Opening Ceremony

:01:05. > :01:17.A story of rise and fall, of reinvention and invention. The

:01:18. > :01:24.school of hard knocks, my city. In a macro the skyline is changing one,

:01:25. > :01:32.keeping with changing times. Glasgow is not afraid of hard work. We face

:01:33. > :01:40.the world with grit and we are connected to the world with this

:01:41. > :01:46.river, the Clyde. The Clyde made Glasgow but Glasgow made the Clyde.

:01:47. > :01:53.In the age of sail, a great seaport. In the age of steam pounding

:01:54. > :01:59.revolution. A workshop until it's thunder began to fade. Good times,

:02:00. > :02:06.bad times, our spirit remains unbroken. United in adversity and

:02:07. > :02:11.sometimes divided by rivalry. And yet, it still glows with pride and

:02:12. > :02:24.warmth, and the passion, the passion for sport. He takes the gold for

:02:25. > :02:36.Scotland! We face the outside world but now we are inviting it in. Sport

:02:37. > :02:40.is the new shipping lane. What will the world make of Glasgow? As we

:02:41. > :02:53.have been saying for centuries, you are most welcome, come on in.

:02:54. > :02:57.This stirring words of Billy Connolly. Glasgow is not only the

:02:58. > :03:02.birthplace of Billy bit 600,000 people also call it home. For the

:03:03. > :03:10.very first time, the proud people of this famous city welcomes the

:03:11. > :03:15.Commonwealth Games. This is the third time Scotland has hosted the

:03:16. > :03:24.games. With Brit quietly, the other two wear down the road in Edinburgh.

:03:25. > :03:30.Over the next 11 days, Glasgow will embrace 500,000 athletes and compete

:03:31. > :03:35.in 17 sports. Tickets could have been sold twice over. Such was the

:03:36. > :03:40.demand that 40,000 people are now streaming into the city's east end

:03:41. > :03:45.and Celtic Park for the opening ceremony. We have been waiting for

:03:46. > :03:49.this moment ever since Glasgow got the go-ahead seven years ago.

:03:50. > :03:56.Manchester was the last city in the UK to host the Commonwealth Games.

:03:57. > :04:01.That was a big success. From Manchester comedy London 2012 and

:04:02. > :04:10.now onto Glasgow, welcome to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

:04:11. > :04:17.Good evening. Welcome. We are here at a very noisy Celtic Park for the

:04:18. > :04:23.opening ceremony to the 20th Commonwealth Games. This is a prayer

:04:24. > :04:26.lead to a week and a half of sporting excellence. Nothing has

:04:27. > :04:33.been left to chance. Even the weather is playing ball to night. It

:04:34. > :04:38.has been 25 degrees. On the warmest day in Scotland. It was never in

:04:39. > :04:43.doubt. It is perfect for the athletes from 71 nations who have

:04:44. > :04:47.been parading into Celtic Park. We will build up to the games by

:04:48. > :04:52.speaking to some famous faces. We will pick out some of the potential

:04:53. > :05:00.stars who could shine at these games. It is a great pleasure to be

:05:01. > :05:03.joined by some athletes who know a thing or two about ceremonies.

:05:04. > :05:09.Welcome to the Chris Hoy and Rebecca Adlington. Lovely to see you two. I

:05:10. > :05:15.hope you can hear me! It must be genuinely proud for you as a genuine

:05:16. > :05:23.Scott to enjoy this moment. It seems like it has been so long coming. It

:05:24. > :05:30.has been aided to go, six months to go and now we are here. Everybody is

:05:31. > :05:34.buzzing. For you, two years ago you were getting ready to compete and

:05:35. > :05:38.two years ago today you were told he would be leading in Team GB at the

:05:39. > :05:43.London opening ceremony. Rebecca, you could not go, is there a little

:05:44. > :05:50.bit that wishes you were getting ready to racier? Definitely not! I

:05:51. > :05:57.think we are so happy to be here. It is time for the new generation of

:05:58. > :06:03.athletes to be here. It is about the next Chris Hoy. The two of you share

:06:04. > :06:12.something in common. You have buildings named after you. The

:06:13. > :06:17.Rebecca Adlington and this Chris Hoy velodrome. I have been a in one

:06:18. > :06:28.event there. We never thought we would get an indoor velodrome in

:06:29. > :06:33.Scotland. It is quite bizarre. I have got a toilet named after me at

:06:34. > :06:40.Leicester Stadium! Don't get too carried away! The opening ceremony

:06:41. > :06:46.is less than an hour away. Let's sample the atmosphere with Clare

:06:47. > :06:50.Balding and first, Huw Edwards. There is a golden rule. When it

:06:51. > :06:54.comes to the people who devise and organise these great ceremonies

:06:55. > :06:57.because there is a range of possibilities here. You can do

:06:58. > :07:04.something very special and that golden rule is not to waste any

:07:05. > :07:06.opportunity at all. There is an opportunity this evening to say

:07:07. > :07:10.something to the world about the great city of Glasgow, to say

:07:11. > :07:13.something compelling and exciting. There is an opportunity to say

:07:14. > :07:19.something about Scotland, the nation. And let's face it, it is a

:07:20. > :07:23.very, very important year for the people of Scotland. There is an

:07:24. > :07:28.opportunity as well to say something about the Scottish character and the

:07:29. > :07:34.Scottish sense of humour. We must not expect an event on the scale and

:07:35. > :07:39.the budget of London 2012. But I think we can say it will be playful,

:07:40. > :07:44.it will be eccentric and I am very confident it will be a fantastic

:07:45. > :07:52.start to the 20th Commonwealth Games. Let's look forward to it.

:07:53. > :07:56.Just come backstage because this is where the volunteers are hanging

:07:57. > :08:02.out. 90% of the people here tonight are doing it for no pay at all.

:08:03. > :08:07.Susie and James, you will be athletes' marshals. What is it like?

:08:08. > :08:13.It is fantastic. The friends we have made, it is absolutely amazing. It

:08:14. > :08:16.will be a great night, it will be fantastic and I hope everybody

:08:17. > :08:21.enjoys themselves as much as we are enjoying putting it on for Glasgow.

:08:22. > :08:28.I love the bright colours, I could almost be one of you! How long have

:08:29. > :08:33.you been rehearsing? About three weeks. It has been pretty intense,

:08:34. > :08:37.trial and error, see what fits and what works. What we have got sorted

:08:38. > :08:43.out tonight will rock Glasgow off the face of the earth! Everybody is

:08:44. > :08:51.really excited about it. Are you nervous at all? A bit, you cannot

:08:52. > :08:57.not be but the adrenaline buzz will get as going. We will be partying

:08:58. > :09:00.all night. Let's be thankful for the weather because doing this in the

:09:01. > :09:10.pouring rain would not be as much fun. Don't they look great?

:09:11. > :09:14.Thanks, Clare. What a response from the volunteers. 50,000 stepped

:09:15. > :09:18.forward at the start of the process. That is more than the combined total

:09:19. > :09:22.who volunteered at the last two games. They will be performing in

:09:23. > :09:28.the opening ceremony and their big moment is about 50 minutes away. The

:09:29. > :09:31.start of the ceremony will also signal the closing stages of the

:09:32. > :09:34.Queen's Baton Relay, after a journey which adds up to the equivalent of

:09:35. > :09:40.more than four times around the world. These workshops this morning

:09:41. > :09:46.from Kelvingrove. This is its 40th day travelling around Scotland. It

:09:47. > :09:51.is on its way to Celtic Park after passing through thousands and

:09:52. > :09:59.thousands of pairs of hands. The BBC's Mark Beaumont has been there

:10:00. > :10:03.every step of the way with it. The Queens baton began its long

:10:04. > :10:08.journey in the Indian city Delhi, the last host city and the capital

:10:09. > :10:11.of the most populous country in the Commonwealth. From there it

:10:12. > :10:18.travelled through the vibrant nations of south Asia. Then it

:10:19. > :10:27.arrived in Oceana and Australia, come tree -- a country which has

:10:28. > :10:33.staged the games four times. It then continued to the runout island

:10:34. > :10:42.nations of the Pacific, to Tuvalu, Samoa and New Zealand. After 67 days

:10:43. > :10:48.in the Pacific, the baton travelled thousands of miles across the globe

:10:49. > :10:53.to Africa. Sierra Leone was the first of 18 countries it visited on

:10:54. > :10:57.its journey through the continent, through Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania,

:10:58. > :11:08.and then onto the island paradise of the Seychelles.

:11:09. > :11:16.The baton ended its journey in southern Africa before embarking on

:11:17. > :11:22.an epic trip across the Atlantic. Guyana welcomed the baton on day 186

:11:23. > :11:26.of its worldwide journey as it continued on to the shimmering

:11:27. > :11:41.waters of the Caribbean, visiting 16 nations and territories across the

:11:42. > :11:46.region. Then the baton headed out to sea to North America and Canada,

:11:47. > :11:50.where the games began back in 1930. It was then onto Europe, from the

:11:51. > :11:59.Mediterranean to the Channel Islands. And then north to this

:12:00. > :12:06.famous city on the Clyde, 70 nations and territories, 118,000 miles, 288

:12:07. > :12:12.days, worth waiting for. It was you, Chris, who really got

:12:13. > :12:17.the ball rolling. You were the baton their last year. Seeing these

:12:18. > :12:23.pictures, how do you read how it has touched and affected people across

:12:24. > :12:27.the Commonwealth? It is a chance for people around the world to see the

:12:28. > :12:32.baton and feel part of the games. They can say that passed the bottom

:12:33. > :12:40.of my street. It is not a number of them, it is one baton. Now you are

:12:41. > :12:47.not working out so much, you can fit in proper trousers! The kilt is

:12:48. > :12:53.great for that. Rebecca, it is a special atmosphere, being part of a

:12:54. > :12:58.major event, isn't it? Yes, it is so special not just for the athletes,

:12:59. > :13:05.but for everyone. I have been in the city and everyone is buzzing and

:13:06. > :13:07.excited. The athletes want to get started. I have been messaging

:13:08. > :13:13.everyone and they said, I am so anxious. They just wanted to start.

:13:14. > :13:21.You have not held the baton, I understand it is quite heavy. But

:13:22. > :13:26.you did obviously, you were part of the torch relay for the Olympics.

:13:27. > :13:29.For me, the chief thing about the baton relay if it goes around all of

:13:30. > :13:35.the countries, not just the one and there are so many areas, it has

:13:36. > :13:41.passed through thousands of pairs of hands. It is a lovely concept, isn't

:13:42. > :13:46.it? It is lovely. A lot of people cannot make the trip over here to

:13:47. > :13:50.watch their loved ones compete. So they get to be part of it and they

:13:51. > :13:55.get to feel they are all here in Glasgow even though they are not

:13:56. > :14:01.physically hear! The baton is approaching following its epic

:14:02. > :14:08.journey. And the games have also travelled a long way. Eddie Butler

:14:09. > :14:14.charts the evolution. There is something of a name game

:14:15. > :14:23.here. Finding a title that would sell the idea of a major sporting

:14:24. > :14:32.competition... He has run the race of his life. And yet include the

:14:33. > :14:38.notion of goodwill and friendship. The pound Britannic pan Anglican

:14:39. > :14:45.contest did festival, with fishing as the core sport, that never

:14:46. > :14:51.happened. The interim par Championships of 1911, a one-off for

:14:52. > :14:57.the coronation of King George V. In 1930, a title was found, the British

:14:58. > :15:03.Empire games, and the place, Hamilton in Canada. These games

:15:04. > :15:08.would be held thereafter every four years and across the Empire. The

:15:09. > :15:13.Second World War interrupted the routine and in the post-war years, a

:15:14. > :15:19.name game began again, to reflect the new family of nations whose

:15:20. > :15:24.member states were free and equal. Commonwealth was the answer, first

:15:25. > :15:32.introduced in 1954, sharing the title with Empire for two games and

:15:33. > :15:37.with British 46. But since 1978, they have been the Commonwealth

:15:38. > :15:52.Games. Sometimes boycotted, sometimes a bit quirky. Varying in

:15:53. > :15:56.speed. From Bolt to bowls. But much more often, the Commonwealth Games

:15:57. > :16:05.have been able to promote themselves as what they were born to be. The

:16:06. > :16:09.friendly games. A party for 71 nations, serious sport. Seriously

:16:10. > :16:27.friendly. It is a fascinating thing, the

:16:28. > :16:31.Commonwealth Games, how does it differ from an Olympic Games in

:16:32. > :16:33.terms of its tone and feel? It's such a friendly atmosphere, I

:16:34. > :16:38.absolutely love the Commonwealth Games, I was lucky enough to compete

:16:39. > :16:42.in Delhi, it is a bigger team, a friendly atmosphere, everyone gets

:16:43. > :16:48.on with each other. I can remember seeing the Scottish guys, going

:16:49. > :16:53.mental, the English cheering each other on. Nice camaraderie between

:16:54. > :16:58.everyone, back in the village environment, the athletes love that,

:16:59. > :17:01.getting to understand other sports, not just their own. Is it more

:17:02. > :17:06.relaxed generally, the Commonwealth Games? I know it is hugely

:17:07. > :17:12.significant for you, winning your first individual gold, but it is

:17:13. > :17:17.more nurturing, if you like? It can be, but it is serious competition.

:17:18. > :17:20.Although it is friendly off the pitch or out of the pool, it is

:17:21. > :17:24.serious competition, and for many athletes, this will be the pinnacle

:17:25. > :17:29.of their career. To get here they have been working their whole career

:17:30. > :17:32.for this one moment. For others, it can be a springboard. Manchester was

:17:33. > :17:36.my first individual title, it gave me the confidence, and within eight

:17:37. > :17:41.weeks I had won the World Championships, so a significant

:17:42. > :17:50.moment in my career. So valuable, going forward onto other. The the

:17:51. > :17:54.extra media attention, being in the village, it is an entirely different

:17:55. > :18:00.challenge to a standard World Championships. Magic moments for you

:18:01. > :18:05.as well, Rebecca, recall what it meant to you. Delhi was incredible,

:18:06. > :18:11.I never expected to go away with four medals, two of them being gold.

:18:12. > :18:15.With the four-year cycle of the Olympic Games and the Commonwealths

:18:16. > :18:20.in the middle, it is a confidence boost. It was for me after Beijing,

:18:21. > :18:27.I was like, oh, God, will I ever be that good again?! It is a great step

:18:28. > :18:32.towards Rio for these guys. An awful lot of pressure on the home team,

:18:33. > :18:35.Scotland, and in particular Michael Jamieson tomorrow, the poster boy

:18:36. > :18:40.for the Scottish team. You know what it is like, the pressure of the home

:18:41. > :18:45.games. What will he be experiencing this evening? I am sure he is a bag

:18:46. > :18:50.of nerves, but if anyone can handle it, Michael is a born racer, he

:18:51. > :18:54.loves competition. These guys are all putting pressure on themselves,

:18:55. > :18:58.they all want to do well. He will be disappointed if he comes out of the

:18:59. > :19:02.pool not having achieved what he wanted to, but no one else will be.

:19:03. > :19:07.I know you have been involved with the team, passing on your

:19:08. > :19:11.experience. I met Michael Jamieson's family half an hour ago,

:19:12. > :19:16.and they are more nervous than he will be. All you try to do is focus

:19:17. > :19:21.on what is within your control, not worrying about the what ifs,

:19:22. > :19:25.thinking about the television and the crowds, you block that all out

:19:26. > :19:29.and focus on the process. I met the Scottish team in Stirling two weeks

:19:30. > :19:33.ago, and that what is the message I was trying to get across. It is

:19:34. > :19:35.about performing to the best of their ability, soaking up the

:19:36. > :19:43.atmosphere, enjoying it, doing their best. This is the one time that the

:19:44. > :19:49.constituent parts of Team GB go their different

:19:50. > :19:52.are the rivalries? Oh, I loved it! I love that side of things, it is

:19:53. > :19:55.amazing, love that side of things, it is

:19:56. > :19:58.am sure we will get it, but it love that side of things, it is

:19:59. > :20:04.amazing when you get Welsh, Scottish and Irish all on the podium, it is

:20:05. > :20:09.just such a special moment, kicking the Aussies out! Never easy! You

:20:10. > :20:13.both obviously are intent on watching your own sports, but

:20:14. > :20:18.outside of that, what are you looking forward to? I am looking

:20:19. > :20:22.forward to the weightlifting, because alongside sprinting, we did

:20:23. > :20:27.a lot of weightlifting - nothing like these guys, but you appreciate

:20:28. > :20:29.a guy who weighs 59 kilos lifting way more than you can as a 90

:20:30. > :20:32.kilograms bloke. It way more than you can as a 90

:20:33. > :20:37.appreciation of what they are doing, a fantastic sport to watch live. I

:20:38. > :20:38.am looking forward to getting to know some of the younger athletes,

:20:39. > :20:42.just making a name for know some of the younger athletes,

:20:43. > :20:46.their first competition. It will be them guys that are on the podium for

:20:47. > :20:49.real, looking forward to meeting them. Different ways of making your

:20:50. > :20:52.way around, quite interesting, them. Different ways of making your

:20:53. > :20:57.coming to a city like Glasgow, different forms of transport. Quite

:20:58. > :21:02.interesting cyclist we saw earlier today, the team from Sri Lanka. This

:21:03. > :21:06.is the main road south, today, the team from Sri Lanka. This

:21:07. > :21:13.Chris! Not ideal, but there is a Chris! Not ideal, but there is a

:21:14. > :21:15.hard shoulder! I hope the person who tweeted that was not driving! That

:21:16. > :21:22.they are, going down the road. tweeted that was not driving! That

:21:23. > :21:27.people finding their way around. If you want to find a decent route, why

