:00:00. > :00:00.they will be some sunshine in between a band of heavy and thundery
:00:00. > :00:00.showers and it will be notably fresher
:00:00. > :00:08.Good evening and welcome to Wales Today live from Glasgow.
:00:09. > :00:12.The Commonwealth Games are almost upon us.
:00:13. > :00:16.Despite the growing list of withdrawals and negative
:00:17. > :00:21.headlines, the boss of Team Wales has defended preparations.
:00:22. > :00:27.With the opening ceremony just hours away, the team captain says
:00:28. > :00:41.I'm still focusing on Monday. When we are happy on our performance,
:00:42. > :00:49.then we can let our hair down. Judges throw out an appeal
:00:50. > :00:54.by paedophile rock singer Ian Watkins to reduce the length of his
:00:55. > :01:00.jail term for child sex offences. Fresh calls for this council
:01:01. > :01:06.boss to be suspended. Police investigate
:01:07. > :01:09.for a second time after he received They're selling
:01:10. > :01:17.their camping pods at the Royal Welsh Show, but poor broadband
:01:18. > :01:22.makes it hard for businesses to And today has been the hottest
:01:23. > :01:27.day of the year so far in Wales. Welcome to Wales Today live
:01:28. > :01:35.from Glasgow on the banks The start of the Commonwealth Games
:01:36. > :01:38.is only a few hours away. This city is planning
:01:39. > :01:41.a big party here tonight, It's fair to say, it's not been
:01:42. > :01:45.the best preparation to the games The build-up has been dominated with
:01:46. > :01:49.news of leading medal hopes pulling out with injury or having
:01:50. > :01:51.their accreditation removed. And just as it looked
:01:52. > :01:54.a line had been drawn, today another Welsh medal hope has spoken for
:01:55. > :01:57.the first time about her devastation Ashleigh Crowter on a turbulent
:01:58. > :02:34.24 hours for Team Wales. The bosses of team Wales have had
:02:35. > :02:38.not so good last 24 hours. The decision by the Commonwealth games
:02:39. > :02:43.Federation to X lewd Fred Evans because of a recent conviction for
:02:44. > :02:48.assaulting someone at a lap dancing club is another blow to a team which
:02:49. > :02:58.has lost five high-profile athletes with medal contention. Team Wales
:02:59. > :03:01.worked hard behind this seems in a bid to get him reinstated but
:03:02. > :03:05.privately they are angry with the way the case has been dealt with by
:03:06. > :03:10.the Commonwealth Games Federation as they feel the rules are being
:03:11. > :03:16.applied differently here. Two English boxers have been allowed to
:03:17. > :03:21.compete at previous games despite a criminal record. One won gold in
:03:22. > :03:24.Delhi and Anthony Joshua became Olympic champion in London one year
:03:25. > :03:30.after pleading guilty to drug dealing. I want to look at this
:03:31. > :03:36.process and whether it has been fair and proper. We can only do that
:03:37. > :03:41.after the games because we had to concentrate on those who are here.
:03:42. > :03:48.Another boxer who has fallen foul of new ruse -- new rules was told
:03:49. > :03:52.earlier this month she is not eligible. The organisation that runs
:03:53. > :03:56.International amateur boxing decided she cannot take part because she
:03:57. > :04:02.competed previously as a professional pick boxer. But she
:04:03. > :04:07.denies that. She has told Greg a macro that the Wales amateur boxing
:04:08. > :04:13.Association should have done more to help her -- she told Wales Today.
