Glasgow waves farewell to Commonwealth Games in spectacular style

Delta Goodrem shone on a saltire-shaped stage as Glasgow waved farewell to the Commonwealth Games in spectacular style by the banks of the River Clyde.

As a packed Hydro crowd roared with Scottish rock band Simple Minds and fireworks lit up the River Clyde waterfront, lingering fears were momentarily set aside.

The Commonwealth Games, having been on life support, are alive and kicking.

The Australian athletes were led out by Georgia Baker, who earned flagbearer honours by adding two gold medals in Glasgow to take her record-equalling cycling tally to five.

Glasgow's cut-price "Friendly Games" were inescapably cheerful and run with good humour throughout, even through persistent summer rain, in tribute to a proud city that picked up the pieces when Victoria pulled out.

Eleven days of competition — which produced 171 medals for table-topping Australia — came to a close in a celebration of athletic performances as Glasgow 2026 formally passed the baton to Amdavad 2030.

It came with an unmistakable message from Scotland's gritty cultural hub, its people and the headline act: Don't you forget about me.

Scottish singer-songwriter Sandi Thom, shimmering in a sequined saltire dress, kicked off the closing ceremony with her reworked football anthem Proud to Be from Scotland.

Australian pop princess Delta Goodrem also shone on the saltire-shaped stage, opening with Born To Try and belting out a cover of John Farnham's You're the Voice with Scottish country and folk singer-songwriter Cammy Barnes.

Goodrem's presence was designed as a metaphor for an extension of Scotland's hand of friendship to the country that was originally to have staged the Games.

Australian chef de mission Petria Thomas expressed gratitude to Glasgow for taking on hosting duties after Victoria pulled out.

"The Commonwealth Games is a really critically important event," Thomas said.

"There's nothing that can compare to going into those sort of environments, so to give them the opportunity to do it here in Glasgow has been incredible.

"For so many of our Australian athletes, the Commonwealth Games is their launching pad."

Goodrem's medley led into a "festival of connection" supported by musicians in Highland dress and the appearances of Glasgow-based rapper Bemz and neo-traditional folk band Elephant Sessions.

Scotland's dual gold medallist Melanie Woods — who won the 400m T54 and 1500m T54 races — was handed the David Dixon Award for fair play and contribution to the Games.

Glasgow 2026 organising committee chair George Black hailed the city for putting on an "unforgettable" event.

"Together we have achieved something extraordinary and I am extremely proud of Glasgow," Black said in his address.

The 2030 hosts, Amdavad, also known as Ahmedabad, gave a vision of the celebration to expect in four years' time.

The colourful and extravagant showcase was dubbed "The world is one family", and included performances by Indian artists Rashmika Mandanna and Shankar Mahadevan, amid a cast of about 200 dancers.

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, formally closed the event, thanking athletes for their efforts.

"You have brought the spirit and values of the Commonwealth to life," the Duke said.

"You have inspired us and, hopefully, future generations. You have also demonstrated what unites us."

UK street dance group Diversity lit up the stage, bringing the crowd to its feet and another troupe performed a traditional Gaelic ceilidh with a modern twist.

But local lads Simple Minds had the final say, bringing down the curtain on Glasgow 2026 as fireworks lit up the sky from the Finnieston Crane to Govan Docks.