:21:28. > :21:32.not? I wouldn't recommend it! Don't try that at home! Thank you both

:21:33. > :21:37.very much indeed. Enjoy the ceremony. Chris, I think we might be

:21:38. > :21:41.seeing slightly more of you this evening. I would hope so! Rebecca

:21:42. > :21:45.and Chris will be playing a big part in our coverage of the games over

:21:46. > :21:50.the next 11 days, giving as their insight as we watched 261 gold

:21:51. > :21:53.medals being claimed. Who will win them? Hard to say, but a few names

:21:54. > :23:31.will certainly be in the mix. Yes, lots of Commonwealth champions

:23:32. > :23:35.in waiting, but these Games have already made stars of so many had

:23:36. > :23:41.lead over the years, for all of the home nations, and Clare has found

:23:42. > :23:45.three of the very best. Yes, track-side, I should say in the

:23:46. > :23:48.middle of the stadium as we wait for the Opening Ceremony, Kelly Holmes,

:23:49. > :23:52.Barry McGuigan and David Wilkie, and for all of you the Commonwealth

:23:53. > :23:55.Games was the bedrock of your career, when you first may be

:23:56. > :24:01.massive impact. For you, David, it was Edinburgh. I trained there in my

:24:02. > :24:07.hometown when I was a young 16-year-old, sitting in front of the

:24:08. > :24:11.home crowd, 2000 people. I was a young 16, immature swimmer, and I

:24:12. > :24:15.did not know it was all about, but the atmosphere was electric, I got a

:24:16. > :24:22.bronze medal. It kicked off my career. You won two golds. Two golds

:24:23. > :24:27.and silver in Christchurch four years later. That is what you want

:24:28. > :24:30.to do at a games like that. The silver was a disappointment, the

:24:31. > :24:35.bronze was a start, but the gold is great, there will be a lot of

:24:36. > :24:38.swimmers going for gold. Many would argue that you were the first

:24:39. > :24:43.superstar swimmer from these shores, and Barry, in boxing, a big

:24:44. > :24:49.deal to go to the Commonwealth Games for Northern Ireland. It was a big

:24:50. > :24:53.deal, and for many boxers, the CGI more important than the European

:24:54. > :24:56.Championships, more important than World Championships, slightly more

:24:57. > :25:02.competitive, but great exposure, two weeks on television, an amazing

:25:03. > :25:09.opportunity. It was the bedrock of my career, fantastic start to my

:25:10. > :25:16.career, the great Harry Carpenter, dating on it. Kelly, not just the

:25:17. > :25:20.start of your career, but in Manchester, giving you the

:25:21. > :25:23.confidence to do what you did in Athens. I was 24 and in the army

:25:24. > :25:29.when I went to my first Commonwealth Games, and it was a stepping stone

:25:30. > :25:38.to the Olympic Games two years later. BCG is like that, a point to

:25:39. > :25:45.go onto the next change. In Manchester, home games, massive

:25:46. > :25:49.event, brilliant atmosphere. It cemented my position to want to then

:25:50. > :25:54.carry on for the next two years to the Olympic Games when I picked up

:25:55. > :26:02.gold. And you are not just a game but a president here. I am! We have

:26:03. > :26:08.a team of 420 for England, 12 Olympic champions, some really great

:26:09. > :26:14.talent, Bradley Wiggins, Nicola Adams. I could keep going. We have

:26:15. > :26:19.got a 13-year-old diver, the youngest in our team, Victoria, and

:26:20. > :26:26.she is really looking forward to it. Great experience! All eyes in

:26:27. > :26:32.Scotland will be on Michael Jamieson tomorrow night in the pool, in the

:26:33. > :26:37.same event you excel that. And if he does break the world record, which

:26:38. > :26:43.he has said is his intent, the first one to break the record from

:26:44. > :26:47.Scotland since you. We don't break many world records in Scotland.

:26:48. > :26:52.Michael has pressure on him, home crowd, home pool - he must be ready

:26:53. > :26:55.to do it, he will never have a better opportunity. Everything has

:26:56. > :27:01.been set up perfectly, silver in the Olympic Games in 2012, he has come

:27:02. > :27:05.here, trained very hard for it. A couple of good competitors, the

:27:06. > :27:11.Australians and another Scot in that race, so everything is perfect for

:27:12. > :27:16.him. He has only got to improve half a second to go under two minutes

:27:17. > :27:21.seven seconds, and he will be the world record holder plus

:27:22. > :27:24.Commonwealth gold winner. I will certainly be there. We will see you

:27:25. > :27:31.tomorrow at the swimming centre. Great to have you here supporting.

:27:32. > :27:38.Great to see them, yes, David won his first medal in the Commonwealth

:27:39. > :27:41.Games in 1970 before becoming Olympic champion six years later,

:27:42. > :27:45.really a breeding ground of champions. You can hear the party

:27:46. > :27:55.has started in the East End, but that is not only because there are

:27:56. > :28:02.three live zones around Glasgow, in Kelvingrove park, the Merchant City

:28:03. > :28:06.and by the River Clyde, they have got huge screens, headline music and

:28:07. > :28:11.comedy. What a night this is, and Lee McKenzie is right in the thick

:28:12. > :28:16.of it on the Green. Yes, I am, Hazel, and absolutely

:28:17. > :28:20.glorious night here at Glasgow Green, barely a cloud in the sky.

:28:21. > :28:23.They opened the gates at four o'clock, and you can see thousands

:28:24. > :28:27.of people have been flocking in since then, and they still are, in

:28:28. > :28:31.fact. If they should have been at work, they have not been, they have

:28:32. > :28:35.been working on a tan! If they were disappointed not to be at the

:28:36. > :28:44.Opening Ceremony, you cannot be lit - there is a wonderful atmosphere

:28:45. > :28:46.here, and they will be watching on the big screens just over my

:28:47. > :28:49.shoulder. We have had bands not only from Scotland but all over the

:28:50. > :28:58.Commonwealth. Behind me is the lovely and very loud Lulu. The sun

:28:59. > :29:05.is quite high, but just starting to set over the cities guy lying on the

:29:06. > :29:09.west coast of Scotland. -- this city skyline. As long as we have this

:29:10. > :29:18.entertainment, it could be a very long night on Glasgow Green, let's

:29:19. > :29:21.leave you with some of Lulu. Lots going on down there, and when

:29:22. > :29:27.it comes to watching these games, you won't miss a thing. Depending on

:29:28. > :29:31.your TV service provider, we have up to six red button screens available,

:29:32. > :29:36.and every sport will be available online as it happens. If you are out

:29:37. > :29:40.and about, it is also available on your phone. It is the first time

:29:41. > :29:44.this great city has hosted the Commonwealth Games, but as we have

:29:45. > :29:47.already told you, Scotland has hosted the games twice before, on

:29:48. > :29:52.both occasions in Edinburgh. The first time was a huge success in

:29:53. > :29:56.1970, the friendly games tag was born, the first games to go metric,

:29:57. > :30:02.the first with photo finish technology, and the first time pubs

:30:03. > :30:08.were allowed to stay open after ten! That was important! In 1986, it was

:30:09. > :30:12.steeped in controversy as 32 out of 59 eligible countries staged a

:30:13. > :30:15.boycott. Despite that, there were many success stories, as Andrew

:30:16. > :30:26.Cotter tells us, the most famous was home-grown.

:30:27. > :30:30.Scotland's last games, the times when political muscle strained

:30:31. > :30:35.against sport. Figures of real power locked in their own competition,

:30:36. > :30:40.steadfast in their ties to an apartheid regime. Britain felt the

:30:41. > :30:49.first reprisals from black members of the Commonwealth. Dedicated, and

:30:50. > :30:53.yielding. In politics they brought only pressured to tear the

:30:54. > :31:00.Commonwealth family apart. African nations branded boycott as their

:31:01. > :31:05.weapons but the lady was not for turning. Many many Africans are

:31:06. > :31:17.earning their living decently and looking after their families. It was

:31:18. > :31:25.the athletes who paid. Zola Budd, she and Yvette Cowley were cleared

:31:26. > :31:29.to compete but then denied. Neither competitor is eligible... Almost

:31:30. > :31:34.half the Commonwealth chose not to come to the mother Isles. 32 nations

:31:35. > :31:42.absent. Fewer teams meant less interest, less money. Finances were

:31:43. > :31:47.strained and the boycott was cutting deep. But then a saviour blew in.

:31:48. > :31:51.The newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell. ?2 million of wealth from

:31:52. > :31:56.this man of bombastic Maxwell. ?2 million of wealth from

:31:57. > :32:04.are not Mrs Thatcher's games, the Edinburgh, Scotland and Commonwealth

:32:05. > :32:10.Games. In the end, he delivered just a fraction of the promised some but

:32:11. > :32:15.the games went ahead. And when left to their stage, the athletes took

:32:16. > :32:24.the power from the politicians. On the track, Britain, Scotland had a

:32:25. > :32:29.new star. Liz Lynch takes the gold for Scotland and smashes the British

:32:30. > :32:33.record. A champion with a simple joy of competing, denied to so

:32:34. > :32:37.record. A champion with a simple joy 1986. So now, when the family joined

:32:38. > :32:43.in Scotland again, remember when the athletes of the Commonwealth ran and

:32:44. > :32:46.swam and through and jumped through the heart of the storm.

:32:47. > :32:49.Can it really be 28 years since the Edinburgh games that first

:32:50. > :32:55.introduced us to list the cold and Nuttall, or we lose Lynch as she was

:32:56. > :33:01.then? At that point, Allan Wells was Scotland's most successful

:33:02. > :33:13.Commonwealth Games athlete. It is tremendous to see the two of you.

:33:14. > :33:20.Lewis, there were several problems, how big a memory was for you? I was

:33:21. > :33:24.an unknown athlete. I went into these big games and I ended up

:33:25. > :33:25.winning it and I was not the favourite and I

:33:26. > :33:32.winning it and I was not the and better things. It was a great

:33:33. > :33:32.stepping stone but nothing like the atmosphere

:33:33. > :33:44.stepping stone but nothing like the you're not missing anything, the

:33:45. > :33:50.stepping stone but nothing like the is the warm up. Alan, you had four

:33:51. > :33:53.gold medals, so meaningful for your career? The Commonwealth Games has

:33:54. > :33:56.always been looked upon as the Friendly Games but how friendly can

:33:57. > :34:02.you get when you are running against other gold medallists? People talk

:34:03. > :34:11.about it being a platform but it is part and parts -- part and parcel of

:34:12. > :34:16.athletics. It is the only time the home Nations athlete can run for

:34:17. > :34:17.each country. There is a bit more passion behind that. It was

:34:18. > :34:24.fantastic. I was very proud to passion behind that. It was

:34:25. > :34:28.and win the medals was unbelievable. We have got to mention Northern

:34:29. > :34:38.Ireland and the Isle of Man and Jersey and Guernsey as well, that is

:34:39. > :34:41.Ireland and the Isle of Man and what makes it so fascinating. You

:34:42. > :34:47.have come back here, you are coach and arm and a leash, your daughter

:34:48. > :34:57.will be running this time -- Eilish your daughter. As a coach, you want

:34:58. > :35:01.the rest of your -- you want the best for your athlete. And also as a

:35:02. > :35:04.mother. She has had a difficult year but I am really thankful that she is

:35:05. > :35:12.in one piece and she's on that start line. I will be the proudest person

:35:13. > :35:15.on Wednesday. I'm sure you will. Your first

:35:16. > :35:23.Commonwealth Games experience I believe was raking the long jump pit

:35:24. > :35:30.in 1970 as a volunteer? I was watching Lynn Davies jump. He

:35:31. > :35:35.inspired me. To me, he was the ideal athlete. He had a good physique, he

:35:36. > :35:40.was clean cut and he trained hard and he was winning medals, Olympic

:35:41. > :35:45.medals as well. I know it would be daft to ask what your most special

:35:46. > :35:48.moment would be in terms of these games going forward, it must be

:35:49. > :35:54.watching Eilish, but what are you most looking forward to? I am really

:35:55. > :35:59.looking forward to a group of athletes who when I was chair of

:36:00. > :36:04.Scottish Athletic, were involved in the youth development scheme. I am

:36:05. > :36:12.really looking forward to seeing them go to the Commonwealth Games. I

:36:13. > :36:16.am really excited. Very significant also for Glasgow games is the large

:36:17. > :36:23.programme of Para sport. There will be 22 medal events for Para

:36:24. > :36:28.athletes. For the first time there will be track cycling. I'm sure one

:36:29. > :36:30.of our greatest Paralympians is delighted about that. Clare has

:36:31. > :36:35.caught up with her. delighted about that. Clare has

:36:36. > :36:44.Yes, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson is here with me. It is incredible, 20

:36:45. > :36:49.countries have sent athletes which is an amazing step up, in terms of

:36:50. > :36:53.the platform it is. There are a lot of athletes competing here who will

:36:54. > :36:57.get no coverage at home but the Commonwealth Games gives them that.

:36:58. > :37:02.Glasgow has been amazing. Where we need to keep working is getting more

:37:03. > :37:04.countries sending athletes and that means having programmes and

:37:05. > :37:06.education. We need to keep working is getting more countries sending

:37:07. > :37:11.athletes and that means having programmes and education. We're not

:37:12. > :37:13.quite there yet across the whole Commonwealth. It was interesting

:37:14. > :37:22.talking to David Wilkie, Barry McGuigan and Kelly Holmes, that it

:37:23. > :37:26.for wheelchair racers, cyclists or anyone involved in Para sport, this

:37:27. > :37:30.is huge, it is one of the biggest things they will ever competing

:37:31. > :37:35.is huge, it is one of the biggest it is the most important alongside

:37:36. > :37:39.the Paralympics. It is the first time a lot of athletes will have

:37:40. > :37:44.been treated like athletes. London was a huge step forward. For a lot

:37:45. > :37:49.of these guys, they will be treated quite tokenistic Lee, not like real

:37:50. > :37:53.athletes. They will still be asked stupid questions like, do you train?

:37:54. > :37:58.They will be able to come here and show their athletic ability. It is

:37:59. > :38:06.great and hugely inspiring for anybody who wants to take part in

:38:07. > :38:12.sport. And in terms of the design of the venues and the transport,

:38:13. > :38:17.everything else is crucial? What Glasgow has done is amazing. They

:38:18. > :38:22.have thought about access for tourists. They have used it as an

:38:23. > :38:26.opportunity to make Glasgow city centre wheelchair access the Bull.

:38:27. > :38:32.It is not their role to do that but that legacy is something that will

:38:33. > :38:38.live on in the Common Wealth games. You are looking forward to it? It

:38:39. > :38:46.will be amazing. We will see you over the next 11 days.

:38:47. > :38:50.I remember meeting Tanni Grey-Thompson many years ago when

:38:51. > :38:52.Paralympic sports were just demonstration events. Now they are

:38:53. > :38:59.fully integrated which is a great step forward. This city's motto is

:39:00. > :39:03.let Glasgow flourish. We hope it will in front of a worldwide

:39:04. > :39:08.television audience of 1.5 billion people. But in truth, Glasgow has

:39:09. > :39:12.been flourishing for nearly 1500 years. This city has a very proud

:39:13. > :39:21.history and who better to give you the guided tour than one of

:39:22. > :39:26.Glasgow's best loved sons? The Big Yin himself, it is believed. -- it

:39:27. > :39:37.is Billy Connolly. I am a Glaswegian. I'm very proud of

:39:38. > :39:43.Glasgow. My connection with the city starts with being born in the city.

:39:44. > :39:48.I was born in a tenement building. I was brought up in Partick. I went to

:39:49. > :39:58.school in Govan and I served my apprenticeship next door to govern,

:39:59. > :40:01.down the road a wee bit. That accounted for 20 something years of

:40:02. > :40:06.my life. I have always felt part of the city, the actual beating heart

:40:07. > :40:10.of the city. It is absolutely nothing like when I was growing up.

:40:11. > :40:16.When I was growing up, Glasgow was in black and white. That was in the

:40:17. > :40:20.40s and 50s. It did not get colour until the 60s. I always loved the

:40:21. > :40:25.Clyde. I loved the noises of the Clyde and the smell of the Clyde.

:40:26. > :40:29.Ships going up and down always pleased me. When I worked in the

:40:30. > :40:33.shipyard, the guys were very profane but they were very funny men and

:40:34. > :40:37.women. I have come from this background and it has made me a good

:40:38. > :40:41.comedian. I have finished my first novel. It

:40:42. > :40:46.has taken me a long time to read a book, but there you go!

:40:47. > :40:50.I never thought I would see the docs disappear and the shipyards

:40:51. > :40:58.disappear as they did. But they did. And I think it is for the better.

:40:59. > :41:02.The modern Glasgow has a Science Museum and huge concert halls. The

:41:03. > :41:10.concert halls where I played were City Hall and stuff like that. Now

:41:11. > :41:14.you have these huge arenas. I am looking forward to the Commonwealth

:41:15. > :41:19.Games. I have never known such a thing to come to Glasgow. It is so

:41:20. > :41:24.huge. I think Glasgow will respond to it very well. They are great in

:41:25. > :41:29.Pewsey asps for any sport. They are great enthusiasts or anything. A guy

:41:30. > :41:38.will be walking towards the end he will say, where is Central Station

:41:39. > :41:41.and he will say, I am going there myself and no doubt he will take

:41:42. > :41:51.you. You will go for a pint on the way there. The people make me very,

:41:52. > :41:55.very welcome. I have gone beyond famous to a relative of theirs.

:41:56. > :42:00.Everybody thinks I am their cousin. I have not been very well recently.

:42:01. > :42:04.I was doing a programme about the family heritage and a guy came along

:42:05. > :42:17.in the middle of the interview and hugged me. He said, I hope you get

:42:18. > :42:22.better soon, and he walked away. I was so proud to be a Glaswegian. To

:42:23. > :42:29.me, that is my Glasgow. The warmth and the heartbeat, you know?

