The opening ceremony for what is sure to be one of the two biggest sports event this summer kicked off last Wednesday in Celtic Park, Glasgow with an array of displays of Scottish cultural icons, very much like the 2012 London Olympics opening. An estimate of 40,000 spectators were present for the event.
The ceremony commenced at 7.30 pm with a group of performers led by singer Amy MacDonald, who showed the lovely lads and lassies in the audience multiple reasons why “It’s great to be Scottish” , and of course, welcoming the competitors to the land of kilts and Haggis. And yes – they were all dressed in tartan! The lively musical piece was crawling with Scottish accents,bagpipes, and most entertainingly, John Barrowman clad in a purple tartan number on top of a truck with the sign “Gretna Green”(Joan Rivers will have a blast with this one).
India was the first of the 71 competing countries to make an apperance in the stadium as one by one, all were introduced. Each country was accompanied by traditional music and clothing. You really cannot help the goosebumps on your arms as you hear the word “MALTA” being called out amidst the cheers of foreigners and seeing your flag being paraded around the grounds by Kevin Moore. Feel free to step aside and feel patriotic up until the 3rd of August when the games close.
The iconic Rod Stewart serenaded the crowd in a silver suit, performing his 1991 single “Rhythm of the Heart”. The superstar took the stage for a second time towards the end of the ceremony to perform “Can’t Stop Me Now”. Scotland-born Susan Boyle wowed the audience with her rendition of “Mull of Kintrye”, which was accompanied by a flyover by the Red Arrows. Sorry Les Mis fans, no I Dreamed a Dream for the games.
The ceremony was brought to an end by the baton being brought to its temporary home by Jamaican born Jennica Sterling and Scottish volontary workers who dedicate their time to help young people through sport. Sir Chris Hoy, dubbed the most successful British Olimpian of all time, was the final holder of the baton before Her Majesty herself. The Queen was close to improvising her speech seeing as the scroll on which her message was written just refused to budge out of the baton. Joys of live TV, am I right? Good thing the Head of Commonwealth has a good sense of humour. Queen Elizabeth could not have chosen a more suitable final sentence to her speech : “It now gives me the greatest pleasure, to declare the 20th Commonwealth Games…Open”. How original.
