Glasgow Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony Praised for Intimate Atmosphere

The Glasgow Commonwealth Games was more or less forced inside.

The shortened preparation time meant it was simply easier to host most events in halls and exhibition centres that already existed, and a solid roof removes the many variables that Scotland's weather can introduce to proceedings.

It meant the opening ceremony, for the first time in history, would be held in an arena rather than a stadium. And what a blessing it turned out to be.

If you've ever witnessed a rock band or pop star playing before a major football game you'll know the energy is very rarely on point.

It's just too far, the noise dissipates, and charismatic frontmen and global superstars are reduced to little more than carnival barkers, pleading with a distracted crowd to "put your hands up. Please".

On Thursday night in Glasgow the crowd filed in as the perfect weather turned cool for the first time this week. Local DJ Hu Sane and radio presenters kept the crowd relatively entertained with the sort of pre-show antics you'd expect from a warm-up act.

The opening skit with cycling great Sir Chris Hoy, former Doctor Who star Sylvester McCoy and actor Greg McHugh served its purpose of delivering a few knowing chuckles and delivering King Charles III and Queen Camilla in a TARDIS.

But from the opening strains of synth-heavy electro-folk band Valtos it was clear this ceremony would feel different.

As the athletes entered the arena, messages from local kids or well-meaning and poorly read adults, were projected on the screens wrapping around the upper decks.

"I hope you win the game, good luck best wishes from Gulalai"

"Good luck! I hope you enjoy Glasgow — our green place, you can do this!"

"Have fun you can do it. I hope you do well be brave."

"Good luck. Believe in yourself be proud of yourself. From Leah."

Scotland is a nation that prides itself on being small but mighty. Fittingly, the smaller the team the larger the cheer during the parade, with the loudest reserved for St Lucia.

The tiny Caribbean nation brought just three athletes to Glasgow and only the chef de mission marched. But she was welcomed like a Glaswegian local.

Then came the main attraction.

Scotland's athletes danced their way to their seats accompanied by rapturous applause from the 14,000-strong crowd, before a cameo by Nessie, pipers and Outlander's Sam Heughan.

Then those supporters briefly turned into the stars of the show.

The same crowd that gleefully welcomed the current British monarch to Glasgow an hour earlier joined pipers and drummers in a stirring, reverberative rendition of Flower of Scotland, the national anthem about King of the Scots Robert the Bruce driving King Edward II's army back at the Battle of Bannockburn.

Fiji's noqu masu, New Zealand's haka, Samoa's siva tau (performed by the team as they emerged for the parade) can crack stone hearts and soak eyes that don't cry at funerals.

This was one of those moments.

The sounds of the pipes bouncing off the walls, the power of the drums rattling through the seats and the choral sensation cascading from the upper decks all ended up in the same place: deep in the bones of all those in attendance.

The size, shape and set-up of the venue made it feel like a more intimate performance than the sort of extravaganza intended for hundreds of millions of people to watch on TV.

It was enough to make everyone in the arena want to be Scottish, but most of all Commonwealth Sport president Donald Rukare.

"It's good to be back," he said.

The thanks to the 2014 hosts and ensuing elation from the Scottish crowd came with an undertone of side-eye to the slack left by Victoria's 2023 rug-pull.

Both Scotland and Australia pride themselves on punching above their weight, taking things in stride with good humour and getting on with the job.

But only one of those countries is putting on these Games. And there does seem to be a genuine feeling of pride in Glasgow for stepping into a tough situation, albeit with help from a few hundred million dollars from Victorian taxpayers.

During his speech, Rukare said he hoped the crowd would indulge him sporting a Wallace tartan kilt, re-imagined in the colours of his native Uganda.

Indulge him? Saltires flew with the sort of fervour usually reserved for the athletes who will take centre stage for the next 10 days.

By the time King Charles officially declared the Games open, the whole event turned into a concert courtesy of Callum Beattie, Tom Walker and KT Tunstall.

The lead-up to these Games has at times shown the hallmarks of a major global event pulled together under an intense time crunch.

But the opening ceremony, aside perhaps from a few eisteddfod-level costumes, overcame that with a passion and spirit that was purely Scotland.

Rukare has spoken about making the Games fit for purpose, even if that means getting smaller in some ways, to remain relevant.

After this opening it's hard to imagine going back.