:04:14. > :04:27.Why couldn't they have done their job full up she has done everything
:04:28. > :04:33.she could. She was let down really by officials who should have
:04:34. > :04:37.protected her. The board says they are disappointed but there is
:04:38. > :04:44.nothing they can to about the decision. For world champions have
:04:45. > :04:52.now pulled out in the last six weeks. The first was world triathlon
:04:53. > :04:55.who was favourite to win a medal on the first day of competition until
:04:56. > :04:59.she injured her foot. She will watch on the sidelines and feels sympathy
:05:00. > :05:09.for the people running Mac team Wales. We are looked after by our
:05:10. > :05:21.governing bodies and Mac team Wales is not to blame -- Team Wales. It is
:05:22. > :05:25.just unfortunate. As thousands fled into Glasgow for tonight 's opening
:05:26. > :05:29.ceremony, the bosses are hoping it will draw a line under their recent
:05:30. > :05:34.problems and shift the focus from missing athletes to winning medals.
:05:35. > :05:36.Well, Team Wales are currently preparing to take part
:05:37. > :05:40.Let's get more reaction now - live to Tomos Dafydd,
:05:41. > :05:56.After years of planning, we are just hours away from the opening ceremony
:05:57. > :05:59.-- the 20th Commonwealth games. I want to pick up on some of the
:06:00. > :06:06.points made there in that report with the man at the helm of Mac team
:06:07. > :06:11.Wales. Good evening. It is fair to say it hasn't been an easy week for
:06:12. > :06:18.you. Could you have done anything different league to avoid the
:06:19. > :06:24.controversy surrounding Fred Evans? No, most of this has been outside of
:06:25. > :06:28.our control. We feel so sorry for Fred and his coaches and family. We
:06:29. > :06:34.wanted him here but we weren't allowed. With tried our hardest. It
:06:35. > :06:40.has a track did some negative headlines. With hindsight, would it
:06:41. > :06:51.have been better to have sorted this out weeks ago? I couldn't agree with
:06:52. > :06:56.you more. Again, it is out of our control. It is not as timing the
:06:57. > :07:00.release of information to the individual concerned so we have done
:07:01. > :07:06.our best to try and get Fred here. We have 231 other athletes a stones
:07:07. > :07:10.throw away trying to get ready to come here and represent Wales to the
:07:11. > :07:18.best of their ability and they are so proud. We had to focus our energy
:07:19. > :07:26.nine on those 231. Where will the first medal comfort for Wales? Do
:07:27. > :07:31.you want to go down the bookies? We have chances early on. We have
:07:32. > :07:35.clearly lost hot favourites in triathlon but we have power cyclists
:07:36. > :07:39.going and the rhythmic gymnast team going on the first day as well.
:07:40. > :07:44.There may be some chance is there and there are another ten days of
:07:45. > :07:50.fierce competition. Thank you. Much more run here. We are just more than
:07:51. > :07:56.two hours away from the start of the Commonwealth Games.
:07:57. > :08:04.As he was saying, the competition starts tomorrow. After the hours and
:08:05. > :08:09.years of training, this is what it comes down to. Come back and join us
:08:10. > :08:13.later. We will hear from the Wales team captain and we will catch up
:08:14. > :08:20.with a veteran weightlifter competing in her third games.
:08:21. > :08:22.Three Appeal Court judges have thrown out an attempt by the former
:08:23. > :08:25.Lost Prophets singer, Ian Watkins, against his sentence for a string of
:08:26. > :08:28.sex offences against children. Watkins was sentenced to 29 years in
:08:29. > :08:30.prison last year. One of his co-defendants also appealed against
:08:31. > :08:32.her jail term. Rhodri Lewis was in court.
:08:33. > :08:44.Ian Watkins was jailed last November after admitting 13 child sex
:08:45. > :08:46.offences including the attempted rape of a baby.
:08:47. > :08:49.The former singer with the Lost Prophets was sentenced to
:08:50. > :08:52.a total of 29 years in prison and a further six on licence for
:08:53. > :08:55.a case which the trial judge said "plunged new depths of depravity".
:08:56. > :08:58.Today, neither he nor one of his codefendants, who was jailed for
:08:59. > :09:01.17 years, were in court as their lawyers asked three Appeal Court
:09:02. > :09:04.Watkins was sentenced to 15 years for two offences and 14
:09:05. > :09:07.for another two, which his counsel said was too much.
