“It is now my great pleasure to declare the 23rd Commonwealth Games open.”
King Charles has officially launched the Glasgow Commonwealth Games at an opening ceremony reflecting the “re-imagined” nature of the event, after arriving in Dr Who’s Tardis.
The multi-sport spectacular that has bounced from one host city to another due to financial concerns has settled at the Scottish city, which staged the Games only 12 years ago.
“Glasgow didn’t ask, ‘Can we?'” said organising committee chair George Black. “We asked, ‘When do we get started?’
“The Commonwealth Games matter and the world deserves to see them.”
For the first time, the opening ceremony was held indoors at the OVO Hydro, with limited seating capacity, but managed to capture the understated nature of a Games that has seen its schedule slashed to fit the occasion.
Weightlifter David Liti carried the NZ flag into the auditorium, with judoka Moira de Villiers bearing the relay baton designed by each team and planted around the stage.
“Tonight, every flag is equal,” declared Commonwealth Sport president Dr Ronald Rukare. “This is not just competition, but connection.”
And you can see how it unfoloded in our blog: