This is the opening day of the XX Commonwealth Games, held in Glasgow, Scotland.
Approximately 4,500 athletes from 71 different nations of the Commonwealth will be competing for 261 medals across 18 sports, making this one of the largest games held to date.
A record 22 para-sport events will be contested in five different sports (athletics, cycling, lawn bowls, swimming and weightlifting) para track cycling will be held for the very first time. Returning to the Commonwealth Games is the Triathlon, Judo and Mountain Biking, while the triathlon mixed relay event, Rugby Sevens, more shooting medal chances for women and women's boxing are among the events that have been added to the programme for the first time.
Athletes will be competing for glory in Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby Sevens, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Weightlifting and Wrestling.
This will be the largest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland, which hosted in the 1970 and 1986 Games in Edinburgh.
The opening ceremony takes place at Celtic Park at 21:00 BST; a live show consisting of 2000 people that organizers promise will "have the people of Glasgow and Scotland take centre-stage, for them to speak and sing and dance for themselves".
Celtic Park has been dramatically transformed for the opening ceremony.
Europe's largest LED screen has been installed, along with a specially-created stage floor covering the entire pitch, including a walkway specifically designed for the athlete's parade. The giant screen, which stands across the whole of the South Stand, is almost 100 metres long, 11 metres high and weighs 38 tonnes.
The screen will show the Queen formally open the Games when she reads out the message that has been hidden inside the baton.
The hand-written message was inserted by Queen, during a ceremony at Buckingham palace, on 9 October last year.
It was then sealed for its journey of more than 190,000 km through Commonwealth territories in Asia, Oceania, Africa, North and South America and the Caribbean.
Along the way it has been carried by thousands of baton bearers, some 4,000 in Scotland alone, amid a carnival atmosphere in cities, towns and villages around the globe.
Events will take place in various locations around Glasgow, including the SECC Hydro arena, the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, Ibrox Stadium, Scotstoun Sports Campus, the Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Kelvingrove Park, Hampden Park, bike trails in the Cathkin Braes and the Tollcross International Swimming Centre. The Royal Commonwealth pool in Edinburgh and the Barry Buddon Shooting Centre in Carnoustie will also be utilised.
Almost a million tickets have been sold for the sporting extravaganza, which will kick off on Thursday with the first full full day of events, including badminton, cycling and swimming.
This is the opening day of the XX Commonwealth Games, held in Glasgow, Scotland.
Approximately 4,500 athletes from 71 different nations of the Commonwealth will be competing for 261 medals across 18 sports, making this one of the largest games held to date.
A record 22 para-sport events will be contested in five different sports (athletics, cycling, lawn bowls, swimming and weightlifting) para track cycling will be held for the very first time. Returning to the Commonwealth Games is the Triathlon, Judo and Mountain Biking, while the triathlon mixed relay event, Rugby Sevens, more shooting medal chances for women and women's boxing are among the events that have been added to the programme for the first time.
Athletes will be competing for glory in Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby Sevens, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Weightlifting and Wrestling.
This will be the largest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland, which hosted in the 1970 and 1986 Games in Edinburgh.
The opening ceremony takes place at Celtic Park at 21:00 BST; a live show consisting of 2000 people that organizers promise will "have the people of Glasgow and Scotland take centre-stage, for them to speak and sing and dance for themselves".
Celtic Park has been dramatically transformed for the opening ceremony.
Europe's largest LED screen has been installed, along with a specially-created stage floor covering the entire pitch, including a walkway specifically designed for the athlete's parade. The giant screen, which stands across the whole of the South Stand, is almost 100 metres long, 11 metres high and weighs 38 tonnes.
The screen will show the Queen formally open the Games when she reads out the message that has been hidden inside the baton.
The hand-written message was inserted by Queen, during a ceremony at Buckingham palace, on 9 October last year.
It was then sealed for its journey of more than 190,000 km through Commonwealth territories in Asia, Oceania, Africa, North and South America and the Caribbean.
Along the way it has been carried by thousands of baton bearers, some 4,000 in Scotland alone, amid a carnival atmosphere in cities, towns and villages around the globe.
Events will take place in various locations around Glasgow, including the SECC Hydro arena, the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, Ibrox Stadium, Scotstoun Sports Campus, the Emirates Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Kelvingrove Park, Hampden Park, bike trails in the Cathkin Braes and the Tollcross International Swimming Centre. The Royal Commonwealth pool in Edinburgh and the Barry Buddon Shooting Centre in Carnoustie will also be utilised.
Almost a million tickets have been sold for the sporting extravaganza, which will kick off on Thursday with the first full full day of events, including badminton, cycling and swimming.
Here is a handy schedule
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Let Glasgow Flourish!