:42:30. > :42:35.We are sitting in the Dalmarnock area. We should thank the people of

:42:36. > :42:39.Dalmarnock for their patience while all of this has been going on. They

:42:40. > :42:51.have been troopers throughout the whole process. Allan, there has been

:42:52. > :42:56.huge investment, what you think it will achieve for the city? There has

:42:57. > :43:00.been huge investment. The Emirates and this side of Glasgow has been

:43:01. > :43:06.developed like in London 2012. It can only help. It is an opportunity

:43:07. > :43:11.for businesses and it is an opportunity for Glasgow to utilise

:43:12. > :43:15.the facilities, for a start. It will give the youngsters, hopefully, the

:43:16. > :43:20.inspiration to come out and maybe do what Edinburgh did for me. There is

:43:21. > :43:22.a lot more than that but as I say, it is an opportunity for Glasgow to

:43:23. > :43:33.take it much, much it is an opportunity for Glasgow to

:43:34. > :43:42.to Glasgow now to do that. Also Liz, do you think the

:43:43. > :43:47.investment will pay dividends? I think so. It is a Glasgow reborn,

:43:48. > :43:51.not the Glasgow of the old. When they get the investment, it has

:43:52. > :43:55.shown in all our athletes now that we are a different social athlete

:43:56. > :43:59.now. Our athletes are planning on winning and winning gold medals, not

:44:00. > :44:07.just participating and being a number, they are really up for this.

:44:08. > :44:10.All the investments and everything they have seen about has changed

:44:11. > :44:18.everybody's mindset and thoughts. We'll want Glasgow now to go ahead

:44:19. > :44:25.and be successful. The children can participate in the velodrome and

:44:26. > :44:31.other things. It is great positive. 33 medals in 86, can be beat it this

:44:32. > :44:36.time around? I think they will. I have no doubt about that. We have so

:44:37. > :44:40.many really good opportunities ahead in the next ten days. Clearly, your

:44:41. > :44:45.focus will be on Hampden Park, you will hear the roar but not for

:44:46. > :44:55.football, this time for athletics. They have an incredible things like

:44:56. > :44:58.raising the floor by two metres. You had a look at it at the Diamond

:44:59. > :45:01.League, what did you make of it? The first thing that struck me was it

:45:02. > :45:07.was running very fast. It is a fast track. It is absolutely fantastic.

:45:08. > :45:11.If they can convince them to stay there, to keep the track, that would

:45:12. > :45:15.be brilliant but obviously, that will not happen. For what has

:45:16. > :45:23.happened here and for this next 11 days, it will be phenomenal. It is

:45:24. > :45:33.intuitive. It is a unique situation and it is very clever. It has saved

:45:34. > :45:36.a lot of money. My friend Des Clarke is doing a brilliant job of whipping

:45:37. > :45:42.up everyone into a frenzy even though we can't hear each other!

:45:43. > :45:46.Thanks very much for joining us, great to see you. Let's hope

:45:47. > :45:50.Scotland does every well, every Games needs their host nation did it

:45:51. > :45:54.well, I am sure they will. We will say goodbye to you, Hazel, you are

:45:55. > :46:00.commentating on the Opening Ceremony, a proud moment for you.

:46:01. > :46:06.Like Alan and Liz, I am really excited, I have had a sneak preview,

:46:07. > :46:10.and I like it! I wish you well. In the meantime, let's remind ourselves

:46:11. > :47:36.of more of the stars competing here at the Commonwealth Games.

:47:37. > :47:43.Well, we have marked your card on some of the star names competing. As

:47:44. > :47:47.for the ceremony, Clare is with someone who will be performing for

:47:48. > :47:51.us later. Plenty about this Opening Ceremony

:47:52. > :47:55.is very secretive, but two performers were announced well in

:47:56. > :48:00.advance, and Susan Boyle is with me now, when did you know? Only about a

:48:01. > :48:07.couple of years ago when it was all being planned, I was not allowed to

:48:08. > :48:11.say too much too soon! What was your reaction when you are asked to

:48:12. > :48:16.perform at the Opening Ceremony? I was gobsmacked, honoured, very

:48:17. > :48:23.excited to be here. This is home territory for you. It is, and I am

:48:24. > :48:28.proud to be Scottish, especially on occasion like this. I took the baton

:48:29. > :48:34.to a local hospital, we had a lot of fun, and a lot of laps. You are

:48:35. > :48:37.bringing the Commonwealth to them. That was a children's hospital,

:48:38. > :48:42.presumably their reaction to you is great as well. Fantastic, the

:48:43. > :48:47.atmosphere was great, they were really fantastic. In terms of the

:48:48. > :48:51.night, you cannot tell us what you are singing, but how are you feeling

:48:52. > :48:57.about it? A bit nervous, because it is in front of the Queen, but I am

:48:58. > :49:02.very honoured to be here. How do you make sure it is as good as you want

:49:03. > :49:06.it to be? I do plenty practice, plenty of rehearsals. I hope to do

:49:07. > :49:14.it justice. Thanks so much for talking to us, good luck.

:49:15. > :49:26.These are the scenes lifelong see inside Celtic Park, the preparations

:49:27. > :49:33.are almost complete. Thousands of athletes from 71 nations will

:49:34. > :49:37.shortly walk into this famous stadium with victory in their mind,

:49:38. > :49:44.no doubt inspired by great champions of gone by.

:49:45. > :49:52.The so-called miracle mile, Bannister wins by about four yards.

:49:53. > :49:59.Jim Peters was 15 minutes ahead of any competition. Australia for the

:50:00. > :50:04.gold-medal! Mary Peters of Northern Ireland collect her second gold

:50:05. > :50:06.medal. The gold goes to Jeffrey cakes. The world record has been

:50:07. > :50:19.taken apart! Four gold medals in four successive

:50:20. > :50:34.Games, a remarkable achievement! McGuigan has got it. Two men sharing

:50:35. > :50:38.the gold-medal! . Ian Thorpe, 15 years old, absolutely streaking away

:50:39. > :50:43.from the field! This is the gold-medal that she wanted, and

:50:44. > :50:50.absolutely scintillating run by Paula Radcliffe! The gold-medal goes

:50:51. > :50:57.to go Mark Cavendish from the Isle of Man! He is going to fight for

:50:58. > :51:00.this gold medal, he has done it! Tens right across the board! Tom

:51:01. > :51:11.Daley does it again! And the athletes are approaching the

:51:12. > :51:15.stadium, ready for the ceremony. They are dressed in various

:51:16. > :51:19.colours, from different nations, from all over the Commonwealth, 71

:51:20. > :51:24.countries and territories in all, all looking forward to what will

:51:25. > :51:29.hopefully be a spectacular and enjoyable Opening Ceremony. I'm

:51:30. > :51:32.joined by two heavyweights with 13 Commonwealth Games gold medals

:51:33. > :51:39.between them, Daley Thompson and Ian Thorpe, welcome. You are the only

:51:40. > :51:43.person that held the titles of world, Olympic, European and

:51:44. > :51:48.Commonwealth champion, which is quite something, how do they

:51:49. > :51:52.compare? Obviously, in athletics, the Olympics is the pinnacle of your

:51:53. > :51:55.sport, the World Championships is a little bit below it, but the

:51:56. > :52:03.Commonwealth Games is right underneath it. You won medals at

:52:04. > :52:09.three Commonwealth Games. Yeah, I was a bit lucky! You weren't lucky,

:52:10. > :52:12.mate. The Commonwealth Games was fantastic, because it is a great

:52:13. > :52:17.place to learn your trade and see what it is like to be at a major

:52:18. > :52:24.championship. And things changed for you, 15 in Kuala Lumpur. That's

:52:25. > :52:30.right, 15. I won a few there! You know, I came off the World

:52:31. > :52:35.Championships going into the CJ, so it would have been a better stepping

:52:36. > :52:39.stone the other way around, I think. -- the Commonwealth Games. It was

:52:40. > :52:45.like a common down! We shouldn't say that. There you are as a youngster,

:52:46. > :52:51.you look very young there. Why are swimmers so good so young compared

:52:52. > :52:59.with other sports? It is not all of them. There is a tendency for... You

:53:00. > :53:04.know, the women are a bit younger. This is known as the friendly games,

:53:05. > :53:09.which is not a concept that Australians really grasped with

:53:10. > :53:18.sport, is it? I think we do! We are friendly when we are winning! A

:53:19. > :53:20.hugely competitive nation, I saw the Sydney Morning Herald, it said that

:53:21. > :53:25.Australia is the USA Sydney Morning Herald, it said that

:53:26. > :53:31.Commonwealth, so dominant, they have topped every medal leaderboard since

:53:32. > :53:36.1986. Why do you think that is? I think part of it is cultural, the

:53:37. > :53:42.impact that sport has had in Australia for a very long period of

:53:43. > :53:46.time. Now, as we come into this Commonwealth Games, a lot of funding

:53:47. > :53:50.is tied to it for a lot of our top sport, so that will have an impact

:53:51. > :53:54.on as having the best team, so we can continue winning as

:53:55. > :53:58.on as having the best team, so we as we do. We will expect about 60%

:53:59. > :54:02.of the medals in the pool, we expect to be at the top of the leaderboard

:54:03. > :54:06.at the end of the Commonwealth Games, but we may be hurt a

:54:07. > :54:12.at the end of the Commonwealth the track and in cycling.

:54:13. > :54:13.at the end of the Commonwealth so smooth at the Olympic Games. I

:54:14. > :54:19.hoped you would bring that so smooth at the Olympic Games. I

:54:20. > :54:23.man! You will be expecting a great effort and better performance. Not a

:54:24. > :54:29.greater effort, but it will be a better performance. For us, this was

:54:30. > :54:33.an average result, it appeared to be bad. Compared to our previous three

:54:34. > :54:39.Olympic Games, it was a bad result. If you look back, it was about

:54:40. > :54:44.normal for us. What about England? Can you see them performing well?

:54:45. > :54:46.For us, it is almost a home games, and we have just come off

:54:47. > :54:49.For us, it is almost a home games, of the Olympic Games, and yeah, all

:54:50. > :54:53.the home countries are of the Olympic Games, and yeah, all

:54:54. > :54:58.fantastic. We have all brought our best teams, and we expect our

:54:59. > :54:58.biggest medal hauls. What was it like for you,

:54:59. > :55:06.biggest medal hauls. What was it Edinburgh in 1986? Friendly?

:55:07. > :55:08.biggest medal hauls. What was it they were very friendly, my mum is

:55:09. > :55:16.Scottish, and they tried to claim the! It was brilliant. You refused

:55:17. > :55:17.to carry the flag, didn't you, in 1982, because you

:55:18. > :55:21.to carry the flag, didn't you, in 1982, because thought it

:55:22. > :55:24.to carry the flag, didn't you, in distraction? I don't know about

:55:25. > :55:31.Ian, but the bits you see about the ceremony, you are normally out there

:55:32. > :55:35.for two or three hours, then two or three inside, and it is such a long

:55:36. > :55:40.day. If you are competing a day or two later, it is not conducive to a

:55:41. > :55:46.good performance. But you did carry the baton over the border. That was

:55:47. > :55:51.really good fun, so many people out at 6:30 in the morning, I crossed

:55:52. > :55:56.the River tweet from England into Scotland. Great moment. Right, let's

:55:57. > :56:02.pick out a few star names that we can expect to see. Chad le Clos from

:56:03. > :56:06.South Africa, he is the one to really enjoy this week, the biggest

:56:07. > :56:13.international name that we have here, arguably the best swimmer in

:56:14. > :56:19.the world at the moment. Probably also Jamieson up against Springer,

:56:20. > :56:25.that should be good. How will it go? A lot of Scottish people around

:56:26. > :56:29.here! It will be close! Very close! I am looking forward to hearing the

:56:30. > :56:36.crowd roared Hannah Miley in the swimming pool tomorrow, and I am

:56:37. > :56:40.looking forward to seeing some of the squash, because we have got the

:56:41. > :56:43.men's and women's world champions competing, that will be fantastic.

:56:44. > :56:49.And my favourite thing in Delhi was the women's netball. That is the

:56:50. > :56:53.great thing about the Commonwealth Games, you get some money sport that

:56:54. > :57:00.ordinarily we wouldn't see, you can cheer them on. -- you get so many

:57:01. > :57:05.sports. People will say it is not the Olympics, but it is not supposed

:57:06. > :57:10.to be. The Commonwealth Games have got their own flavour, it is the

:57:11. > :57:15.best place to be right now. Mo Farah in athletics, there is a comparison

:57:16. > :57:21.between you and him, the greatest possible English athlete of all

:57:22. > :57:26.time. No, I am looking forward to seeing Mo, but I'm also looking

:57:27. > :57:33.forward to seeing David Rudisha. Elsewhere for you, other sports?

:57:34. > :57:37.Watching everything, whether it be Badminton to what not, this is the

:57:38. > :57:41.Commonwealth Games. Thank you very much, look forward to catching up

:57:42. > :57:46.with you during the Games, the waiting is almost over. The 2014

:57:47. > :58:30.Commonwealth Games in Glasgow was about to begin. Is about to begin.

:58:31. > :58:38.The scene is set. If you've just joined us, welcome to the 2014

:58:39. > :58:41.Commonwealth Games. Time to enjoy Glasgow's Opening Ceremony in the

:58:42. > :58:45.company of Hazel Irvine and Huw Edwards.

:58:46. > :58:48.Thank you very much, Hazel and I very much looking forward to what is

:58:49. > :58:52.going to be a terrific ceremony. There will be a sense of humour and

:58:53. > :58:58.a serious purpose, so let's enjoy it. The countdown started, of

:58:59. > :59:02.course, seven years ago. We are in the final minute, all set for the

:59:03. > :59:07.great city of Glasgow to welcome the world to Scotland for the 20th

:59:08. > :59:11.Commonwealth Games. The creative director has a real track record for

:59:12. > :59:15.big events, he has led creative teams at opening ceremonies in

:59:16. > :59:19.Melbourne, Manchester, Athens, but he says this ceremony will be more

:59:20. > :59:24.personal, just what you would expect from one of the friendliest and most

:59:25. > :59:29.hospitable cities in the world. We are going to meet the real people of

:59:30. > :59:36.the city, proud, generous, full of humour and warmth, Andy Williams are

:59:37. > :59:40.authentic voices. Unusually, the really big countdown will start at

:59:41. > :59:45.14, and of course the clue is in the date. These are the Commonwealth

:59:46. > :59:53.Games of 2014. Stand-by for a countdown with a bit a difference.

:59:54. > :00:00.Hello, everyone! Sorry to interrupt. Here we are at the start of the 20th

:00:01. > :00:04.Commonwealth Games at last, and right now thousands of world-class

:00:05. > :00:07.athletes are here in Glasgow. Over the next 11 days, they will be doing

:00:08. > :00:11.their best to come first, but do you know what? Tonight they are asking

:00:12. > :00:15.all of us watching together to take a moment to think about the children

:00:16. > :00:20.in our Commonwealth usually come last. Last to get health care, last

:00:21. > :00:25.to get an education, last just to get a fair chance in life. So

:00:26. > :00:30.Glasgow 2014 has teamed up with Unicef, people dedicated to putting

:00:31. > :00:34.children first. And now we like to team up with you, because the big

:00:35. > :00:37.idea is that for a single moments during our show, hundreds of

:00:38. > :00:42.millions of us come together to do something extraordinary, to make a

:00:43. > :00:46.positive difference to thousands of young lives across the Commonwealth.

