Commonwealth Games: King Charles III emerges from the Tardis as Glasgow 2026 Games begin
One of the loudest cheers came for the Falkland Islands – recently in the news following Argentina’s victory over England in the World Cup semi-final – and another when the Samoan team appeared and performed the haka in front of dignitaries in the Royal Box.
But there was nothing that compared to the noise that greeted the arrival of the Scotland team, who entered the field last in their white shirts and skirts and had most of the capacity crowd out of their seats.
A large performance of the Loch Ness Monster then appeared, supported by bagpipers and drummers, followed by a stirring rendition of Flower of Scotland.
The next part of the evening featured theater performances billed as “a love letter to Glasgow and the Commonwealth”.
The event kicked off with a performance by Scottish folk and country singer Nathan Evans and dancing under a replica of Glasgow Central Station’s iconic clock.
The saying “Meet me under the clock” is famous around here.
Singer Callum Beattie’s rendition of Baccara’s Yes Sir, I Can Boogie (a 1970s disco tune recently recognized as Scotland’s unofficial anthem) had Scottish athletes dancing on their seats.
Held indoors in front of nearly 10,000 people, it was a more intimate ceremony than when Glasgow last hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014, when a crowd of 40,000 at Celtic Park witnessed the opening of the Games.
After the Australian state of Victoria withdrew from hosting in 2023, there was a point when some thought these Games would not happen. Otherwise, Glasgow soon stepped in.
Given the short preparation, there are eight fewer sports than in 2014 and the venues from 12 years ago have been redesigned.
But Commonwealth Sport president Donald Rukare, wearing a tartan skirt in the colors of his native Uganda, said this edition was made possible thanks to “the extraordinary legacy of 2014 and a city that has once again welcomed us with warm hearts and open arms”.