:09:08. > :09:09.But the judges disagreed and decided the punishments were appropriate.
:09:10. > :09:11.Today's decision confirms the earlier sentences.
:09:12. > :09:14.That means Watkins will now have to serve at least 16 years
:09:15. > :09:30.and 10 months in jail before he can be considered for release.
:09:31. > :09:42.The sentence should have been less for both of them.
:09:43. > :09:49.But the judges decided the punishments were appropriate. These
:09:50. > :09:56.were, in our view, offences against infant children of such shocking
:09:57. > :10:03.depravity that a very lengthy sentence of imprisonment was
:10:04. > :10:10.demanded. Notwithstanding the absence of physical injury. Today's
:10:11. > :10:14.decision confirms the earlier sentences. He will serve at least 16
:10:15. > :10:38.years and ten months in jail before considered for release.
:10:39. > :10:41.A football club in Powys has pleaded guilty to
:10:42. > :10:43.breaching health and safety legislation after a 12-year-old boy
:10:44. > :10:47.Casey Breese from Caersws had been playing with friends when
:10:48. > :10:50.The club admitted responsibility for the posts,
:10:51. > :11:03.A statement was read out on behalf of Casey Breese's family.
:11:04. > :11:14.The change of plea represents an admittance of their involvement.
:11:15. > :11:22.They are happy with the outcome of this case. Using KC has been a
:11:23. > :11:29.terrible blow for the whole family. -- losing KC.
:11:30. > :11:31.Plans for a giant solar park with 180,000 panels
:11:32. > :11:33.are being recommended for approval by Flintshire councillors.
:11:34. > :11:36.The 270-acre site has been earmarked for agricultural land next to
:11:37. > :11:37.Deeside Industrial Estate - objectors say
:11:38. > :11:41.The firm behind it, Swansea-based Compton Group, says the park could
:11:42. > :11:56.generate enough power for 11,000 homes over its 25-year lifespan.
:11:57. > :12:04.The Labour MPs said she may stand for the next election after all. She
:12:05. > :12:10.says she is now weighing up our options after being contacted eyes
:12:11. > :12:14.constituents asking her to stay on. Labours intention to use an all
:12:15. > :12:15.woman short list to choose her successor has been strongly opposed
:12:16. > :12:22.by the local party. There are fresh calls
:12:23. > :12:24.for the chief executive of Pembrokeshire Council to be
:12:25. > :12:26.suspended after police confirmed a new investigation has been
:12:27. > :12:28.launched into payments he received Earlier this year, the Wales Audit
:12:29. > :12:32.Office found the payments made to Bryn Parry Jones and another
:12:33. > :12:35.senior officer were unlawful. The first police inquiry found no
:12:36. > :12:50.evidence of criminal offences but This is the man at the centre of
:12:51. > :12:59.this controversy. The chief executive of books are council --
:13:00. > :13:05.Pembrokeshire Council. Back in January, the audit office found that
:13:06. > :13:08.payments made instead of pension contributions were unlawful. Four
:13:09. > :13:13.months later, a police investigation concluded there was no evidence to
:13:14. > :13:18.suggest any criminal offence took place. Last week, the local
:13:19. > :13:22.authority decided not to take any further action to try and reclaim
:13:23. > :13:29.the salary supplements worth more than ?45,000. But in a new twist,
:13:30. > :13:35.fresh information has come to light and a second police investigation is
:13:36. > :13:38.underway. Because of the close working relationship between the
:13:39. > :13:43.council and the police, this one will also be carried out by
:13:44. > :13:47.Gloucestershire Constabulary. It is understood the new information
:13:48. > :13:52.relates to questions over who wrote this confidential document which has
:13:53. > :13:56.been shown to BBC Wales. Written in September 2011, it is a report that
:13:57. > :14:03.recommends that senior staff should be allowed to substitute pension
:14:04. > :14:08.contributions for direct payments will not Bryn Parry Jones, who earns
:14:09. > :14:14.more than ?220,000 a year is facing calls to step aside until the police
:14:15. > :14:17.have completed their work. If any other member of staff was under
:14:18. > :14:23.police investigation they would be suspended. That is not saying it is
:14:24. > :14:28.guilty -- he is guilty. There is an allegation and the police are
:14:29. > :14:34.looking at its only needs to be suspended in the meantime. It would
:14:35. > :14:37.apply to any other member of staff. Pembrokeshire council says it is
:14:38. > :14:41.aware of the new investigation and will co-operate fully. In the
:14:42. > :14:46.meantime, Bryn Parry Jones is still in his post.