:00:47. > :00:50.All you need to do is keep watching and enjoy the party, and when the

:00:51. > :00:55.time comes, we'll tell you what we like you to do. But right now, and

:00:56. > :01:01.with no interruptions this time, I'm really proud to date, welcome to

:01:02. > :01:03.Scotland, welcome to Glasgow, welcome to the Opening Ceremony of

:01:04. > :01:22.the 2014 Commonwealth Games! people of Glasgow. There is an

:01:23. > :01:24.interactive international appeal to raise money for the children of the

:01:25. > :01:58.Commonwealth. MUSIC: "The Mother We Share"

:01:59. > :02:20.by CHVRCHES And say hello to Karen Dunbar, one

:02:21. > :02:31.of Scotland's best loved comedians. # The bit where we list all

:02:32. > :02:37.the things we have done # All the reasons

:02:38. > :02:39.it's great to be Scottish # Cos the list of the things

:02:40. > :02:45.we've to mention's the same # As the list of the things

:02:46. > :02:48.that we've not # If it's all the same to you,

:02:49. > :02:56.if it's all the same to you # Is just tick them all off

:02:57. > :02:58.one by one # We're a land of inventors

:02:59. > :03:01.and poets and dreamers # We're enlightened,

:03:02. > :03:02.creative and fun # We'll spend as much time

:03:03. > :03:23.in each place # Hello to you and welcome

:03:24. > :03:31.to the Kingdom of the Scots # This is the capital,

:03:32. > :03:32.Edinburgh's where # We march around castles

:03:33. > :03:34.with drums # There's fabulous scenery,

:03:35. > :03:36.breathtaking views # There's culture and history,

:03:37. > :03:40.tartan and ghosts # There's a palace, a parliament,

:03:41. > :03:43.beautiful streets # You'll know his words

:03:44. > :04:00.like Auld Lang Syne # Where couples cross to wed

:04:01. > :04:21.cos back home they had to be older # And oh, the Clyde,

:04:22. > :04:44.the wonderful Clyde # The name of it thrills me

:04:45. > :04:50.and fills me with pride # From Glasgow to Greenock

:04:51. > :04:54.with towns on each side # The hammer's ding-dong

:04:55. > :05:01.is the song of the Clyde # We made ships,

:05:02. > :05:05.such wonderful ships # With Clydebank and Govan

:05:06. > :05:08.on everyone's lips # At Scotstoun and Finnieston

:05:09. > :05:12.and Kelvin Hall # We built and we fitted

:05:13. > :05:16.and painted it all # We riveted, welded

:05:17. > :05:18.and hammered and sawed # While the rest of the world

:05:19. > :05:21.looked on overawed # The mountains and glens

:05:22. > :05:42.stretch before ye # Ah, the bonny, bonny banks

:05:43. > :06:21.of Loch Lomond # Where men wear skirts

:06:22. > :06:27.and woman blether # Don't leave home

:06:28. > :06:33.without an umbrella # Be prepared for some

:06:34. > :06:39.Scottish weather # Though they say

:06:40. > :06:48.you were an elephant swimming # Nessie, I know that

:06:49. > :06:57.the stories are true # Nessie, Nessie, Nessie,

:06:58. > :07:08.Nessie, Nessie # Here we're in the Western Isles,

:07:09. > :07:22.Skye, Arran, Uist and Jura # The standing stones of Calenish,

:07:23. > :07:25.Muck, Lewis, Mull and Barra # As cloning allows,

:07:26. > :07:47.as cloning allows # John O'Groats,

:07:48. > :07:49.the most northerly point # You can stand on our land

:07:50. > :07:51.without sinking # Swim for a while,

:07:52. > :07:53.you'll come to some isles # Called the Orkneys and Shetlands

:07:54. > :07:55.I'm thinking # And here's the land of whisky,

:07:56. > :07:58.uisge beatha, water of life # Highlands, Islands, Speyside,

:07:59. > :08:18.and Fife # St Andrew's our patron,

:08:19. > :08:22.the saint of our land # With a tee and a cart

:08:23. > :08:26.and an iron in his hand # Golf's a game that you play

:08:27. > :08:30.with a ball and a club # And the point is to finish

:08:31. > :08:36.and go to the pub # Nearly out of time,

:08:37. > :08:41.let's take it to the bridge # We invented postage stamps

:08:42. > :08:43.and the Bank of England # The telegraph, the telephone,

:08:44. > :08:46.the television too # The US Navy, logarithms,

:08:47. > :08:48.marmalade and Neptune # The flushing toilet, fax machine

:08:49. > :08:51.and tarmac to name a few # We invented anaesthetic, radar,

:08:52. > :08:54.flasks and fridges # Halloween and paraffin

:08:55. > :08:56.and Bakelite as well # Whisky, economics, hypnotising,

:08:57. > :08:58.iron bridges # Horsepower, fountain pens,

:08:59. > :09:01.and the Kelvin scale # Ok, we didn't invent the wheel

:09:02. > :09:04.but tyres that go around it # We weren't the first to harness

:09:05. > :09:08.steam but first to get it right # From imitating parrots

:09:09. > :09:09.to inventive innovators # It's global common knowledge

:09:10. > :09:15.that a Scottish mind is bright # So that was the list

:09:16. > :09:23.of things you knew # About Scotland,

:09:24. > :09:27.the place we just led you through # We couldn't fit in

:09:28. > :09:31.all that we wanted to # We ran out of time, sorry,

:09:32. > :09:35.skipped out a few # It's a land of invention

:09:36. > :09:39.and culture, that's true # Is that Scotland's full

:09:40. > :10:31.of people just like you Thank you to Karen and John. John

:10:32. > :10:41.Barrowman was born in Scotland and then moved to Illinois. It was a

:10:42. > :10:46.jumble of Scottish symbols. It was a speed date which certainly broke the

:10:47. > :11:23.ice, Huw. Welcome to Glasgow! You cannot ask for a more confident

:11:24. > :11:29.start. Really energetic. Plenty of pride as well in what Glasgow is

:11:30. > :11:37.saying to the world. Hello, everybody! Hello, everybody!

:11:38. > :11:43.It is really nice to see you. This is our home and you are all very

:11:44. > :11:51.welcome. We have been expecting you, you know. Isn't that right, Glasgow?

:11:52. > :11:59.That is a few thousand friends watching the show live down the

:12:00. > :12:05.road. And the Queen's baton. After a massive journey which has covered

:12:06. > :12:10.over 100,000 miles through the 71 nations and territories of the

:12:11. > :12:16.Commonwealth, you would expect it. And if it does not turn up here

:12:17. > :12:22.safely in a while, we are in big trouble. And, everyone, after months

:12:23. > :12:34.of training, these guys are all here as well. Our brilliant Commonwealth

:12:35. > :12:41.athletes, ready for a couple of weeks of competition. So, after all

:12:42. > :12:45.those introductions, there is only one more to make. To all of you

:12:46. > :12:50.watching across the Commonwealth, whoever you are, wherever you are

:12:51. > :12:56.watching, come on in. And to meet the people of Glasgow.

:12:57. > :12:59.CHEERING Yes, your hosts are the people of

:13:00. > :13:04.Glasgow. It is only right that they should

:13:05. > :13:06.personally welcome you and one of them is singer-songwriter Amy

:13:07. > :13:25.Macdonald who comes from the north of the city.

:13:26. > :13:43.# And when I say your name out loud my heart skips a beat

:13:44. > :13:58.# So, let the sun shine down on Glasgow town

:13:59. > :14:17.# Never will I roam cos I know my place is home

:14:18. > :14:30.# Where the ocean meets the sky I'll be sailing

:14:31. > :15:01.# The rhythm of my heart is beating like a drum

:15:02. > :16:07.# I can feel your arms open wide that really was Tam the Gardner, who

:16:08. > :16:12.# The rhythm of my heart is beating like a drum

:16:13. > :16:24.# And the words I love you rolling off my tongue

:16:25. > :16:30.# Where the ocean meets the sky I'll be sailing... #

:16:31. > :16:38.Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the one and only Mr Rod Stewart!

:16:39. > :16:40.# Yeah, I've got lightning in my veins

:16:41. > :17:00.# The rhythm of my heart is beating like a drum

:17:01. > :17:05.# And the words I love you rolling off my tongue

:17:06. > :17:09.# Never will I roam cos I know my place is home

:17:10. > :17:15.# Where the ocean meets the sky I'll be sailing

:17:16. > :17:38.# The rhythm of my heart is beating like a drum

:17:39. > :17:43.# And the words I love you rolling off my tongue

:17:44. > :17:48.# Never will I roam cos I know my place is home

:17:49. > :17:54.# Where the ocean meets the sky I'll be sailing

:17:55. > :17:57.# Oh, the rhythm of my heart is beating like a drum

:17:58. > :18:04.# And the words I love you rolling off my tongue

:18:05. > :18:08.# Never will I roam cos I know my place is home

:18:09. > :18:21.# Where the ocean meets the sky I'll be sailing

:18:22. > :18:25.# The rhythm of my heart is beating like a drum

:18:26. > :18:32.# And the words I love you rolling off my tongue

:18:33. > :18:38.# Never will I roam cos I know my place is home

:18:39. > :18:51.# Where the ocean meets the sky I'll be sailing. #

:18:52. > :19:06.HAZEL: Rod Stewart is a regular visitor to Celtic Park, a lifelong

:19:07. > :19:11.Scotland fan. Ladies and gentlemen,

:19:12. > :19:14.there's an amazing continuity which were first held in Hamilton,

:19:15. > :19:20.Canada, all the way back in 1930. To celebrate that continuity

:19:21. > :19:23.we're now going to acknowledge the flag of India, who were hosts

:19:24. > :19:27.four years ago for the Delhi Games. The flag of Scotland,

:19:28. > :19:31.as the host of Glasgow 2014. And the flag of Australia, who will

:19:32. > :19:35.host the 21st Commonwealth Games Very soon we're going

:19:36. > :19:46.to be welcoming the head of the Commonwealth,

:19:47. > :19:49.Her Majesty the Queen, to Glasgow. And to personally greet her

:19:50. > :19:53.on our behalf, please welcome Prince Imran, president of

:19:54. > :19:57.the Commonwealth Games Federation. Michael Cavanagh, chairman

:19:58. > :19:59.of Commonwealth Games Scotland. who is chairman of the Glasgow 2014

:20:00. > :20:24.Organising Committee. West Lothian's Susan Boyle is now a

:20:25. > :20:37.huge international star. # Far have I travelled

:20:38. > :21:00.and much have I seen # Dark distant mountains

:21:01. > :21:08.with valleys of green # Past painted deserts

:21:09. > :21:14.the sun sets on fire # As he carries me home

:21:15. > :22:08.to the Mull of Kintyre HUW: The rousing sounds of the pipes

:22:09. > :22:12.and drums of the Scottish regiments. Far have I travelled and much have I

:22:13. > :22:17.seen, the opening words of the song, summing up Her Majesty's seven

:22:18. > :22:31.year reign. The famous Braemar Highland games

:22:32. > :22:38.gathering, the Queen, of course, is the patron of those games. And now,

:22:39. > :22:42.ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the head of the Commonwealth, Her

:22:43. > :22:43.Majesty the Queen, accompanied by his Royal Highness the Duke of

:22:44. > :23:01.Edinburgh. And in preparation for Her

:23:02. > :23:06.Majesty's arrival, the wonderful Red Arrows, preparing to fly over Celtic

:23:07. > :23:12.Park, one of the world's premier aerobatic display teams. They are

:23:13. > :23:15.based at Darius Campbell done, signalling that the Queen and the

:23:16. > :23:21.Duke of Edinburgh are arriving, trailing great plumes of smoke

:23:22. > :23:28.across the city centre of Glasgow. -- based at RAF Scampton. A fair bet

:23:29. > :23:36.that smoke will change pretty soon to be familiar red, white and blue.

:23:37. > :23:47.Magnificent! Everyone in Celtic Park looking up to the sky, a lovely

:23:48. > :23:48.sunny evening for this Opening Ceremony of the 20th Commonwealth

:23:49. > :24:22.Games. The Queen, sensing the warmth of the

:24:23. > :24:32.welcome. The Queen's card bearing the Scottish Royal standard this

:24:33. > :24:37.evening. -- car. Attending yet another Opening Ceremony of the

:24:38. > :24:41.Commonwealth Games. Of course, the Queen has an unrivalled track record

:24:42. > :24:48.in that respect. She celebrated her 88th birthday. The

:24:49. > :24:53.Duke of Edinburgh is 93, having celebrated his birthday in June. And

:24:54. > :25:06.the warmth of the welcome can be heard everywhere.

:25:07. > :25:17.The Queen, who has been head of the Commonwealth since accession to the

:25:18. > :25:19.throne back in 1952, heading 71 Commonwealth nations and

:25:20. > :25:27.territories, all of them represented at this Opening Ceremony.

:25:28. > :25:41.And being presented with a posy of Heather by a member of the Braemar

:25:42. > :25:47.Gathering. -- heather. Out-lap ladies and gentlemen, boys and

:25:48. > :25:55.girls, the Braemar Gathering party, led by Robert Lovie, invite you to

:25:56. > :26:01.join us in the singing. Please be upstanding for the national anthem.

:26:02. > :26:05.Veteran broadcaster Robbie Shepherd takes the floor.

:26:06. > :26:54.Robert Lovie, unaccompanied and without fuss, very effectively

:26:55. > :27:25.singing the national anthem. school of music, the Royal Scots

:27:26. > :27:27.borderers, the Scots Guards, the Highland Fusiliers and the

:27:28. > :27:33.highlanders, first, second and fourth battalions, Royal Reg of

:27:34. > :27:39.Scotland. What a wonderful way to welcome the Queen into the stadium

:27:40. > :27:41.this evening. You will see, on a huge screen, 96 metres

:27:42. > :27:43.this evening. You will see, on a metres wide, displaying beautiful

:27:44. > :27:59.shots of Royal Deeside. # When I come home, yeah,

:28:00. > :28:02.I know I'm gonna be # I'm gonna be the man

:28:03. > :28:04.who's comin' home to you # And when I'm dreamin'

:28:05. > :28:09.well, I know I'm gonna dream # I'm gonna dream about the time

:28:10. > :28:14.when I'm with you # But I would walk

:28:15. > :28:19.five hundred miles # And I would walk

:28:20. > :28:23.five hundred more # Just to be the man

:28:24. > :28:29.who walked a thousand miles # But I would walk

:28:30. > :28:37.five hundred miles # Just to be the man

:28:38. > :29:20.who walked a thousand miles Everyone spellbound here at Celtic

:29:21. > :29:23.Park, two dancers of the Scottish Ballet.

:29:24. > :29:26.# And when I'm dreaming, well, I know I'm gonna dream

:29:27. > :29:42.# I'm gonna dream about the time I had with you. #

:29:43. > :29:51.500 miles, the song made famous by the Proclaimers, formed by those

:29:52. > :29:52.dancers from the national ballet company of Scotland, based here in

:29:53. > :30:17.Glasgow. That is the journey taken by the

:30:18. > :30:23.Queen's baton. It is a journey of around 25 miles from Scotland's

:30:24. > :31:00.National Park to one of the most renowned beauty spots.

:31:01. > :31:02.The Queen's Baton has finally arrived here in Glasgow.

:31:03. > :31:06.is a man who's almost as well travelled as the baton itself.

:31:07. > :31:17.Mark Beaumont holds the record for cycling round the world.

:31:18. > :31:24.He has travelled to each of the nations sending back his film and

:31:25. > :31:29.report and making countless friends around the world.

:31:30. > :31:32.The baton left Buckingham Palace 288 days ago

:31:33. > :31:37.Since then, thousands and thousands of people have carried it

:31:38. > :31:39.on an epic relay through all the territories

:31:40. > :31:45.and islands and continents of the Commonwealth.

:31:46. > :31:47.Now this symbol of friendship between nations

:31:48. > :31:50.is on the very last leg of its extraordinary journey.

:31:51. > :31:53.And in just a little while it will arrive here at the stadium

:31:54. > :31:57.will at last share her message with all of us.

:31:58. > :32:40.# "Haste ye back" means call again soon

:32:41. > :32:42.# "And here's ta us" means good cheer

:32:43. > :32:53.# Come in, come in, it's nice to see you

:32:54. > :32:57.# Hows yoursel' you're looking grand

:32:58. > :33:14.# Man you're welcome, here's my hand. #

:33:15. > :33:22.Be swinging kilt and friendly smile of Andy Stewart. We get ready to

:33:23. > :33:30.welcome the athletes. It does sum up the essence of Scottish hospitality,

:33:31. > :33:34.come in, you are most welcome. What is noticeable about this opening

:33:35. > :33:38.ceremony is the athletes, the spectators and hundreds of millions

:33:39. > :33:43.watching around the world, will be able to raise money for the children

:33:44. > :33:47.of the Commonwealth fund. It has been devised by the organisers of

:33:48. > :33:53.the game and will be carried by broadcasters around the world to

:33:54. > :34:00.raise money. The old June has been given a make over by dump Recio's

:34:01. > :34:07.Calvin Harris who is an unstoppable force in music these days. This idea

:34:08. > :34:14.has been inspired by a red wedding reception where they ran out of

:34:15. > :34:16.chairs. So everybody went home to get some so that everyone would feel

:34:17. > :34:39.comfortable. You get a real sense of the

:34:40. > :34:45.wonderful screen which is projecting these images. We have seen nothing

:34:46. > :34:49.like it. It weighs over 300 tonnes and is the largest screen in Europe

:34:50. > :34:58.and it is being used to brilliant effect tonight and it will be used

:34:59. > :35:02.throughout the athletes' parade. We are putting the seats out for the

:35:03. > :35:12.athletes and we will need a whole lot of them. But this really is

:35:13. > :35:15.where you get a sense of the informality, the friendliness of the

:35:16. > :36:01.welcome, making a virtue of that. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

:36:02. > :36:04.I am Flora and I am from Glasgow. It is my privilege to welcome the first

:36:05. > :36:18.team tonight. Come on in, India! Almost half the population of the

:36:19. > :36:28.Commonwealth lives in India, Namaste, we bow our heads to you.

:36:29. > :36:32.They are being led in by what I am sure are one of the stars of the

:36:33. > :36:39.show, there are 41 Scottish terriers. They are bearing the names

:36:40. > :36:41.of the teams on their coat. There are 71 nations and territories so

:36:42. > :36:46.some of them will are 71 nations and territories so

:36:47. > :36:51.change. It is great to see the richness of colour and the diversity

:36:52. > :36:57.of India, the hosts of 2010 who gave us such a wonderful time. A great

:36:58. > :37:11.host city. They had a brilliant success. 101 medals, they smashed

:37:12. > :37:14.their previous target. Look out for them on the shooting range. They won

:37:15. > :37:20.30 at home in Delhi. Expect to see some at the Barry Budden range in

:37:21. > :37:24.Carnoustie. VJ Kumara, three gold medals ten years ago -- four years

:37:25. > :37:57.ago. He is carrying the flag today. You can see the huge screen

:37:58. > :38:04.background, the Indian flag You can see the huge screen

:38:05. > :38:11.projected onto that. That will continue tonight.

:38:12. > :38:14.I hope you are enjoying the night so far. Remember I told you something

:38:15. > :38:21.amazing would happen tonight. This is where it starts. I just want to

:38:22. > :38:25.remind you that tonight, Glasgow 2014 has come together with Unicef

:38:26. > :38:30.to put the children of the Commonwealth first. It began with

:38:31. > :38:34.six of my fellow Scots, all of them from Glasgow, they travelled across

:38:35. > :38:38.the Commonwealth to see for themselves, the fantastic work that

:38:39. > :38:47.Unicef is doing for all of our children. First off the block was

:38:48. > :38:51.Katie, sports teacher from Drumchapel who went to Bangladesh.

