Glasgow 2014: Commonwealth Games begin at Celtic Park

The 2014 Commonwealth Games being held in Glasgow, Scotland was declared open this evening by Her Majesty the Queen at Celtic park. This is the largest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland with around 4,560 athletes from 71 different nations and territories competing in 17 different sports in 11 days of competition, beginning on Thursday 25 July 2014.

The opening ceremony also featured a fund raising appeal in partnership with UNICEF to give aid to children from the Commonwealth nations. Continue...

Events inside the stadium were shown to the assembled guests and crowd on Europe's largest LED screen.

The giant display, which stands across the whole of the stadium's South Stand, is almost 100 metres long, 11 metres high and weighs 38 tonnes.

Star Wars actor Ewan McGregor opened proceedings with a pre-recorded video message, before Glaswegian comedian Karen Dunbar struck up an elaborate song and dance number celebrating Scotland, accompanied by Torchwood star John Barrowman.

The routine welcomed visitors from across the Commonwealth to Glasgow and included larger-than-life representations of famous Scots inventions, landmarks, cultural heroes and Scottish history.

Rod Stewart was joined on stage by Bishopbriggs singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald alongside hundreds of ordinary Glasgow citizens to perform a version of his classic song Rhythm of My Heart.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond paid tribute to the victims of the crashed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, leading a silence before welcoming the participating nations to the Games in English and Gaelic.

The sentiments were echoed by Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson and the Commonwealth Games Federation president Prince Imran of Malaysia, who both encouraged and promoted a spirit of competitiveness and friendship.

Temperatures in Glasgow earlier reached 25 degrees C, officially the hottest day in Scotland this year. See more pictures below.

The closing ceremony will take place at Hampden Park on the south side of the city, which has been transformed into an athletics venue, on 3 August