The XX Commonwealth Games have begun in Glasgow, Scotland, after the opening ceremony kicked off the competition at Celtic Park on Wednesday.
Rod Stewart and Susan Boyle headlined the ceremony, which included a giant kilt, Scottish dancing, an inflatable Loch Ness Monster, and other delights.
Sir Chris Hoy of Scotland, the most successful Olympian in British history, presented the Commonwealth Games baton to Queen Elizabeth II, who declared the competition officially open.
But not before an awkward moment hijacked the proceedings, as Commonwealth Games Federation President Prince Tunku Imran couldn’t take the cap off of the baton, which contained the parchment that Queen Elizabeth II was going to read for her speech.
Hoy came to the rescue, and between the two men, the cap was removed, but not before cameras caught a stern Royal Majesty looking very unamused.
Legendary Canadian para-athlete and Canada’s chef de mission Chantal Petitclerc helped carry the Commonwealth Games flag into the stadium.
The ceremony kicked off with a lighthearted romp centred around the many inventions Scotland has given the world, including the telephone, which at least one other country also can lay claim to.
Source: CBC sports