:38:52. > :38:55.When a child is in danger, you would stop at nothing to save their life.

:38:56. > :39:00.Flooding and unsafe water levels here mean children are at risk of

:39:01. > :39:07.drowning every single day. But tonight, you have the power to

:39:08. > :39:14.change that. You can help to teach life-saving skills to children.

:39:15. > :39:24.Skills that seems so simple but are matter of life and death for these

:39:25. > :39:28.communities. It is so important that we keep this project going, in order

:39:29. > :39:34.to prevent thousands more children from dying. Every child should have

:39:35. > :39:38.the skills they need to survive. Tonight, at the end of the

:39:39. > :39:42.athletes' parade, we will come together and this will be an

:39:43. > :39:47.historic moment, as one Commonwealth family, to do something amazing. We

:39:48. > :39:51.will put children first. We can all donate simultaneously, all of us

:39:52. > :39:54.across the planet, and in that instance, we can change the lives of

:39:55. > :40:01.millions of children across the world. Imagine that. But first, as

:40:02. > :40:05.the celebration continues, not just in Glasgow, but across the

:40:06. > :40:11.Commonwealth, Katie is joined by a special Unicef supporter, only one

:40:12. > :40:16.of the best cricketers ever, Sachin Tendulkar. There are close to a

:40:17. > :40:19.billion of us watching the ceremony across the Commonwealth. We have an

:40:20. > :40:23.incredible chance, an historic opportunity, to show the world what

:40:24. > :40:28.a huge difference we can all make when we act as one, to put children

:40:29. > :40:40.first. A little later, we will show you how we can do that. But for now,

:40:41. > :40:42.it is time for us to say, back in Glasgow, please give a big shout out

:40:43. > :40:52.for the rest of the athletes from Asia!

:40:53. > :40:56.Come on in, Bangladesh! Bangladesh has six separate seasons, summer,

:40:57. > :41:06.rainy, cool, autumn, winter and spring. That sounds like a typical

:41:07. > :41:13.Glasgow day. Indeed! There is a glimpse of one of the dogs, being

:41:14. > :41:23.very well-behaved. We saw them in the Kent area before the ceremony

:41:24. > :41:32.started. Very well-behaved. -- the tent area. There was a remarkable

:41:33. > :41:37.journey from one athlete to be here, she has had threats to her life, she

:41:38. > :41:42.had to pretend to be a boy to play sport. She moved to Canada and

:41:43. > :41:48.despite heroine forced exile, her father says Pakistan should be very

:41:49. > :41:50.proud of his daughter. Brunei Darussalam, a one-man team

:41:51. > :42:09.this time. Ladies and gentlemen, please give a

:42:10. > :42:15.welcome to of the 1988 Commonwealth Games, Malaysia! Another former host

:42:16. > :42:21.of the Commonwealth Games in 1998 when it was very was very, very

:42:22. > :42:26.sweltering. That is when team sport entered the programme, netball,

:42:27. > :42:41.rugby sevens. They are at Minton crazy nation. Fatehah Mustapa is

:42:42. > :42:48.carrying the flag, a cyclist. -- they are a bad and in crazy nation.

:42:49. > :42:57.I expect there will be a reference to the Malaysia Airlines disaster

:42:58. > :43:03.later in the programme. The Maldives made their debut in

:43:04. > :43:08.Edinburgh in 1986. They are still waiting for their first medal. The

:43:09. > :43:19.country is the lowest in the world. It is about the height of one and a

:43:20. > :43:26.half hurdles in men's athletics! The second most populous nation

:43:27. > :43:30.behind India. Look out in the bowls competition for two curry chefs,

:43:31. > :43:37.they have lived in Glasgow for most of their lives. There have been

:43:38. > :43:42.bowling for 20 years in Glasgow at an indoor club. They are all

:43:43. > :43:51.watching them this evening. All the best to them and all of Pakistan's

:43:52. > :44:02.athletes tonight. Singapore, a tiny island, lots of

:44:03. > :44:11.influence. They are one of the world's smallest countries in terms

:44:12. > :44:17.of landmass. A high-tech powerhouse. The team is led by the diminutive

:44:18. > :44:26.Lim Heem Wei. She is only four foot 11.

:44:27. > :44:33.Sri Lanka, one of the most vibrantly beautiful places in the world, the

:44:34. > :44:38.parlour the Indian Ocean. I'm sure that some of their cyclists who got

:44:39. > :44:39.lost on the motorway have managed to find their way back to Celtic Park

:44:40. > :45:16.this evening! A great cricketing nation, of

:45:17. > :45:17.course. No cricket this time, but they have a rugby sevens team, they

:45:18. > :45:56.are in pool D. Papworth New Guinea! I am Keeley

:45:57. > :46:00.Hawes, and with me from Glasgow is Jane McCormick. We would go to the

:46:01. > :46:04.end of the earth to keep our children safe, and yet children in

:46:05. > :46:07.the most remotely mean at ease on the planet of the last to get

:46:08. > :46:13.protection against preventable diseases that could kill them. There

:46:14. > :46:18.is no hospital here, we have to walk eight or nine hours. Tonight you

:46:19. > :46:21.have the power to change that. No matter how far away they live, every

:46:22. > :46:33.child should have life-saving vaccinations. This is the most

:46:34. > :46:39.remote place that I have ever been. The people understand how important

:46:40. > :46:43.these vaccines are. Coming from a little village in Glasgow to a

:46:44. > :46:48.remotely is to make children are vaccinated, there is no reason that

:46:49. > :46:52.every child in the whole world shouldn't be vaccinated. And with

:46:53. > :46:57.your help tonight, we can do even more! For now, time to pick up the

:46:58. > :47:09.story back in my hometown. Glasgow, will you please welcome into the

:47:10. > :47:15.stadium, Oceania! Come on in, Australia! A tumultuous welcome for

:47:16. > :47:21.one of the pillars of the Commonwealth, Australia! Leading

:47:22. > :47:27.them in, Anna Meares, six Commonwealth medals to her name,

:47:28. > :47:31.just one short of the record for an Australian cyclist. Yes, one of the

:47:32. > :47:36.many genuine superstars in the Aussie team. We have also got Sally

:47:37. > :47:41.Pearson, the Olympic Games 110 metres hurdles champion, obviously,

:47:42. > :47:51.and so many great swimmers in their ranks, James Magnussen, the Missile.

:47:52. > :47:55.They are the hosts for the next Games in 2018, Gold Coast, the fifth

:47:56. > :48:00.time they will welcome the Commonwealth. But it is not just

:48:01. > :48:05.individual strength they have, team strength too, looking forward to

:48:06. > :48:07.seeing the rugby sevens team and the netball. In netball they lost to

:48:08. > :48:12.archrivals New Zealand netball. In netball they lost to

:48:13. > :48:19.two finals, and they really want their title back. That will be

:48:20. > :48:26.something else at the Hydro on the last afternoon of these Games.

:48:27. > :48:34.Please welcome the Cook Islands! So after the might of the Australian

:48:35. > :48:37.team, and there were hundreds of after the might of the Australian

:48:38. > :48:46.them, slightly different after the might of the Australian

:48:47. > :48:51.compact, from the Cook Islands, the South Pacific nation, named after

:48:52. > :48:55.Captain Cook. Looking forward to seeing what they can do

:48:56. > :49:07.Captain Cook. Looking forward to rugby. Yes, always very popular in

:49:08. > :49:15.The South Pacific Republic of Fiji. Now, they had their suspension from

:49:16. > :49:18.the Commonwealth downgraded earlier this year. They were handed a

:49:19. > :49:24.suspension in 2009, nothing to do with competitors, all to do with

:49:25. > :49:29.controversy over democratic elections. But it is good to see

:49:30. > :49:33.them. Yes, unfortunately, the lifting of that suspension came too

:49:34. > :49:45.late for the rugby seven and netball players. The draw had been made, so

:49:46. > :49:51.sadly they will not be here. So here we have David Katoatau flying the

:49:52. > :49:55.flag for Kiribati, the small South Pacific Republic. They are right on

:49:56. > :50:01.the international dateline, and that they see the first rays of the New

:50:02. > :50:07.Year before anyone else on earth. It takes as 40 more hours to celebrate

:50:08. > :50:11.Hogmanay! Nauru, a tiny dot in the Pacific, only 12 miles in

:50:12. > :50:16.circumference, home to fewer than 10,000 people, but they have won ten

:50:17. > :50:20.gold medals, all in weightlifting. This is the power of the

:50:21. > :50:24.Commonwealth Games, inspired by Marcus Stephen, who went on to

:50:25. > :50:29.become the president of their country! Many others have followed,

:50:30. > :50:35.putting their island firmly on the sporting map. A great big cheer for

:50:36. > :50:41.our friends from New Zealand, one of the mainstays, of course, of the

:50:42. > :50:45.Commonwealth for many years. And they're phenomenal rugby tradition

:50:46. > :50:52.which, as a Welshman, I am pain is to acknowledge! Right at the front,

:50:53. > :50:57.Valerie Adams, arguably New Zealand's's most dominant athlete,

:50:58. > :51:01.in shot put, she has not been beaten in 55 competitions, a force of

:51:02. > :51:05.nature, that woman! The land of the long white clouds is welcomed to the

:51:06. > :51:13.land of the occasional grey cloud, but not tonight! Obviously dominated

:51:14. > :51:18.by the rugby sevens team, who have one ball four golds since the sport

:51:19. > :51:23.was introduced. They have not won a single game. They have got to be a

:51:24. > :51:38.fair bet! Watch out for the wonderful Silver Bones, then netball

:51:39. > :51:50.team. -- Ferns the smallest population in the Commonwealth, only

:51:51. > :51:53.1000 190 at last count. -- only 1190. Officially the smallest

:51:54. > :52:09.population in the Commonwealth. Norfolk Island, what a claim, that

:52:10. > :52:16.title, not much in it, I have to say! 2210 at last count! The

:52:17. > :52:21.towering Norfolk pine tree on their flag, a fascinating history. It was

:52:22. > :52:24.settled by Pitcairn islanders, descendants of Fletcher Christian

:52:25. > :52:28.and the Bounty mutineers, in the 1850s. A man called John Christian

:52:29. > :52:42.led them out, surely related! The weightlifter, his second

:52:43. > :52:50.Commonwealth Games, leading Papua New Guinea. Their flag combines the

:52:51. > :52:55.Southern Cross constellation with a bird of paradise. Their natural

:52:56. > :52:59.sport is rugby league, but it is the rugby sevens team that are in the

:53:00. > :53:03.group with Samoa, Wales and Malaysia. 12 of the squad have been

:53:04. > :53:12.preparing with the Brumbies in camera. -- Canberra. Always

:53:13. > :53:16.fascinating, probably the world's most diverse country in terms of

:53:17. > :53:24.languages, 700 native languages and dialects. A dizzying variety, such a

:53:25. > :53:29.rich culture. Yeah, we saw Keeley Hawes there early on, and she

:53:30. > :53:37.clearly loved the country as well. Love the kilt at the back there!

:53:38. > :53:44.Next, the independent state of Samoa, led by a weightlifter, one of

:53:45. > :53:47.four members of the same family competing in weightlifting in

:53:48. > :53:52.Glasgow. That is something too is a! It is indeed, she carries the flag,

:53:53. > :53:58.her brother and sister join the team, although she is a heavyweight

:53:59. > :54:05.as well. And they have also got the fast running sevens team, who

:54:06. > :54:18.famously knocked out the Aussies last time. Watch out for their

:54:19. > :54:23.version of the Haka. The Solomon Islands!

:54:24. > :54:34.The Solomon Islands, some 900 islands in all, a former British

:54:35. > :54:40.protectorate in the Pacific. Good to see them here, rather troubled in

:54:41. > :54:46.the recent past, ethnic violence, divisions and crime there, so their

:54:47. > :54:56.presence here is very welcome. One of the largest islands is

:54:57. > :55:03.Guadalcanal, the high -- highest point in the Solomon Islands, double

:55:04. > :55:08.the height of Ben Nevis. The friendly Islands, so named by

:55:09. > :55:14.Captain Cook in the 1770s, all three of their Commonwealth medals have

:55:15. > :55:25.come in the boxing ring. They have all flown in from the capital.

:55:26. > :55:32.Conger is home to the last Polynesian monarchy, and we still

:55:33. > :55:46.haven't heard their national anthem yet! -- Tonga. Tuvalu means group of

:55:47. > :55:50.eight, granted independence from Britain back in 1978, and of course

:55:51. > :55:53.one of the features of Tuvalu, apart from their sporting tradition, is

:55:54. > :56:03.the fact that they are under severe threat from rising sea levels. Footy

:56:04. > :56:08.is their national sport, but the only pitch doubles up as the airport

:56:09. > :56:18.runway, rather than scuppering their hopes of FIFA recognition right now.

:56:19. > :56:32.South of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu. Much of Vanuatu is covered

:56:33. > :56:37.in rainforest. Yoshua Shing is the flag carrier for Vanuatu. He made

:56:38. > :56:40.his Commonwealth Games debut in Melbourne when he was 12. He has

:56:41. > :56:43.been to the Olympics as well, Melbourne when he was 12. He has

:56:44. > :57:09.well travelled man, table tennis player.

:57:10. > :57:19.Hello, Glasgow! As Oceania make their entrance, time for me to say

:57:20. > :57:21.hello from Africa, where the party is in full swing. I am here in

:57:22. > :57:25.Malawi to see the is in full swing. I am here in

:57:26. > :57:30.Unicef is doing to make sure children in our Commonwealth do not

:57:31. > :57:34.come last. Before all that, I want to introduce you to an incredible

:57:35. > :57:41.man, someone I am now proud to call my friend, Dr Iain Horrocks. When a

:57:42. > :57:45.child is seriously ill, you would do anything to take away their

:57:46. > :57:46.suffering. And yet children here are the last to be treated, simply

:57:47. > :57:53.because they the last to be treated, simply

:57:54. > :57:59.hospital. That is where you come in. We provide a bike for Daniel, a

:58:00. > :58:04.health care worker, so he can get to really remote communities. I hope

:58:05. > :58:07.you have got this on camera, me overtaking you! Not yet, you

:58:08. > :58:12.haven't! These overtaking you! Not yet, you

:58:13. > :58:16.lifeline for this community to try and prevent those children getting

:58:17. > :58:24.sick, and it all happens here. Heavier than I was expecting!

:58:25. > :58:32.That is why tonight we need to put children first. Glasgow, let's

:58:33. > :58:46.welcome to the stadium Africa! Come on in, Botswana! Made their

:58:47. > :58:50.debut in 1974 at the Games, but in Delhi they took their first gold,

:58:51. > :58:55.debut in 1974 at the Games, but in which will be defended here. Look

:58:56. > :59:03.out, right at the front, Nigel Amos, he won silver at the London games.

:59:04. > :59:06.Behind him, David Rudisha, first ever Olympic medal, presented

:59:07. > :59:10.Behind him, David Rudisha, first the gift of six cows upon his

:59:11. > :59:17.return, which has obvious advantages. You cannot barbecue a

:59:18. > :59:22.gold postbox! Please welcome, Rune! The Republic of Cameroon,

:59:23. > :59:24.gold postbox! Please welcome, Rune! suppose, after Wales and Scotland,

:59:25. > :59:29.Hazel! Not tonight, happily, we are suppose, after Wales and Scotland,

:59:30. > :59:33.thrilled, Huw, a suppose, after Wales and Scotland,

:59:34. > :59:38.here at Celtic Park. Not the happiest of World Cup campaigns for,

:59:39. > :59:46.Rune and Brazil this season, let's hope there athletes perform better.

:59:47. > :59:49.Cameroon. They have been practising in Aberdeen,

:59:50. > :59:54.Cameroon. They have been practising reception in the Granite city.

:59:55. > :00:09.Come on in, Ghana! A warm welcome for the competitors from the

:00:10. > :00:14.Republic of Ghana, the first country in colonial Africa to gain its

:00:15. > :00:19.independence. A big team, 109 athletes, targeting their best ever

:00:20. > :00:24.medal haul of 12. Watch out for their amazing supporters who travel

:00:25. > :00:32.from one event to another, rivalling the tartan and barmy army watch out

:00:33. > :00:37.for their first ever track cyclist, he lived in Glasgow for 14 years and

:00:38. > :00:52.only took up the sport less than 12 months ago. 195 athletes, including

:00:53. > :00:59.66 from track and field. They had a brilliant games. Inevitably, their

:01:00. > :01:07.strength lies in athletics once again. David Rudisha, the

:01:08. > :01:14.outstanding moment, he has had a break for injury but he is here. And

:01:15. > :01:21.they're going for a clean sweep in the steeplechase. Scotland's Eilish

:01:22. > :01:23.McColgan, the daughter of Liz McColgan is attempting to crash the

:01:24. > :01:46.party in the women's steeplechase. The landlocked kingdom of Lesotho in

:01:47. > :01:55.South Africa. They have fielded a team of 21. They have been preparing

:01:56. > :01:59.in Wrexham in North Wales at a training camp there. They have a

:02:00. > :02:10.reciprocal arrangement for Welsh athletes because they go to a high

:02:11. > :02:14.altitude training centre. Isn't this a wonderful scene? Lesotho's flag

:02:15. > :02:23.features a black hat and the men are wearing those hats there. We saw Sir

:02:24. > :02:32.Chris Hoy in Malawi and Scotland has many ties with this country, the

:02:33. > :02:48.warm heart of Africa. The city Blantyre is named after the city in

:02:49. > :02:59.Scotland. The film showed the fundraising initiative. Malawi have

:03:00. > :03:02.a huge star in netball. Malawi may spring the odd surprise in the

:03:03. > :03:14.netball competition. Mauritius have joined us.