:14:47. > :14:49.Poor broadband and the challenges of running a business in rural Wales
:14:50. > :14:55.are being discussed today at the Royal Welsh Show. BT says delivering
:14:56. > :14:57.broad band connections is a massive engineering project and the
:14:58. > :15:02.infrastructure cannot be rolled out overnight.
:15:03. > :15:07.The Royal Welsh Show is a chance for businesses to publish eyes that
:15:08. > :15:11.products to the masses. This camping part company was attracting plenty
:15:12. > :15:16.of interest but they rely on marketing their business online.
:15:17. > :15:23.They often encounter unreliable and slow broad and service. They believe
:15:24. > :15:29.it can cost them vital sales. Della mac broadband is the biggest barrier
:15:30. > :15:35.to developing that brand on social media. We can't quickly upload
:15:36. > :15:42.pictures of the product or whatever it might be. Customers may ask us to
:15:43. > :15:48.e-mail them photos and if we can't, they will look elsewhere. But beat T
:15:49. > :15:54.says more than half of Wales can access high-speed broadband --
:15:55. > :15:59.Beattie. We have been busy since January of last year doing
:16:00. > :16:08.deployment. Sometimes people don't appreciate how big it is. They think
:16:09. > :16:14.somehow broadband can appear like magic overnight but there is a huge
:16:15. > :16:22.amount of engineering in difficult to reach parts of Wales. There are
:16:23. > :16:26.Wi-Fi hotspots like this where people take advantage of a good
:16:27. > :16:34.broadband signal. It is -- it is hoped that Bass -- this will benefit
:16:35. > :16:38.business. Many voiced their concerns at the stations though raised by
:16:39. > :16:46.homes and businesses in rural Wales full. If a station shared by this
:16:47. > :16:52.man who contacted as to tell is that his broadband becomes so slow it
:16:53. > :16:57.stops and drop site and one day it happened over 40 times. Online
:16:58. > :17:01.shopping, you get halfway through and the broadband drops out. You
:17:02. > :17:09.either have to start again wait for it to come back on. You then assume
:17:10. > :17:16.the order has gone through that far and then you carry on. It drives you
:17:17. > :17:21.round the bend. The aim is for large parts of the country to access
:17:22. > :17:26.superfast broad and by 2016 and for many, it can't come quick enough.
:17:27. > :17:32.We are back at the Royal Welsh Show later on. First, back to Glasgow.
:17:33. > :17:37.Thank you. Welcome back. Let's talk sport. They say a team captain
:17:38. > :17:46.should lead from the front and be inspirational. Wales'steam captain
:17:47. > :17:51.is Aled Sion Davies and he always has a smile on his face. Tonight 's
:17:52. > :17:57.opening ceremony will no doubt be emotional, but let me tell you, he
:17:58. > :18:00.is fully focused on winning gold. The 23-year-old who competes on
:18:01. > :18:05.Monday as been talking to Ashleigh Crowter.
:18:06. > :18:10.The day of the opening ceremony is a huge occasion for team Wales but
:18:11. > :18:15.especially the captain. As it is about to begin, how I you feeling?
:18:16. > :18:24.It is crazy how quick it has come around. There is an incredible vibe.
