Commonwealth Games 2026: opening ceremony in Glasgow – live | Commonwealth Games 2026 - FPSHUB

Key events

Falklands come next – they’re taking part in the bowls – then Guyana – in black armbands after last week’s ferry disaster, and the remote St Helena.

Sprinting hotbed Bahamas are in first and I do enjoy their cyan hoodies, BAHAMAS on the front in bright yellow. Then it’s Belize, Bermuda and Canada, whose swimimng sensation, Summer McIntosh, isn’t competing though we’re told she is.

Each nation are handing over a decorated baton to be planted in the Saltire garden, which is a nice thing, and now it’s time for the Americas.

South Africa are in rugby shirts, not sure about that one, then Tanzania in a coilarless tracky top. But get a load of Togo, yellow, green red and white vertical stripes, lovely stuff, before Uganda and Zambia complete the African contingent.

Updated at 21.24 CEST

Now Rwanda, another of the newer members, followed by Seychelles, of whose flag I’m a big fan, then Sierra Leone, of whose royal blue hoodies they’ll be elated to know I approve.

Photograph: Steve Allen Travel Photography/AlamyShare

Bucket hats, summer shirts and and shorts for Namibia, then Nigeira in that gorgeous shade of green.

How many words rhyme with Mozambique? Bob wanted to find out.

Gosh, Malawi have gone for red blazers and black trousers, not unlike my niece and nephew’s school uniform, quickly redeemed by Mauritius’ summer shirts.

Kenya are in bright red trackies, while Lesotho are into the spirit of things with tartan flat caps – though I’m not sure why the blue of their jackets doesn’t match the blue of their trooser.

Any excuse: in dance Ghana, so here’s a playlist of Ghanaian tunes.

First Botswana, then national dress from Cameron and varsity jackets from Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, before a four athlete-strong delegation from recent joiners, Gabon.

Now, though, it’s time for the athletes, 74 nations’ worth, starting with those from Africa. I’m hoping for some banging trackies.

Anyhow, the royals sit with Andy Burnham, prime minister apparently, and it’s anthem time.

So much so, this was the second piece I ever wrote for the Guardian.

And here we go, Hoy leading the King and Queen out of the tardis and into a garden trimmed into a Saltire. If you’re asking me for my Scottish icon, though – and we’ll see plenty tonight – there’s only one.

Photograph: PAShare

Ah, it’s a Dr Who-themed thing, searching for the King and Queen at Balmoral.

It’s almost time, and here’s Chris Hoy introducing things with a skit. It’s great to see him enjoying hissel.

Admittedly I’ve been fasting since last evening – it’s what Jews call Tisha B’Av – but all this talk of Glasgow has me chaleshing for a deep fried Mars bar. A deep fried anything, really, I’m not fussy, but I’d take a Mars all day long.

It’s not just athletics, though. I’m really looking forward to the netball, which should be an Olympic sport but isn’t, and also the swimming. We’re missing Summer McIntosh, but we’ve got Chad le Clos, looking to break the Commonwealth medals record, and Mollie O’Callaghan – among others,

What a race that mile is going to be.

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Those of us who grew up with Steve Cram and his three world records in 19 days love the mile.

I can’t wait for this race.

This is so cool.

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We’ve had some bad news today: Katarina Johnson-Thompson has withdrawn from the Games with injury, while Dina Asher-Smith and Matt Hudson-Smith are also out. We were already missing Keely Hodgkinson, Oblique Seville, Letsile Tebogo, Collen Kebinatshipi and Julien Alfred.

Updated at 20.49 CEST

Preamble

Few cities in the world boast an identity a well-defined as Glasgow, its character defined by a love of storytelling and celebration, kindness and aggression, wit and resilience, related with a glorious poetic profanity. And if, to that, we add an international sporting event in need of a boost, we have the perfect combination and the perfect tonic now we’re bereft of Wimbledon, World Cup and the golfing majors. You might not think we need this, but I promise you: we need this.

It wasn’t actually meant to be such. Originally, the Games were to take place in Victoria, Australia but, as costs spiralled, the state government pulled out, then so too did Gold Coast, Queensland, the initial replacement.

So it’s off to Glesga we go, for a scaled-back affair featuring 10 not 19 events, para sport and able-bodied sport fully integrated into an intense week-and-a-bit of sensation and nourishment, joy and despair – and it all begins roundabout now.

Updated at 20.19 CEST