:03:15. > :03:21.Beautiful beaches, sunshine, tropical summers, cool and wet in

:03:22. > :03:23.the Highlands. The Mauritius athletes will feel at home, I'm

:03:24. > :03:51.sure, in Scotland. All Mozambique athletes have the

:03:52. > :03:53.exploits of Maria Mateo led to aim at. They will be hoping for good

:03:54. > :04:09.things. Interesting about Mozambique because

:04:10. > :04:20.a relatively recent addition to the Commonwealth, back in 1995, the

:04:21. > :04:23.former Portuguese colony. The sixth appearance for Namibia

:04:24. > :04:29.since their entry into the Commonwealth Games 20 years ago.

:04:30. > :04:36.They have won 15 medals, four of them by a truck legend Frankie

:04:37. > :04:43.Fredericks. He record. A fantastically arid place. The

:04:44. > :04:51.skeleton Coast, the Fish River Canyon and a desert. It is a

:04:52. > :04:54.wonderful place. One of the most colourful sets of clothing we have

:04:55. > :05:02.seen this evening. That is really exotic. Nigeria, the giant of

:05:03. > :05:08.Africa, the largest population on the continent of 177 million people.

:05:09. > :05:08.Africa, the largest population on They could have one of the standout

:05:09. > :05:31.athletes of the games,. A splash of vibrant green. That is

:05:32. > :05:40.great to see. It really is a powerhouse.

:05:41. > :05:59.What a story we have with Rwanda coming in.

:06:00. > :06:09.The story of a mountain bike rider who lost his six brothers and

:06:10. > :06:14.sisters in the genocide is now being made into a documentary. He is a

:06:15. > :06:19.remarkable man and we will see him in the mountain biking. For many

:06:20. > :06:26.people, he represents better than anyone the spirit of the games and

:06:27. > :06:35.the spirit of the sport. There is the flag bearer for the

:06:36. > :06:42.Seychelles. She has a pretty big contingent representing the great

:06:43. > :06:47.country of the Seychelles. It gained its independence in 1976. Much of

:06:48. > :06:52.the land is made up of nature reserves. One of the most beautiful

:06:53. > :06:58.countries in the world. During the baton relay, there was a bit of a

:06:59. > :07:11.first because it explored the reefs with scuba divers. Yes, it did have

:07:12. > :07:16.a little jacket on! The flag bearer for Sierra Leone. Another group of

:07:17. > :07:23.sportsmen who we welcome very warmly at Celtic Park. A country which

:07:24. > :07:28.emerged after a decade of horrendous civil war between the early 90s and

:07:29. > :07:34.2002. A country now trying to rebuild and take advantage of its

:07:35. > :07:38.economic potential. Sierra Leone only had two competing athletes in

:07:39. > :07:48.London two years ago, and isn't it marvellous to see the strength of

:07:49. > :07:53.their team here today? It is a sevens player, Cecil Afrika,

:07:54. > :08:00.who else, who carries the flag of the rainbow nation. You may get some

:08:01. > :08:04.unbelievable moments from the South Africans. Chad lip gloss will swim

:08:05. > :08:18.in eight events. Chad Le Clos. He is the potential

:08:19. > :08:48.superstar of the games. Swerve the land, another landlocked

:08:49. > :08:59.country. -- Swaziland. We do not have a Usain Bolt in the 200 metres

:09:00. > :09:02.but we will have the Swaziland Bolt. That is the nickname of one of their

:09:03. > :09:18.athletes. He's fast. 40 years ago, it Anthony had one of

:09:19. > :09:33.the great Commonwealth Games moments 40 years ago, it Anthony had one of

:09:34. > :09:35.still stands. But Tanzania have also won the men's Marathon twice.

:09:36. > :09:39.still stands. But Tanzania have also will be hoping for better luck than

:09:40. > :10:51.in Delhi where from the Zambezi River. It was David

:10:52. > :10:57.Livingstone who was the first European to see the waterfall on the

:10:58. > :11:23.Zambezi. He named it the Victoria Falls.

:11:24. > :11:30.The Zambians have a runner who moved to Welshpool and then Sheffield. He

:11:31. > :11:32.went to Texas and had the chance to run for Team GB bit he said he

:11:33. > :12:06.wanted to represent Zambia. Good evening, Glasgow!

:12:07. > :12:12.I am Reggie Yates. This is my mate David Yates from Glasgow. We are in

:12:13. > :12:17.Jamaica. As we'll come together tonight, we want to put children

:12:18. > :12:22.first, but a child can still come last in our Commonwealth. If they do

:12:23. > :12:29.not have an education to help them fulfil their dreams and ambitions.

:12:30. > :12:35.Child deserves more than just survival. They should have hope.

:12:36. > :12:38.Many children around the world to not have hopes that the future

:12:39. > :12:45.because they do not have an education. But tonight, we have the

:12:46. > :12:56.power to change that. If I dead go to school, I will not be able to be

:12:57. > :13:00.a doctor. Don't destroy the children's ability to become what

:13:01. > :13:12.they want. Without children, there is nothing in the world. Let's go.

:13:13. > :13:26.Children are for tomorrow. Without children we won't have any doctors,

:13:27. > :13:35.or teachers. This is what putting children first is all about. Play

:13:36. > :13:40.the trumpet! Thanks, Reggie. Now it is time to say to the people of

:13:41. > :13:41.Glasgow and the people of the Commonwealth, please welcome into

:13:42. > :14:04.the stadium, the Caribbean! Anguilla, the long thin island. The

:14:05. > :14:13.name comes from the French word for eels. The main island is only 16

:14:14. > :14:18.miles long by three miles wide. It is smaller than the island of Aaron

:14:19. > :14:25.just off the West Coast of Scotland but a little warmer. A population of

:14:26. > :14:35.16,000. It gives you a sense of the selection problems they had.

:14:36. > :14:44.A population of 91,000, that is about six of the of Glasgow. The

:14:45. > :14:49.star man is the sprinter Daniel Bailey. He clarity to the flag in

:14:50. > :15:06.London in 2012 and he does again tonight. -- he carried the flag.

:15:07. > :15:12.prosperous nations, the Bahamas, an archipelago of 700 islands, the

:15:13. > :15:15.Bahamas, of course, well-known for tourism and international banking.

:15:16. > :15:24.And a great tradition in athletics, particularly sprinting. Their only

:15:25. > :15:34.medal at London was a memorable gold in the 4x4 and good metres relay. --

:15:35. > :15:42.four by 400 metres relay. He wants one at the Commonwealth Games now!

:15:43. > :15:46.Please welcome Barbados! We think of beaches, we think of cricket, of

:15:47. > :15:52.course, the most easterly of the Caribbean islands, a warm welcome

:15:53. > :16:00.for Shane Brathwaite, the flag carrier. We also have to think about

:16:01. > :16:06.rugby sevens, they are making their Commonwealth Games debut. They are

:16:07. > :16:14.half based in the UK and half in Barbados. The coach trains them by

:16:15. > :16:18.Facebook. Their captain plays for Guildford in the seventh tier of

:16:19. > :16:23.English rugby, and they played New Zealand at Ibrox at the weekend,

:16:24. > :16:37.good luck! We need to see if that is a winning formula!

:16:38. > :16:47.Come on in, British Virgin Islands! The long jumper Chantelle Nicholls

:16:48. > :16:58.alone leading in the contingent from the British Virgin Islands. --

:16:59. > :17:02.Chantel Malone. They have their first ever swimmers at the

:17:03. > :17:07.Commonwealth Games, they both go to school in Hatfield in Hertfordshire,

:17:08. > :17:12.they originally moved to the UK in 2005, and I know all their friends

:17:13. > :17:17.at the school are very excited. They are swimming on Saturday in the 50

:17:18. > :17:24.metres fly. No mistaking where they are from with the branding on their

:17:25. > :17:26.clothes! The Cayman Islands, one of the world's biggest financial

:17:27. > :17:31.centres. We talked about the Bahamas, but the Cayman Islands is a

:17:32. > :17:36.well-known taxation, British overseas territory, with more

:17:37. > :17:44.registered businesses than it has people. Three main islands, it has

:17:45. > :17:53.been a big year for sport, their first participation at the Winter

:17:54. > :17:55.Games in Sochi, where their halfpipe rider beat Shaun White, the Flying

:17:56. > :18:17.Tomato. High jumper Brendon Williams leading

:18:18. > :18:24.in the group from Dominica. One of the Windward Islands. They have a

:18:25. > :18:29.parrot on-the-fly, shy and often fly in groups no larger than three,

:18:30. > :18:35.unlike their team, who have 11 competitors here tonight. They have

:18:36. > :18:39.appeared in the last four Games, but there was a very long gap, a quarter

:18:40. > :18:55.of a century, when they did not appear. But they have made the 16

:18:56. > :18:58.years. Well, one of the stars of the games, Kirani James, a man

:18:59. > :19:05.mountain, he won world championship gold in 2011, he won at the Olympic

:19:06. > :19:11.Games, could not follow it up at the World Championships, and they want

:19:12. > :19:15.him to win Grenada's first ever Commonwealth gold. The last I needed

:19:16. > :19:28.so well, there was a national holiday. He is called the Jaguar. --

:19:29. > :19:33.the last time he did so well. Warren Weir, one of the favourites for gold

:19:34. > :19:38.in Glasgow. It will be interesting to see what he manages to do,

:19:39. > :19:42.Hazel. Interesting to see whether Usain Bolt will make an appearance,

:19:43. > :19:46.because he is not going to come in and run until the last night of the

:19:47. > :19:52.athletics. He is only going to do the sprint relay, as indeed will

:19:53. > :19:55.Jamaica's other huge star, golden girl Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Usain

:19:56. > :20:04.Bolt has never actually Julius Morris leading his friends

:20:05. > :20:18.Please welcome Montserrat! Julius Morris leading his friends

:20:19. > :20:25.from Montserrat, one of the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean.

:20:26. > :20:29.The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, the Irish among the first European

:20:30. > :20:32.settlers to arrive, still the only country outside Ireland which

:20:33. > :20:49.celebrates St One medal, a gold, in seven previous

:20:50. > :20:53.Games, won by former 100 metres champion Kim Collins, who has sadly

:20:54. > :20:54.not sorted out his difference with the Federation

:20:55. > :21:01.not sorted out his difference with here. The team includes a brother

:21:02. > :21:02.and sister, and they form the first ever table tennis team from St Kitts

:21:03. > :21:18.and Nevis, our best wishes go to ever table tennis team from St Kitts

:21:19. > :21:24.them. Please welcome St Lucia! St Lucia will host the Commonwealth

:21:25. > :21:32.Youth Games in 2017. They are being leading this evening by Alexander.

:21:33. > :21:44.Beautiful costumes for the parade, and a touch of the plaid on that. An

:21:45. > :21:45.island of volcanic mountains, they are competing in netball for the

:21:46. > :22:02.very first time. St Vincent and the Grenadines, their

:22:03. > :22:09.flag has three diamonds in the centre, representing them as the

:22:10. > :22:14.gems of the Antilles. The national dish, they tell me, is roasted

:22:15. > :22:19.breadfruit and fish. We would probably call that a breadfruit

:22:20. > :22:29.suburb. Please welcome Trinidad and do they go! -- supper. In the

:22:30. > :22:31.absence of Usain Bolt in the individual is Prince, Richard

:22:32. > :22:41.Thomson is the outstanding sprinter might he could be their star man. --

:22:42. > :22:45.in the individual sprint. He had a lighthouse named after him after

:22:46. > :22:50.London. The flag is in very good hands with that man. They also have

:22:51. > :22:55.the reigning Olympic 400 metres hurdles champion, the man that Dai

:22:56. > :23:19.Greene of Wales needs to catch to defend his title here.

:23:20. > :23:29.Interesting, because the Turks and take us islands, a British overseas

:23:30. > :23:35.territory, they did have a kind of referendum on independence back in

:23:36. > :23:38.1982. The policy was reversed, still in the Commonwealth, so these

:23:39. > :23:50.islands, the southern tip of the Bahamas chain. They are so named

:23:51. > :23:52.because they take their name from a cactus that was said to resemble

:23:53. > :24:33.behead gear of Turkish men. Hello to everyone out there! I am

:24:34. > :24:41.here to introduce you to a very special girl named Michaela, all the

:24:42. > :24:48.way from Glasgow. She is here to see Unicef putting children first. We

:24:49. > :24:51.all want the very best for our children, regardless of our

:24:52. > :24:54.situation. I know that children have to play, but some don't get that

:24:55. > :25:08.chance, just because they are disabled. Are you going to take me

:25:09. > :25:13.on a date? Oh, Mick! Ronaldo has a severe visual impairment. He is not

:25:14. > :25:18.allowed past these gates, so this is the world right there. He needs some

:25:19. > :25:23.work to express themselves and be a child, and he has not got a chance

:25:24. > :25:31.to do that. But tonight we have the power to change children's lives.

:25:32. > :25:37.Every child should have a safe place to play, no matter what their

:25:38. > :25:45.ability. Ronaldo just has this mile that lights up the whole world. --

:25:46. > :25:49.this smile. It was so awesome to see the children having so much fun, but

:25:50. > :25:54.it can't stop here. Too many children need the chance to play, so

:25:55. > :25:57.come on, people, let's put children first! One more thing, please

:25:58. > :26:13.welcome the Americas! Please welcome... So we are getting

:26:14. > :26:21.ready for the Americas, the Little Scottie is doing very well so far,

:26:22. > :26:27.one or two being carried. Katie Seeley is an Ipswich Harrier but has

:26:28. > :26:35.eligibility through Belize because her father was born there. She is

:26:36. > :26:41.going for it at the front. They have also got a triathlete, known as

:26:42. > :26:46.Bob. In Belize, all the roads are dirt road, the only tarmac is the

:26:47. > :26:50.strip, which she get access to to train in the week hours of the

:26:51. > :26:59.morning. Good luck to him tomorrow in the triathlon. -- the wee hours.

:27:00. > :27:04.Representing the 70,000 people of the Mueller. Talking about

:27:05. > :27:11.referendums, there was a referendum on independence that was defeated,

:27:12. > :27:17.it remains a territory of the UK. -- Bermuda. Another prosperous place,

:27:18. > :27:23.finance to the fore. Winter or summer, rain or shine, they always

:27:24. > :27:27.marched in the Bermuda shorts. Capital of Hamilton, the town of the

:27:28. > :27:34.same name ten miles south-east of Glasgow, just opposite Strathclyde

:27:35. > :27:45.Park where the triathlon will be taking place tomorrow. Please

:27:46. > :27:50.welcome Canada! Well, the Canadians, a member of the Commonwealth of

:27:51. > :27:54.nations back in 1931 under the Statute of Westminster, the second

:27:55. > :27:59.biggest country in the world, with the vast expanses of wilderness in

:28:00. > :28:03.its northern areas. A really big pillar of the Commonwealth, and a

:28:04. > :28:12.massive welcome in Glasgow. Definitely, it is where the Games

:28:13. > :28:16.began in Hamilton, Ontario in 1930. A seven time world champion right at

:28:17. > :28:22.the front, six time Olympian, proudly carrying the maple leaf. As

:28:23. > :28:30.we see Mark Beaumont arriving at Celtic Park with the baton. One of

:28:31. > :28:34.Canada's real stars, expected to be Briannae Theisen Eaton in the

:28:35. > :28:37.heptathlon. She was expected to challenge Katarina Johnson-Thompson

:28:38. > :28:39.of England for the gold medal, but sadly she has had to pull out, so we

:28:40. > :29:02.won't get the showdown we wanted. , one in, the Falkland Islands --

:29:03. > :29:09.come on in! And here we have one of the scuddys, a bit tired, being

:29:10. > :29:15.carried. The team features three members of the same family, the dad,

:29:16. > :29:23.carried. The team features three a veteran of Delhi, competing

:29:24. > :29:29.alongside his son. His mother manages the squad. A family affair.

:29:30. > :29:31.Gerald is 76, they moved to Auckland in 1958, and he has lived there ever

:29:32. > :29:45.since. Guyana, the only Commonwealth

:29:46. > :30:05.country on the South American continent, bordering cera nam,

:30:06. > :30:14.Brazil and Venezuela. -- Surinam. It is great to see the smiles here

:30:15. > :30:19.at Celtic Park. Totally joyous. Simon Henry, given the honour, he is

:30:20. > :30:27.one of the shooters, leading in St Helena. It has a population of just

:30:28. > :30:32.under 8000. We have some very big countries and some of the world's

:30:33. > :30:37.smallest countries. And this is one of the world's most remote

:30:38. > :30:43.participants. They are 1000 miles off the coast of Angola in Africa.

:30:44. > :30:53.They are only reachable by a five-day crossing to Cape Town by

:30:54. > :30:59.boat. The RMS Saint millionaire -- Saint Alina, one of

:31:00. > :31:06.boat. The RMS Saint millionaire -- ships built here in Scotland. The

:31:07. > :31:08.RMS St Helena ships built here in Scotland. The

:31:09. > :31:36.Napoleon Bonaparte's day! I am Colin Jackson. It is my honour

:31:37. > :31:38.to meet this lady who dedicates her life to babies who

:31:39. > :31:44.to meet this lady who dedicates her danger because they are born to

:31:45. > :31:50.early. We worry about our children from the

:31:51. > :31:55.minute they are born. They mean the world to us. But unfortunately,

:31:56. > :32:02.these babies are born dangerously small and have the toughest start in

:32:03. > :32:09.life. Unicef gives us guidance. It is research based and hopefully, we

:32:10. > :32:20.will be able to implement that. Skin on skin treatment is wonderful. It

:32:21. > :32:26.does make a difference and we actually do see on the monitors, the

:32:27. > :32:33.increased oxygen levels. It is brilliant. Tonight, you can make

:32:34. > :32:37.sure every child everywhere get the best start in life. I have seen the

:32:38. > :32:41.stories from all over the Commonwealth. I am a dad and grandad

:32:42. > :32:48.and there is one thing I know the shore, we want the for our children.

