Commonwealth Games opening ceremony LIVE - Birmingham 2022 declared open

Summary

22nd Commonwealth Games declared open after colourful ceremony
30,000 spectators watch 72 teams parade into Birmingham's Alexander Stadium
Olympic diving champion & LGBTQ+ campaigner Tom Daley brings in Queen's baton relay torch
Giant animatronic bull takes centre stage in ceremony finished by Duran Duran set
2,000 performers trace the story of Birmingham past and present
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight executive producer of extravaganza
Games run until 8 August - 6,500 athletes will compete in 280 medal events

Live Reporting

Mike Henson

Postpublished at 20:49 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
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Bull storypublished at 20:49 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
Right, focus now, there is a lot going on.
The bull is led into the stadium by underpaid, overworked female chain-makers of the Industrial Revolution, trapped by their own circumstances as they produce the bonds that hold others in the slave trade.
The women break free via a minimum wage strike of 1910. The bull breaks free because it is massive.
And only Stella, the hero of the piece, can calm it down by offering it love and light.
There will be a test at the end.
Bull in the ringpublished at 20:45 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
There's a bull in the Stadium! It's animatronic! And massive!
More as we get it...
Postpublished at 20:42 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
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Ginny Lemon with a twistpublished at 20:42 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
Image source, Getty
Ginny Lemon, a veteran of Drag Race UK, is suspended above the stadium floor, singing and squawking their way through The Waltz of the Barrow Boys, a song paying tribute to Birmingham's endless invention and innovation.
A caravan of weird and wonderful trucks enters the grotesque circus and parade their wares.
Each truck has been designed to showcase the incredible inventions and innovations of Birmingham, from Buttons to Pen Nibs to Police Whistles and Baskerville font, these vehicles are a hybrid of invention in the Carnival of Firsts.
'We celebrate friendship across borders'published at 20:38 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
Here's some of Malala Yousafzai's powerful speech during this opening ceremony a little earlier: "Tonight teams from 72 countries and territories join the people of Birmingham to celebrate friendship across borders.
"The young athletes who will compete over the next two weeks represent millions of girls and boys across the commonwealth.
"Our shared hope for the future, a future where every child can go to school, where women can fully participate in society, where families can live in peace and in dignity.
"Over the next few weeks as we watch incredible athletes of the Commonwealth Games remember every child deserves the chance to reach her full potential and pursue her wildest dreams.
"It is now my honour to say, welcome to Birmingham!"
Postpublished at 20:37 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
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Industry and innovationpublished at 20:36 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
Next up, a segment paying tribute to Birmingham's place as a beating heart of the Industrial Revolution.
It is a bit like the bit in the London 2012 ceremony. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
And it comes with a twist that Danny Boyle never provided...
Team England warming uppublished at 20:34 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
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Get Involvedpublished at 20:32 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
#BBCCWG
Louise Claire: Incredibly moving speech from Malala. "Every child deserves a future. Every child deserves the chance to pursue her wildest dreams."
Postpublished at 20:32 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Alexander Stadium
Biggest cheer of the night so far goes to Malala, adopted by Birmingham after being shot by the Taliban in Pakistan as a teenager.
Image source, Getty Images
Malala on the scenepublished at 20:31 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
An appearance from an adopted Brummie and eternal inspiration.
Malala Yousafzai survived an attempted assasination by Taliban gunmen in retaliation for her writing a blog detailing life under occupation in her native Pakistan.
She moved to Birmingham for treatment, recovered, stayed, studied and is now an author and advocate for girls and women's rights.
An exemplary human being.
The power of bookspublished at 20:24 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
Some extraordinary puppeteering. Better than Orville, Emu and Gordon the Gopher combined.
Great recreations of William Shakespeare, Edward Elgar and Samuel Johnson strut their stuff on the stadium floor.
It is part of segment celebrating the power of books and education.
Today, there is only one publicly owned Shakespeare First Folio and it sits in the new Library of Birmingham – now the largest public library in the UK
Image source, Getty Images
Flypast? Check!published at 20:17 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
Hazel Irvine
Presenter on BBC TV
Wow, it never gets old does it? The wonderful Red Arrows!
Licence to drivepublished at 20:17 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
Always had my money on Idris Elba for any James Bond redux....
Postpublished at 20:15 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Alexander Stadium
The manoeuvering of the cars to get them into a Union Jack was pin-point and very impressive.
Bit stressed about how they're all going to get out of that jam, but presume there's a plan.
Prince Charles on the scenepublished at 20:15 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
It is not exactly parachuting out of a plane with James Bond. But then Prince Charles has done his own (low-key) stunt.
The heir to the throne is at the wheel of the final car in a convey of Midlands-built classic vehicles. Lots of Rovers, Jaguars and the like.
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall climb out of the car, walk up on stage and Samantha Oxborough belts out the national anthem.
“Never did I think that I would go from working backstage for their concerts to performing live with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in front of a global audience, as we highlight the incredible talent of this fantastic city on the world’s stage. I truly cannot wait," she said earlier this week.
Birmingham pays tribute to HRHpublished at 20:10 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, fresh from celebrating her Platinum Jubilee, gets her own montage, stretching back to the black and white era and all the way up to the carriage fitted with an HD TV that was part of the celebrations earlier this summer.
'The variety is huge'published at 20:04 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
BBC One
Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning gymnast Max Whitlock, speaking to BBC One: "I think what is exciting as well is there is a new mixed event in synchro diving. The variety is huge and with new events coming out like that, mixed events are creating lots of interest so hopefully that can grow in more sports."
'Diversity and inclusivity are at the bedrock of Team England'published at 20:04 British Summer Time 28 July 2022
Denise Lewis
Olympic heptathlon gold medallist on BBC TV
It’s very important that we do inspire the next generation. The words diversity and inclusivity are at the bedrock of Team England and what the Commonwealth represents, and to have that as the new law for young people to be embracing and talking about is just everything and the way forward.