Glasgow all set for Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games kick off tonight in Glasgow and the city along with 4,500 athletes from 18 different sports are ready for action.

The 20th Commonwealth Games will kick off at Celtic Park in Glasgow with Scottish crooner, Rod Stewart set to get the party started.

The Queen’s baton has been travelling up and down the country for the last six weeks and four years after India hosted the Games, over a billion people worldwide are expected to watch 12 days of dazzling competition.

Edinburgh last hosted this magnificent event in Scotland in 1970 and 1986 but now’s the time for Glasgow and they’re promising to host the greatest of all time.

First up though is the ceremony from 9pm on Wednesday night.

Organisers have kept details close to their chest but have promised it will speak to the rest of the Commonwealth about shared values with a distinctly Glaswegian accent.

The Games are set to cost £563million, about £200m more than initial estimates – but with over 1.1million tickets sold, the city appears fit to party.

Commonwealth Games Scotland chairman Michael Cavanagh says: “We have learned from Manchester and particularly London 2012, but we are ready to deliver something spectacular.”

The first Games was in Hamilton, Canada in 1930 with 400 athletes representing 11 countries in six sports.

There will be athletes from 71 nations displaying their athletic ability over the next two weeks, before singer Kylie Minogue closes the games on 3rd August.