:18:25. > :18:27.Morale is very high and everyone is excited to get underway. From the
:18:28. > :18:34.outside, the preparations seemed to have been beset by if you problems
:18:35. > :18:38.with big-name athletes is withdrawing. Does that have an
:18:39. > :18:45.impact in the village? How do you make sure it doesn't, big bubble?
:18:46. > :18:49.Everyone knows each other, especially the boxes so it will be
:18:50. > :18:56.on their mind but it will not dominate. A lot of these guys have
:18:57. > :19:03.things to prove now. It is great that the medal tally is high and it
:19:04. > :19:06.is right that it is so. At what point does it stop becoming a party
:19:07. > :19:13.and you start thinking about competing? Even tonight is not a
:19:14. > :19:18.party. I will enjoy the opening ceremony with the team and
:19:19. > :19:23.representing Wales but I am focusing on Monday. When I am happy with my
:19:24. > :19:27.performance then maybe I can let my hair down.
:19:28. > :19:32.Good luck to him, just one of our medal hopefuls. They have been
:19:33. > :19:36.really busy on the River Clyde all day. Boats have been up and down
:19:37. > :19:40.checking the fireworks are still in place for top the Commonwealth
:19:41. > :19:46.button will be brought up river this evening on its way to the opening
:19:47. > :19:54.ceremony. -- the Commonwealth button. Things are getting bit.ly.
:19:55. > :20:00.Have you seen any Welsh flags? I have seen one so far. Things are
:20:01. > :20:05.picking up here. You may be able to hear some of the performers
:20:06. > :20:10.rehearsing for their big moment on stage here at the opening ceremony.
:20:11. > :20:14.Let me introduce you to some Scottish terriers who will have an
:20:15. > :20:21.important role in escorting each nation out into the stadium. Earlier
:20:22. > :20:27.on I also saw Susan Boyle who will be performing. Soon, the real
:20:28. > :20:28.business of winning medals will begin and I have been taking a look
:20:29. > :20:46.at some of our medal hopefuls. She has already won in Glasgow
:20:47. > :20:51.recording the fastest time in the world this year. Can Jazz Carlin
:20:52. > :21:00.become the first woman to win gold in the pool for Wales since 1974?
:21:01. > :21:18.You can't miss him. Six and size 17 shoes. The big man is competing at
:21:19. > :21:24.his first Commonwealth games. She has had success in the pool and now
:21:25. > :21:30.Rhiannon is swapping swimming for cycling. Tomorrow she will compete
:21:31. > :21:32.here at the velodrome and could become wales'sfirst medallist at
:21:33. > :21:40.these games. It is the biggest team Wales has ever sent, winning 27
:21:41. > :21:42.males -- medals is the target. Now, officials have admitted it could be
:21:43. > :21:54.a stretch. Ready to defend his 400 metres
:21:55. > :22:04.hurdle, will he be able to win gold again? And then there is Geraint
:22:05. > :22:08.Thomas. He knows how to win on the biggest stage and days after
:22:09. > :22:16.finishing the Tour de France, he will aim for glory on the road.
:22:17. > :22:27.Let us talk to the weightlifter now joins me now, Michaela Breeze. You
:22:28. > :22:31.have experienced many ceremonies. For the athletes, what can they
:22:32. > :22:37.expect? It will be a phenomenal experience. For athletes in their
:22:38. > :22:42.first ever opening ceremony, the noise and spectacle will be
:22:43. > :22:46.phenomenal and electric. Flashes of cameras and the pure noise and
:22:47. > :22:50.volume of the people will stop this will mark the start of the games and
:22:51. > :22:54.we are all very excited and I hope people back home will be. Jazz
:22:55. > :23:00.Carlin is competing tomorrow and will not be here tonight. Can this
:23:01. > :23:07.sort of thing be a distraction? Absolutely. For those competing
:23:08. > :23:10.tomorrow or the day after, it is a big decision to make. It is tiring
:23:11. > :23:15.but the village is just behind as though it is not far to walk. For
:23:16. > :23:21.the first time I have ever experienced, you can come in, parade
:23:22. > :23:25.around and go back out. The athletes who don't want to hang around have
:23:26. > :23:32.that option for the first time. We wish you well. Thank you. Not long
:23:33. > :23:36.to go now. The ceremony kicks off at nine o'clock this evening and I, for
:23:37. > :23:42.one, cannot wait. Thank you. We are set and just a
:23:43. > :23:48.reminder that we will be here every day bringing you an update of how
:23:49. > :23:55.Wales are doing. Just a reminder, 27 was the ambitious league games
:23:56. > :24:00.target but Team Wales, despite the withdrawal, are still confident on
:24:01. > :24:06.doing well. Our first medals could be one tomorrow in the pool.
