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
Image source, GettyHere's the concept. Seventy-two star shards from every Commonwealth nation and territory have soared through the heavens and splashed down in Alexander Stadium.
To greet them there is a roll of African sakara drums....
Right, it is time. The ceremony is about to begin. Buckle up for two hours of fun.
Commonwealth Games 2022: Raise the roof...by order of the Peaky Blinders
Birmingham has a rich social, industrial, cultural and, of course, sporting history.
With the voices of famous Brummies and images of archive footage, we look at how the Second City is set to raise the roof at the Commonwealth Games.
Click play on the video above to watch the story behind Birmingham.
Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Alexander Stadium
It's not just Birmingham residents who have made the trip to the Alexander Stadium.
Sisters Grace and Abbi Colley have travelled from near Cardiff and have brought a flag to avoid confusion.
It's Grace's birthday and she's pretty happy with how the family are celebrating, describing attending the opening ceremony as a "once in a lifetime opportunity".
Image source, BBC Sport
Denise Lewis
Olympic heptathlon gold medallist on BBC TV
Sustainability was very much part of the agenda. Having received the games so late, they had to be very nimble in getting everything moving. That's a testament to all of the workers! Some of the building and construction workers had to work through Covid to get this up and running.
Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Alexander Stadium
Image source, GettyIt's all gone quiet here as the clock counts down the last few minutes before the opening ceremony begins.
The fans, of course, are entertaining themselves with a Mexican wave. It's a strong one too, even surviving the large gaps between stands.
Image source, Getty ImagesDaley is a four-time Commonwealth champion, having won his first golds at the 2010 Games in Delhi
Olympic diving champion Tom Daley is campaigning for LGBT+ rights in the Commonwealth for a new BBC documentary.
It is illegal to be gay in more than half of the 54 countries competing at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Daley, 28, will make a powerful "historic" statement against homophobia at Thursday's opening ceremony.
"LGBT+ athletes must be safe and feel comfortable being their authentic selves without fear of persecution or death," he said.
There are over 200 hours of action on BBC over the next 10 days. Tuck in, it's an all-you-can-eat buffet of top-class sport.
Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Alexander Stadium
Image source, GettyBirmingham-born comedian, writer and actor Shazia Mirza has been warming up the crowd ahead of the main event.
She leaves the crowd with this: "Do us proud. Up the Brum!"
BBC One
Image source, Getty Images2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ama Agbeze: "This is the pinnacle for netball. It is incredible. For us to get to the final was incredible.
"It will be incredibly tough [for England to defend the title] but they are very experienced and I fancy their chances."
BBC One
Image source, GettyCommonwealth Games gold medal-winning gymnast Max Whitlock, speaking to BBC One: "I was so inexperienced [for my first Commonwealth Games]. My first time was Delhi in 2010 and it was a huge springboard for me. You are around environments you are not used to.
"I am gutted to miss a home games, no doubt about that. I needed to take time off after Tokyo and it was just too close.
"I am looking forward to watching the sports, I am fully involved this time and I can't wait."
Image source, Getty ImagesFirst opened in 1976, Alexander Stadium became the home of UK Athletics in 2011 following a refurbishment which saw the creation of the 5,000-seater East Stand on the backstraight.
With the new West Stand in place, the stadium will be able to hold 18,000 spectators in its permanent configuration, while additional temporary stands will allow 30,000 people to watch the athletics, para athletics and opening and closing ceremonies during the Games.
Post-Games, as well as continuing to stage major athletics events, the stadium will become a focal point for leisure and community activity within the regenerated Perry Barr district of Birmingham, which is receiving a £700million investment
Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Alexander Stadium
It would be tough to miss that there's a major event going on round here.
Birmingham city centre is plastered in the colourful Commonwealth Games branding and even the bull at the Bullring has got himself some new kit.
Image source, BBC SportCommonwealth Games 2022: Lady Leshurr on why she loves Birmingham
Come in. Make yourself comfy. Allow Lady Leshurr to show you around Birmingham...
Here is Denise Lewis - double Commonwealth champion and Wolverhampton girl - fighting back the tears as the BBC One coverage starts...
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Image source, Getty ImagesSteven Knight (centre) with dancers from Rambert's forthcoming Peaky Blinders ballet
Topping a show which saw the Queen 'parachute' into the Olympic Stadium with James Bond will take some doing.
But Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, one of the masterminds behind the opening ceremony in Birmingham tonight, believes it will be better than the launch of the London Olympics a decade ago.
"A lot of opening ceremonies are visually spectacular but emotionally quite timid, I think," Knight told BBC News entertainment and arts reporter Ian Youngs.
"But this one is very emotional.
"It's got a story to tell. It's about the people of Birmingham. So it's the story of what the city has achieved, and how it's achieved it by the people that are here.
"It feels like it's Birmingham's turn to shine - and this show certainly shines."
Ellie Simmonds
Multiple gold medal-winning Paralympian swimmer on BBC TV
Eight Para-sports. This is going to be fabulous. It is going to be absolutely incredible and there is such a range of sport you will be seeing.
It is great. This is one of the biggest sporting events and to have Para-sports integrated into that it will showcase it and inspire the next generation.
Image source, Getty ImagesPrince Charles has been posing for selfies and team photos with hundreds of athletes during a tour of the main athletes’ village, meeting sportsmen and sportswomen from dozens of nations including Scotland, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and – naturally – Wales.
He spent half an hour chatting with competitors, joking with members of the Australian team “all the rest are terrified of the Aussies”.
The Prince also raised smiles from the Rwanda squad, asking “accommodation good… food alright?”
He quipped with a coach from Team Wales: “Do they listen to everything you say to them – I bet they don’t go to bed on time.”
He was mobbed by athletes within the village who had waited 30 minutes for his arrival, all keen to get a selfie, or livestream to family members back home.
Becky Grey
BBC Sport at Alexander Stadium
Speaking to fans here, they're not quite sure what to expect from the opening ceremony.
There are a few hints around though. At one end of the stadium. there's a platform surrounded by a canal.
Image source, BBC SportThese book structures were stashed outside...
Image source, BBC SportAnd are these French horns?! Who knows?
Image source, BBC SportDenise Lewis
Olympic heptathlon gold medallist on BBC TV
Over 40,000 volunteers wanted to be part of this and that says a lot. It just tells me how popular these games are and how many people from the region want to be associated. It's their legacy as well, not just the athletes competing.