:32:49. > :32:53.It does not matter where you are watching in the world right now. We

:32:54. > :32:58.all want our children to be safe and have the best start in life. As an

:32:59. > :33:02.athlete, you train hard and dedicate yourself to coming first. But as you

:33:03. > :33:06.have heard a few times already, tonight, we have a unique

:33:07. > :33:10.opportunity to come together as a Commonwealth family to help put our

:33:11. > :33:14.children first and we will show you how to do that shortly. But before

:33:15. > :33:30.then, we will head back to the stadium because there is just one

:33:31. > :33:36.more region to greet. Ladies and gentlemen, please give a fantastic

:33:37. > :33:41.Glasgow welcome to Europe! Colin Jackson just reminding us that this

:33:42. > :33:46.unique fundraising opportunity will be coming up shortly. It is an

:33:47. > :33:50.initiative being carried by the Commonwealth broadcasters. A big

:33:51. > :33:59.welcome for Cyprus. A favourite holiday destination for the UK. They

:34:00. > :34:08.have won 20 Commonwealth medals, most of them in shooting. Their flag

:34:09. > :34:18.bearer has had a wonderful track record in these games.

:34:19. > :34:27.The host country of the Manchester Commonwealth Games, please welcome,

:34:28. > :34:34.England! Celtic Park cheering loudly for

:34:35. > :34:44.England. Our friends and many colleagues from England, a very warm

:34:45. > :34:49.welcome to them. It is three times squash world champion Nick Matthew

:34:50. > :34:54.who leads them out. He nearly was not in Glasgow at all. He had knee

:34:55. > :35:02.surgery last month so it is terrific to see him here. They have got a

:35:03. > :35:05.mighty team. Some familiar names from London 2012. Gold medallist

:35:06. > :35:11.like Mo Farah, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Laura Trott, Alistair and Jonny

:35:12. > :35:16.Brownlee, David Weir, Greg Rutherford, the list goes on and on.

:35:17. > :35:23.They have some very big ambitions here. They topped the medal table

:35:24. > :35:28.six times, the last time was in Scotland in Edinburgh in 1986. Did

:35:29. > :35:36.we mention Bradley Wiggins? We mentioned Bradley! He is in action

:35:37. > :35:42.tomorrow. We have the triathlon with Alistair and Jonny Brownlee. They

:35:43. > :35:52.will race at Strathclyde Park tomorrow from 11 o'clock. Sir

:35:53. > :35:54.Bradley will be back on the track for the first time since Beijing

:35:55. > :36:14.doing the team pursuit. The 15th Commonwealth Games for

:36:15. > :36:19.Gibraltar. Perhaps the success may come from one family, dad Wayne,

:36:20. > :36:23.daughter Natalie and the other daughter Stephanie, they are all

:36:24. > :36:32.competing in the rifle shooting. They are led by the track fleet --

:36:33. > :36:37.triathlete Chris Walker. It has been a big year for Gibraltar. They made

:36:38. > :36:44.history with their first but Ball win in June. -- their first football

:36:45. > :37:00.win. Guernsey which also embraces the

:37:01. > :37:11.islands of old Sark and Hearn. Christensen is now in the top 20 in

:37:12. > :37:23.the world rankings. Their bailiwick has had success in 2012. There is a

:37:24. > :37:28.bold postbox on Sark which the people are rightly proud of. -- a

:37:29. > :37:33.gold postbox. Now the Isle of Man, technically not

:37:34. > :37:40.part of the United Kingdom Bichyk has been under the British crown

:37:41. > :37:47.since 1765. A lovely touch of tartan. That is a nice touch. The

:37:48. > :37:54.largest ever team from the Isle of Man. Sadly, one of their chief

:37:55. > :37:58.participants, they hoped for gold, Mark Cavendish, alt after the crash

:37:59. > :38:01.in Yorkshire on the opening day of the Tour de France. But good luck to

:38:02. > :38:21.all of the Manx men and women here. Jersey, another dependency of the

:38:22. > :38:27.British crown. Showing allegiance to the sovereign but technically not

:38:28. > :38:32.part of the United Kingdom. Steve Le Couilliard leads them out. He

:38:33. > :38:39.carried the flag in the 1986 opening ceremony as well. These are his six

:38:40. > :38:46.games. Tom Daley brought the baton ashore.

:38:47. > :38:55.High hopes that the island's badminton team. They are trained by

:38:56. > :39:05.Olympic silver medallist Nathan Robertson.

:39:06. > :39:18.The Mediterranean island of Malta. It remained in the Commonwealth and

:39:19. > :39:26.got its independence back in 1964. The Maltese contingent are being led

:39:27. > :39:31.by Kevin Moore, a 200 metre runner. We should say hello to the people of

:39:32. > :40:15.Gozo and Camino who tend to get overlooked.

:40:16. > :40:24.Please welcome Northern Ireland. Another of the home nations being

:40:25. > :40:31.given a rousing welcome here in Glasgow. Martyn Irvine leading the

:40:32. > :40:38.way. It has been a great week for Northern Ireland. Rory McIlroy has

:40:39. > :40:45.won the Claret jug. It is a short journey to south-west Scotland. Ten

:40:46. > :40:51.medals in Delhi. Their boxes where the stars of the show, topping the

:40:52. > :40:56.table. Paddy Barnes will come back to defend his light flyweight title.

:40:57. > :40:57.He has also got to defend his light flyweight title. He has also got two

:40:58. > :41:02.Olympic bronzes. flyweight title. He has also got two

:41:03. > :41:06.Olympic Meanwhile, the incredible David Calvert makes his 10th

:41:07. > :41:12.appearance. He is Northern Ireland's most decorated competitor

:41:13. > :41:18.as a shooter. I feel this is a good moment, Hazel,

:41:19. > :41:23.I really do. I know there is a big moment to come to you but I am

:41:24. > :41:30.feeling good about Welsh prospects. Am I allowed to feel that? I think

:41:31. > :41:35.you can, yes. They have 230 athletes. It is rhythmic gymnast

:41:36. > :41:45.Frankie Jones who will be leading them out. It is her third and final

:41:46. > :41:47.Commonwealth Games. Among we will be watching, Jazz Carlin in the

:41:48. > :41:48.swimming pool, Jemma Lowe in the swimming pool. And in the hurdles,

:41:49. > :41:52.swimming pool, Jemma Lowe in the Dai Greene. He has had his problems

:41:53. > :41:56.but it is fingers crossed that he can go well in that. Certainly, I am

:41:57. > :42:00.wishing them the best luck in can go well in that. Certainly, I am

:42:01. > :42:03.world. They will make Wales proud, I am very sure. Talking of home

:42:04. > :42:07.nations, Hazel, there am very sure. Talking of home

:42:08. > :42:21.come, of course. Apparently so! A real sense of excitement, a real

:42:22. > :42:33.sense of eggs in Britain's here and a real sense that the games are

:42:34. > :42:38.getting off to a great start. There is a real energy from the crowd here

:42:39. > :42:44.at Celtic Park. -- a real sense of excitement.

:42:45. > :42:54.A lovely little tinge of tartan. A nice touch from our Welsh friends.

:42:55. > :42:58.They have made an effort, but it is red tartan. It would

:42:59. > :43:07.They have made an effort, but it is else. Wait until you see the tarts

:43:08. > :43:11.and that is about to come. -- wait until you see the tartan that is

:43:12. > :43:24.about to come. The red dragon that is swirling

:43:25. > :43:29.around this enormous scene and a sense of what is to come. The people

:43:30. > :43:34.hosting this great event are ready to welcome the people who are

:43:35. > :43:40.competing on their behalf. There has not been a home team on home soil

:43:41. > :44:01.since Edinburgh 1986. And here they come.

:44:02. > :44:16.They are making sure they have the stage all to themselves.

:44:17. > :44:22.Lots of work going on to make shawl of those thousands of chairs are in

:44:23. > :44:46.place that the athletes ready for the official opening of the games.

:44:47. > :44:55.We can see them in a corner of Celtic Park, the team just lining

:44:56. > :45:04.up. They are poised! We are under starter's orders, Huw.

:45:05. > :45:18.Such magnificent images of Celtic Park!

:45:19. > :45:27.Celtic, I believe, their home at 66 days ago, they played a Champions

:45:28. > :45:28.League qualifier at Murrayfield. Please welcome the host nation,

:45:29. > :45:51.Scotland! And it is Move Any Mountain blasting

:45:52. > :45:56.out inside Celtic Park, an Aberdeen band, the largest ever Scotland team

:45:57. > :46:05.at the Commonwealth Games will feel they can do exactly that. Carrying

:46:06. > :46:11.the salt air, judo player Euan Burton, he has been to two Olympic

:46:12. > :46:23.Games, this is his first Commonwealth Games. -- saltire. The

:46:24. > :46:28.largest ever team, 310 athletes for Team Scotland, 21 have appeared at

:46:29. > :46:35.the Olympics and Paralympics, including Craig MacLean, Amy

:46:36. > :46:40.McGlynn. And of course Michael Jamieson in the swimming pool, he

:46:41. > :46:51.will be watching this head of his event tomorrow. He is the poster boy

:46:52. > :46:58.for the Scottish team, the poster girl is a league child, who has a

:46:59. > :47:13.race on her hands against Kelly Spencer of Jamaica. -- a Eilidh

:47:14. > :47:19.Child. The designer said her brief was to be high on impact and come up

:47:20. > :47:24.with a real statement. I love the way they have come in, clearly taken

:47:25. > :47:31.aback by the warmth, the rousing nature of the applause. Yes, of

:47:32. > :47:41.course they are the home nation but to walk into this is quite

:47:42. > :47:46.something. It is. And egging them on, as if they need to! Well, they

:47:47. > :47:52.are geed up already, and amongst the other Scottish hopes, in gymnastics,

:47:53. > :47:58.Daniel Keatings, Dan Purvis, global metals with Team GB, but they go

:47:59. > :48:02.their separate ways in the Hydro, a fantastic rivalry between them and

:48:03. > :48:09.their England colleagues, Louis Smith, Max Whitmore, one of the real

:48:10. > :48:13.highlights, the essence of the Commonwealth Games. I love the sense

:48:14. > :48:17.of pride, because it is not just about the great city of Glasgow, and

:48:18. > :48:21.it has already been a great start. It is about Scotland, the nation,

:48:22. > :48:25.what it tells the world, and really what it sees as its place in the

:48:26. > :48:29.world, and that is a very big moment.

:48:30. > :48:37., well a best ever target of 1986 when the home team won 33 medals,

:48:38. > :48:46.and the ambition is to better that this time, Huw. There's gold in

:48:47. > :48:54.total for Scotland was 11 in Melbourne. -- best. I wonder how

:48:55. > :48:59.close they might get this time. And in this 310 strong team, the oldest

:49:00. > :49:04.competitor is 58, the youngest is 13, Scotland's youngest ever

:49:05. > :49:26.Commonwealth Games athlete. One of the lovely features of this

:49:27. > :49:31.ceremony tonight has been the fact that, of course, we are now seeing,

:49:32. > :49:36.quite rightly, the biggest welcome of all for the Scottish competitors,

:49:37. > :49:42.but the crowd here has been just as generous all along, for nation is

:49:43. > :49:46.big and small. I think that has been a really good reflection of the

:49:47. > :49:51.spirit of the crowd and the spirit of the people here. They want these

:49:52. > :50:00.Games DBC not just as the town down friendly games, but as

:50:01. > :50:07.overwhelmingly welcoming as well. -- they want these games to BC. It is

:50:08. > :50:13.not just about the hosts, it is about everyone else. It is reaching

:50:14. > :50:18.out on a grand scale. And it will be doing that in a pioneering way,

:50:19. > :50:22.because the fundraising initiative that is going to happen is something

:50:23. > :50:28.that we have not seen before in a ceremony like this. It is very much

:50:29. > :50:31.a Glasgow initiative. It is not a broadcaster's initiative, although

:50:32. > :50:35.all the broadcasters are carrying it. It is certainly a trial, and it

:50:36. > :50:47.will be interesting to see what they make of it.

:50:48. > :50:55.The quote from Robert burns. Ladies and gentlemen, the most talented

:50:56. > :50:59.athletes of the 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth.

:51:00. > :51:04.They have trained so hard and for so long to compete here in Glasgow over

:51:05. > :51:06.the next ten days, so let's hear it for the athletes of the 20th

:51:07. > :51:22.Commonwealth Games! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome

:51:23. > :51:26.back to the stage one of the most iconic voices in rock music, the

:51:27. > :51:29.incomparable Rod Stewart. So the athletes are there, they can't stop

:51:30. > :51:34.them now! # As I hollered out

:51:35. > :51:58.an old blues tune # It's your hair and your

:51:59. > :52:10.nose and your clothes # So proud, so proud

:52:11. > :52:40.in the crowd # Well, it was rough

:52:41. > :52:44.and it was tough # I'm gonna make you proud

:52:45. > :53:39.in the crowd # It's my turn to stand out

:53:40. > :54:46.in the crowd # It's my turn to stand out

:54:47. > :55:27.in the crowd The song sums up the hopes of the

:55:28. > :55:34.athletes tonight, the world is waiting, do yourselves proud. Ladies

:55:35. > :55:44.and gentlemen, please welcome our amazing Glaswegian Advent --

:55:45. > :55:49.adventure is James McAvoy and Sir Chris Hoy.

:55:50. > :55:55.On behalf of every athlete here tonight,

:55:56. > :56:10.I have never been prouder to be one of your sons, you are amazing! Now,

:56:11. > :56:15.although from tomorrow all of these inspiring guys around us will be

:56:16. > :56:19.competing against each other, tonight as athletes they want us all

:56:20. > :56:24.to unite behind a single cause, to help raise money for vulnerable

:56:25. > :56:31.children across the Commonwealth, to put children first. Because today

:56:32. > :56:35.18,000 children will die from preventable diseases. 18,000 lives

:56:36. > :56:41.lost, millions more will not have the chance to go to school, and that

:56:42. > :56:45.is wrong. So tonight we can help change that. Tonight every single

:56:46. > :56:50.one of us has the chance to save a child's life. All we need to do is

:56:51. > :56:53.each give a small donation to help by vaccinations, to help buy

:56:54. > :56:59.mosquito nets, to help children have a fair chance in life. This has

:57:00. > :57:03.never been done before. This many people in a single moment, all

:57:04. > :57:07.coming together to make a life-saving difference to millions

:57:08. > :57:13.of children. So wherever you are in the world, right now, this is your

:57:14. > :57:16.chance to do it, and this is how you do it. Just follow the instructions

:57:17. > :57:22.that are up on the screen to donate by text or online. They are on

:57:23. > :57:28.screen yet? Glasgow, you are the most generally

:57:29. > :58:08.city, get your phones out! Right, that is mine sent! Now, I

:58:09. > :58:13.have seen myself just how far a little can go, so wherever you are

:58:14. > :58:17.in the world right now, please join this moment and let's make history

:58:18. > :58:23.together. Every penny you can donate will go to Unicef's Children of the

:58:24. > :58:26.Commonwealth Fund. In the films you have seen tonight you have met many

:58:27. > :58:34.extraordinary children, and I think we should let one of them have the

:58:35. > :58:38.last world. Listen to what Jenica has to say, pick up your phone or go

:58:39. > :58:47.online, put children first. Thank you.

:58:48. > :58:57.Without children, we have no-one. We wouldn't have any doctors, lawyers,

:58:58. > :59:03.nurses or teachers. So don't destroy the children's ability to become

:59:04. > :59:26.whatever they want. Tonight we are putting the children first.

:59:27. > :01:25.That was over 2000 young friends who sent their voices from 80 countries

:01:26. > :01:29.to form a virtual youth choir for this special occasion with thanks to

:01:30. > :02:00.the National Youth Choir of Scotland.

:02:01. > :02:03.International Space Station. We are from the European space agency.

:02:04. > :02:05.International Space Station. We are are thrilled to be part of such a

:02:06. > :02:11.special evening, when people from all over our special planet can show

:02:12. > :02:17.us what humans can do when they come together. From up here, 260 miles

:02:18. > :02:20.us what humans can do when they come above the Earth, we just see one

:02:21. > :02:27.single planet, the place we all share, our home in the universe. We

:02:28. > :03:37.Please welcome Nicola Benedetti. Games. Have a great night, Glasgow.

:03:38. > :04:09.Nicola Benedetti, originally West Kilbride, near Glasgow. She is

:04:10. > :04:20.now playing a Stradivarius violin, playing a song which has been sung

:04:21. > :04:24.for 170 years, Loch Lomond. Carrying

:04:25. > :04:24.for 170 years, Loch Lomond. representing Asia, from Malaysia,

:04:25. > :04:28.seven times women's squash representing Asia, from Malaysia,

:04:29. > :04:43.champion, Nicol David. Representing Oceania, from

:04:44. > :04:48.Australia, world champion, world record holder and four times

:04:49. > :04:58.Commonwealth Games medallist Ian Thorpe. The most decorated

:04:59. > :05:09.Commonwealth. Representing North America, from

:05:10. > :05:13.Canada, Chantal Petitclerc. Representing Africa, from Kenya,

:05:14. > :05:20.double Olympic champion, world record holder and Commonwealth Games

:05:21. > :05:28.gold medallist, Kip Keino. A trailblazer for Kenyan athletics.

:05:29. > :05:35.From Jamaica, representing the Caribbeans, multiple world champion

:05:36. > :05:42.sprinter, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. About as quick off the mark as they

:05:43. > :05:46.come! And representing Europe, from Scotland, judo world champion and

:05:47. > :06:01.Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Graeme Randall.