:24:07. > :24:11.Tomorrow night, Jazz Carlin goes in her least favourite event, the 200
:24:12. > :24:17.metres, but she is using it as a warm up for the 400 and 800 metres.
:24:18. > :24:20.Rhiannon Henry goes in the tandems went and the rhythmic team
:24:21. > :24:28.gymnastics get underway. What a start! The opening ceremony is live
:24:29. > :24:34.on BBC One Wales from eight o'clock tonight. That is all from us here
:24:35. > :24:35.for now. We will see you tomorrow. Let is get the weather forecast back
:24:36. > :24:44.home now. Welcome to the Llanelwedd.
:24:45. > :24:48.Another very warm day here. The hottest day of the show so far.
:24:49. > :24:58.Thankfully with a breeze which has given some relief from the heat.
:24:59. > :25:06.It is the biggest day of the Royal Welsh Show. The cops have been
:25:07. > :25:11.entertaining the crowd in the main ring. The winner of the George
:25:12. > :25:19.Prince of Wales cup was a senior mayor from... Congratulations! Today
:25:20. > :25:27.has been the hottest day of the year so far, 30 Celsius just down the
:25:28. > :25:32.road in Powys. There is plenty more hot weather to come if you are
:25:33. > :25:40.coming to the show tomorrow. It will be dry and sunny.
:25:41. > :25:53.This evening, fine for most of us. Maybe one or type -- one or two
:25:54. > :26:00.showers possible. A warm night with lowest temperatures down to 14
:26:01. > :26:02.Celsius. High pressure over Scandinavia tomorrow which will
:26:03. > :26:11.bring us more fine and hot weather. A repeat performance tomorrow. Dry,
:26:12. > :26:15.lots more strong sunshine with a view clouds as temperatures rise.
:26:16. > :26:19.Many places will stage drive. The small chance of a shower in the
:26:20. > :26:22.south later in the afternoon but you will be unlucky to catch one.
:26:23. > :26:37.Temperatures soaring again. Tomorrow night will be dry and
:26:38. > :26:44.mainly clear. Friday promises to be another dry, sunny and very warm day
:26:45. > :26:49.with temperatures into the meat to high 20s Celsius. It is looking warm
:26:50. > :26:54.up for the Tom Jones concert. More clout likely on Saturday but apart
:26:55. > :26:59.from the odd shower it will remain dry. Temperatures will drop by a few
:27:00. > :27:05.degrees at the weekend but staying warm. It looks like there is more
:27:06. > :27:12.fine and warm weather to come next week. There we are! A lovely day
:27:13. > :27:13.here at the Royal Welsh Show for carbs day and it will be just as hot
:27:14. > :27:24.tomorrow. The headlines: Judges have thrown
:27:25. > :27:27.out an appeal by the paedophile singer Ian Watkins to reduce the
:27:28. > :27:33.length of his sentence for child offences -- child sexual offences.
:27:34. > :27:35.The judges said they were searched gravity they demanded a lengthy
:27:36. > :27:42.prison sentence. I will have an update for you at
:27:43. > :27:44.eight o'clock and again at 11:25 p.m.. We will leave you with this
:27:45. > :27:48.guideline of Glasgow as