and I'm certain Ibrox will do likewise for the rugby sevens."

  11. Valerie Adams of New ZealandValerie Adams

    I can't even begin to work out how New Zealand shot putter Valerie Adams managed to take this selfie.

  12. Hazel Irvine
    BBC Sport presenter on BBC One:

    "Usain Bolt is only going to come in for the last day of the athletics in the 4x100m relay. The Commonwealth Games is the only competition Bolt has not run in and the only medal he does not have."

  13. Jamaica's team make their way into Celtic Park. The crowd scan the heads for the lofty peak of Usain Bolt. They won't find him. The six-time Olympic champion has places to be and will fly in later to compete in the 4x100m relay on the last day of the Games.

  14. The Cayman Islands have more registered businesses than people, Huw Edwards informs BBC One viewers as they make their entrance.

    It is more to do with a low, low tax rate rather than entrepreneurial spirit.

  15. Get involved

    Rach Smith: There's such stunning counties in our Commonwealth. Makes me feel proud to be a part of it.

    Katie Weston: Learning more names of countries from the Opening Ceremony than I did in my geography degree.

  16. Next up is the Caribbean - remember the athletes are coming in by continent, with the Americas and Europe still to come. And Mylo, on DJ duties, chooses a slab of Shaggy's Boombastic to accompany Anguilla's entrance.

  17. Games Moments: Bayi blazes trail

    Commonwealth Games moments: Filbert Bayi beats John Walker in 1500mBBC Sport

    We have trawled the video archives and over the next 11 days we will recall some of the moments from the history of the Commonwealth Games that rocked the world.

    Tanzanian Filbert Bayi led from the front in the 1500m at Christchurch in 1974 as he built a lead of 12 metres and held off a fantastic challenge from New Zealand's John Walker to smash the world record in a time of three minutes 32.16 seconds.

    The traditional way of running that race was to keep energy in reserve for a sprint at the end, but Bayi's run would change middle distance tactics forever.

  18. Sir Matthew Pinsent
    Four-time Olympic rowing champion and BBC Sport reporter

    "Stage hands are trying to chivvy teams along. Must be running slow. Good luck with that. Too many teams enjoying it - rightly so."

  19. So, Tongan boxer Lomalito Moala - as promised - gambols in brandishing a Celtic jersey and a member of the Cameroon team strolls by wearing an Aberdeen bunnet. Clearly the visiting athletes have taken Scotland to heart...

  20. Abdul Rashid Bangura is part of the Sierra Leone teem. The 27-year-old survived brutal civil war and captivity to become an elite boxer.