:06:02. > :06:05.Ladies and gentlemen, joining Nicola tonight, the boys and girls of the

:06:06. > :08:51.Big Noise Orchestra. CHEERING

:08:52. > :08:58.A tune we all know that seldom can it have been played so beautifully.

:08:59. > :09:06.Ladies and gentlemen, it is Billy Connolly. Hello, everybody. Do you

:09:07. > :09:17.know, this is the first time we have been together as a Commonwealth

:09:18. > :09:21.family since Nelson Mandela died. Back in 1981, when he was in prison,

:09:22. > :09:27.Glasgow awarded him the Freedom of the City. It was a big deal. A few

:09:28. > :09:32.years later, Glasgow did it again. There is a street here which used to

:09:33. > :09:38.be called St George's place. In 1986, the city renamed it Nelson

:09:39. > :09:49.Mandela Place. That does not sound much to rename a street but this

:09:50. > :09:52.name change really mattered because the South Africa consul general was

:09:53. > :09:54.based in that street. So now the address had to contain the name of

:09:55. > :09:58.the country's most famous political prisoner. I love that! In 1993,

:09:59. > :10:05.Nelson Mandela walked free. He came here on a rainy day to St George's

:10:06. > :10:10.Square and at last he was able to accept the Freedom of the City which

:10:11. > :10:20.had been awarded 12 years earlier. Is city 6000 miles away, and as

:10:21. > :10:26.renowned as Glasgow, refused to accept the legitimacy of the

:10:27. > :10:31.apartheid system, and declared us to be free. That day makes me feel very

:10:32. > :10:37.proud. Imagine what Nelson Mandela would think of us all here tonight,

:10:38. > :10:40.all colours side-by-side, everybody saying the same thing in different

:10:41. > :10:46.languages, a quality is for all of us, freedom is for all of us. Here

:10:47. > :10:51.is a song which started as a tune Commonwealth soldiers had going into

:10:52. > :10:55.battle in World War I. It was taken by a poet and turned into a song

:10:56. > :10:57.about war and the start of freedom. Hamish Henderson wrote these words

:10:58. > :11:21.for Scots but the message Everyone. Now, from South Africa,

:11:22. > :11:28.please give a warm welcome to Pumeza.

:11:29. > :11:31.# Roch the wind in the clear day's dawnin

:11:32. > :11:34.# Blaws the cloods heilster-gowdie owre the bay

:11:35. > :11:57.# But there's mair nor a roch wind blawin

:11:58. > :12:02.# Tak the road an seek ither loanins

:12:03. > :12:09.# Wi thair ill-ploys tae sport an play

:12:10. > :12:21.# Merch tae war when oor braggarts crousely craw

:12:22. > :12:26.# Nor wee weans frae pitheid an clachan

:12:27. > :12:32.# Mourn the ships sailin doun the Broomielaw

:12:33. > :12:37.# Broken faimlies in lands we've hairriet

:12:38. > :12:43.# Will curse Scotlan the Brave nae mair, nae mair

:12:44. > :12:48.# Black an white ane-til-ither mairriet

:12:49. > :13:04.# Mak the vile barracks o thair maisters bare

:13:05. > :13:25.# Will find breid, barley-bree an paintit room

:13:26. > :13:30.# When Maclean meets wi's friens in Springburn

:13:31. > :13:37.# Aa thae roses an geans will turn tae blume

:13:38. > :14:22.# Dings the fell gallows o the burghers doun. #

:14:23. > :14:29.Heading to the song is personal. It contains a reference to the town

:14:30. > :14:36.where she grew up. of our record-breaking shooters

:14:37. > :14:41.from 2010. And Victor Keelan -

:14:42. > :14:43.wrestling technical official. Three people representing all

:14:44. > :14:45.the coaches, athletes and officials They will take an oath

:14:46. > :14:51.on their behalf. We will take part

:14:52. > :14:53.in these Commonwealth Games We will respect and honour

:14:54. > :15:00.the rules of our sports that the values of our Commonwealth

:15:01. > :15:12.are ideals in which we all believe. Our shared humanity ?

:15:13. > :15:16.the respect we give each other. Our shared equality ? the level

:15:17. > :15:23.playing field on which we compete. or to remember how we tried our best

:15:24. > :15:58.to win and left our mark here. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome

:15:59. > :16:03.the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, his Royal Highness

:16:04. > :16:10.Prince Imran, the leader of Glasgow City Council, Gordon Matheson, and

:16:11. > :16:13.paying respect to those who lost their lives on Malaysia Airlines

:16:14. > :16:29.flight MH17, the First Minister of Scotland.

:16:30. > :16:36.In a few minutes' time, we will hear the words of Prince Imran as he

:16:37. > :16:42.introduces Her Majesty the Queen as head of the Commonwealth to open our

:16:43. > :16:47.Games. He is not only President of the Games Federation, he is a Prince

:16:48. > :16:54.of Malaysia, a nation which has been touched by a great tragedy in recent

:16:55. > :17:01.weeks. In last week's disaster, 43 Malaysians died, almost one third of

:17:02. > :17:05.the 298 victims were citizens of the Commonwealth. 193 came from our

:17:06. > :17:10.European neighbours in the Netherlands, who observe their own

:17:11. > :17:14.time of mourning today. Please rise, please stand as we observe a

:17:15. > :17:21.moment's silence to express our support and, above all, our

:17:22. > :17:22.solidarity with the loved ones of people of every nationality who lost

:17:23. > :18:13.their lives. Thank you for that demonstration of

:18:14. > :18:23.respect, ladies and gentlemen APPLAUSE

:18:24. > :18:29.It is Scotland's honour to present the stage and a setting for the 11

:18:30. > :18:35.days of celebration of sport and culture which are our Commonwealth

:18:36. > :18:39.Games, and this night, threw their support for Unicef, this city and

:18:40. > :18:42.this country has demonstrated its beating heart, because the

:18:43. > :18:48.Commonwealth Games belong to us all. So from the people of Scotland,

:18:49. > :18:53.let's affirm the most important message of all - welcome to the

:18:54. > :18:59.Commonwealth of nations, welcome to Scotland!

:19:00. > :19:18.Your Majesty, your Royal Highnesses.

:19:19. > :19:24.Most distinguished guests, fellow citizens of the Commonwealth.

:19:25. > :19:35.welcome to the 20th Commonwealth Games.

:19:36. > :19:51.As your host, we've been looking forward to this moment.

:19:52. > :19:55.While you've been training and qualifying,

:19:56. > :20:06.the people of Glasgow have been getting ready to welcome you.

:20:07. > :20:09.Everything is in place so that you can perform at you best

:20:10. > :20:13.Everything is in place so that you can perform at your best

:20:14. > :20:21.and have the time of your life in this beautiful and friendly city.

:20:22. > :20:35.The people of Glasgow are deeply grateful to the Commonwealth family,

:20:36. > :20:40.the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee,

:20:41. > :20:45.and all our partners and friends who have worked with us.

:20:46. > :20:52.And we are delighted and honoured that Her Majesty the Queen

:20:53. > :21:00.and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh are present.

:21:01. > :21:17.Here in this stadium and in front of television screens

:21:18. > :21:24.across the city and throughout the world.

:21:25. > :21:59.And as for the Games, bring it on! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

:22:00. > :22:06.distinguished guests, athletes and officials,

:22:07. > :22:12.people of Scotland, citizens of the Commonwealth.

:22:13. > :22:18.In just a few moments, the 20th Commonwealth Games will begin.

:22:19. > :22:22.This is the culmination of a long journey

:22:23. > :22:29.dedicate their hearts, passion and energy to win

:22:30. > :22:35.and then deliver a Games that the Commonwealth will be proud of.

:22:36. > :22:39.I know very well the challenges that must be overcome

:22:40. > :22:49.So my sincere thanks and respect to the entire team

:22:50. > :22:57.for bringing these Games to fruition.

:22:58. > :22:59.The Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee,

:23:00. > :23:13.and, of course, the wonderful people of Scotland.

:23:14. > :23:26.Here we are, united once again as a Commonwealth family.

:23:27. > :23:32.Of you proud athletes, I ask that you strive to be role models

:23:33. > :23:39.for the youth of the Commonwealth by competing with honour.

:23:40. > :23:46.Wherever you are watching in the world right now,

:23:47. > :23:56.These are values symbolised by our great tradition

:23:57. > :24:05.The Queen's Baton has been on a spectacular journey through

:24:06. > :24:12.every nation, territory, island and region of the Commonwealth.

:24:13. > :24:17.Just one baton, carrying one message,

:24:18. > :24:24.but touched by thousands and witnessed by millions.

:24:25. > :24:31.The baton symbolises the call to our unique family of nations

:24:32. > :24:41.I now have the honour to ask Her Majesty the Queen

:24:42. > :24:50.to read her message to the Commonwealth

:24:51. > :24:56.and then formally declare open the 20th Commonwealth Games.

:24:57. > :25:22.And now, bringing the baton home tonight, someone you met earlier

:25:23. > :25:26.this evening, a special Unicef friend and a young lady who spoke so

:25:27. > :25:31.movingly on behalf of children everywhere. She has travelled

:25:32. > :25:34.Jamaica to be with us tonight. Please welcome Jenica.

:25:35. > :26:04.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Carrying the baton now, inspiring

:26:05. > :26:08.volunteers from across Scotland who give their time to help develop our

:26:09. > :26:22.youth through sport. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

:26:23. > :26:26.HAZEL: Volunteers from the Commonwealth Games commission,

:26:27. > :26:55.volunteers from Glasgow sports. All the while, the music of Julian

:26:56. > :27:01.Fowler as from the Outer Hebrides. You will know her voice from a

:27:02. > :27:21.starring role in the Disney film Brave. -- Julie Fowlis.

:27:22. > :27:34.She is singing Smeorach, song thrush, the land of poets, the

:27:35. > :27:49.hospitable, generous land of plenty. And the baton approaching the end of

:27:50. > :27:59.its epic journey, 190,000 kilometres in 288 days.

:28:00. > :28:09.HUW: Very soon, among this group, we will see the most prominent, iconic

:28:10. > :28:11.athlete in Scotland, the man who inspired him as a boy, helped him on

:28:12. > :28:24.his journey. There they are. Please welcome simply the most

:28:25. > :28:29.successful British Olympian of all time, Sir Chris Hoy.

:28:30. > :28:39.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE And to present the Queen... He

:28:40. > :28:49.receives it from his 97-year-old great uncle.

:28:50. > :29:33.Having handed over the baton, Sir Chris Hoy strides up the stairs.

:29:34. > :29:38.The baton safely delivered after such a long journey. The message

:29:39. > :29:50.will be revealed. It is a tricky device, they say!

:29:51. > :29:54.Prince Imran is demonstrating that fact!

:29:55. > :30:42.Success at last! Thanks to Sir Chris Hoy.

:30:43. > :30:52.At Buckingham Palace last October, I placed this message in the special

:30:53. > :30:59.crafted baton, and passed it to the first of many thousands of baton

:31:00. > :31:06.bearers. Over the past 288 days, the baton has visited all the nations

:31:07. > :31:14.and territories of the Commonwealth, crossing every continent of a

:31:15. > :31:19.journey of more than 100,000 miles. The baton relay represents a calling

:31:20. > :31:25.together of people from every part of the Commonwealth, and serves as a

:31:26. > :31:36.reminder of our shared ideals and ambitions, as a diverse, resourceful

:31:37. > :31:43.and cohesive family. And now that baton has arrived here in Glasgow, a

:31:44. > :31:47.city renowned for its dynamic, cultural and sporting achievements.

:31:48. > :31:56.And for the warmth of its people, for this opening ceremony of the

:31:57. > :32:02.Friendly Games. TU, the Commonwealth athletes, I sent my good wishes for

:32:03. > :32:06.success in your endeavours. Your accomplishments over the coming

:32:07. > :32:14.days, will encourage us all to strengthen the bonds which unite us.

:32:15. > :32:19.You remind asked that young people, those under 25 years of age, make up

:32:20. > :32:28.half of our Commonwealth citizens. And it is to you that we entrust

:32:29. > :32:32.your values and future. I offer my sincere thanks to the many

:32:33. > :32:39.organisations and volunteers, who have worked diligently to bring

:32:40. > :32:50.these games to fruition. APPLAUSE

:32:51. > :32:58.And indeed to the spectators here in the stadium, and to the millions

:32:59. > :33:09.watching on television. CHEERING

:33:10. > :33:13.Together, you all play a part in strengthening our friendships in

:33:14. > :33:20.this modern and vibrant Association of nations.

:33:21. > :33:25.It now gives me the greatest pleasure to declare the 20th

:33:26. > :33:35.Commonwealth Games opened. CHEERING

:33:36. > :33:41.So the celebrations begin, the games are open. Her Majesty the Queen

:33:42. > :33:48.reading the message to the Commonwealth that she placed in that

:33:49. > :33:53.baton to 288 days ago. She declares the games open. A rousing applause

:33:54. > :33:58.in Celtic Park. Just a message to all of you trying to donate by text

:33:59. > :34:04.to the Unicef Commonwealth fund, as you can imagine, there is enormous

:34:05. > :34:09.pressure on the system. If you get a delay in receiving a confirmation,

:34:10. > :34:13.let me assure you, that your donation will still count. Don't

:34:14. > :34:18.text again unless you want to double or treble your donation. If you have

:34:19. > :34:33.done it once, it will count. It is just a matter of pressure. Just an

:34:34. > :34:36.explanation if you were wondering what is going on.

:34:37. > :34:37.The party goes on here at Celtic Park. It is the Glasgow band Primal

:34:38. > :34:50.Scream who are performing now. There are fireworks at Pacific he

:34:51. > :35:32.and all over the city. of Wellington. There he is at the

:35:33. > :35:37.centre of the stadium. He sits on top of his horse Copenhagen. He

:35:38. > :35:43.always has a rough it: On his head. top of his horse Copenhagen. He

:35:44. > :35:43.He is seldom without it in the last 30 years.

:35:44. > :35:56.He is seldom without it in the last Glasgow humour. You are never

:35:57. > :35:58.to take yourself too seriously here. -- he always has a fixed: On his

:35:59. > :36:04.head. That was the

:36:05. > :36:13.in Glasgow by Glaswegians with That was the

:36:14. > :36:18.help from people from the Commonwealth. It was warm and

:36:19. > :36:22.welcoming, with great energy and spirit, with a unique ambition

:36:23. > :36:29.running through it, asking us to share our Commonwealth and do

:36:30. > :36:34.something great. Yes, people were right to say, you cannot expect the

:36:35. > :36:40.opening ceremony of 2012, of course you could not. Glasgow has done it

:36:41. > :36:46.its own way. Scotland has done it its own way with lots of colour,

:36:47. > :36:50.energy, humour and spirit. Good luck to everyone taking part and we look

:36:51. > :37:29.forward to a wonderful Games. opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2014

:37:30. > :37:39.Commonwealth Games. Now it is time to get ready for ten days of sport.

:37:40. > :37:43.Be difficult to open opening ceremony. With me on stage are Daley

:37:44. > :37:52.Thompson and Allan Wells. The baton was owed difficult to open at times.

:37:53. > :37:57.To see those athletes go there smiling and dancing, no matter what

:37:58. > :38:03.happens, Scotland has already won. It was brilliant. A wonderful

:38:04. > :38:07.atmosphere. You must be proud? I am proud to be Scottish. They did say

:38:08. > :38:11.it would be the biggest thing ever to be shown in Scotland. They have

:38:12. > :38:19.proved it tonight. Everything have come together and it has been a

:38:20. > :38:23.great night. It climaxed when the Scotland team walked out. An

:38:24. > :38:28.unbelievable atmosphere? Definitely. It has been a phenomenal

:38:29. > :38:34.atmosphere. Very exciting. And now it is the start of the games. The

:38:35. > :38:41.start of the games and we look forward to some sport, Daley? I am

:38:42. > :38:46.so looking forward to it. What are you looking forward to mainly? I am

:38:47. > :38:50.looking forward to the cycling and the rugby and of course, the

:38:51. > :38:57.athletics. What would you say to the athletes? I would just say, try not

:38:58. > :38:59.to think of it as being any different from any other day, and

:39:00. > :39:06.hopefully that will keep you relaxed. Can I just say a little

:39:07. > :39:10.something about the opening ceremony, we saw those little

:39:11. > :39:16.Scottish girls. They were fantastic. I thought the Scottish dog which

:39:17. > :39:22.went out in front of the Scottish team was the size of a pony!

:39:23. > :39:27.Tomorrow is day one of competition and here are some highlights for

:39:28. > :39:33.you. The two individual triathlon titles will be decided, along with

:39:34. > :39:35.four Golds in track cycling. Will Sir Bradley Wiggins take gold in the

:39:36. > :39:53.soap Chris Hoy velodrome? The coverage starts tomorrow at nine

:39:54. > :40:04.o'clock. We are on air on BBC One and BBC Three. Don't forget, all the

:40:05. > :40:12.action can be accessed on the BBC Four website. There are 15 sports

:40:13. > :40:21.available at any time. -- on the BBC sport website. You will not miss a

:40:22. > :40:26.thing. 11 days of sport now await. The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

:40:27. > :40:30.are now officially open. Thank you for your company. We are on air at

:40:31. > :41:10.nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Let the sport begin. Good night!

:41:11. > :41:13.I just feel like my whole body's been taken over by an alien.

:41:14. > :41:18.I just feel like my whole body's been taken over by an alien.

:41:19. > :41:23.She's my age. She's four years younger than you, Mum,

:41:24. > :41:29.Nine of 'em made redundant. What?

:41:30. > :41:32.How long were you going to leave it before you told me?

:41:33. > :41:36.I thought I'd get another job. I was a successful businesswoman