Intro:

Her Majesty the Queen officially opened the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland in a ceremony at Celtic Park on Wednesday (23rd July).

Script:

Celtic Park played host to a spectacular opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

It is the third time that Scotland hosts the games, following Edinburgh in 1970 and 1986.

And Scotland made sure to put on a show worthy of the audience as around 1 billion people tuned in to watch the ceremony across the Commonwealth.

The content, much like the London Olympics opening ceremony of two years ago was kept largely secret.

Organisers promised uniquely Scottish themes and were true to their word with the ceremony featuring music, dance, tartan and even the Loch Ness monster.

Delegations paraded through the packed stadium, the Malaysian officials and athletes all wore black armbands before a minute's silence was held to remember the victims of MH17.

The biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for the 310 athletes of the host nation with Sir Chris Hoy, former track cyclist, acting as the final baton bearer.

The baton, which travelled across the 71 Commonwealth territories had a hand-written message inserted in it by the Head of the Commonwealth and Her Majesty the Queen at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace last October.

The Queen read out her message before declaring the games officially open.

SOUNDBITE (English): Her Majesty the Queen:

"It now gives me the greatest pleasure to declare the 20th Commonwealth Games open"