The Opening Ceremony
The XX Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony will take place on 23
July 2014 at Celtic Park. The Opening
Ceremony signifies that start of the Commonwealth Games. It is a
chance to showcase the culture of Glasgow and Scotland to the
thousands of spectators in the stadium and the millions of people
in the worldwide television audience.
The Opening Ceremony will feature a number of creative, festive
and cultural elements. Other official elements as governed by the
Commonwealth Games Federation protocol will also feature:
Arrival of the Head of the Commonwealth
The Head of the Commonwealth, or his/her representative, is
invited to open the Games. His/her arrival is marked by a guard of
honour, the raising of the national flags of Scotland (as Games
host nation), India (as previous Games host nation) and Australia
or Sri Lanka (as the next TBC Games host nation) and the playing of
the Scottish national anthem.
Parade of Nations
A highlight of the Opening Ceremony is the Parade of Nations
where Glasgow officially welcomes the Commonwealth Nations to the
Games and presents them to the world. The Parade of Nations is a
formal procession of the Commonwealth Nations into the stadium,
nation by nation. The national teams enter into the stadium in
alphabetical order, except for the previous host nation which
enters first and the host nation (Scotland) which will enter
last.
The members of each national team dress in their official
national team uniform and are escorted into and around the stadium
by a name placardbearer and one member of their national team who
has the honour of carrying their national flag. The Parade of
Nations consists of athletes, team management and officials.
Conclusion of The Queen’s Baton
Relay
After an epic journey visiting every
Commonwealth Nation and travelling throughout Scotland, the Queen’s
Baton Relay ends at the Opening Ceremony. A much anticipated
highlight to the Opening Ceremony is the introduction of the
Queen’s Baton and the revelation of the final batonbearers. These
batonbearers have the honour of delivering the Queen’s Baton to Her
Majesty The Queen (or Her Representative) who will remove the
‘Queen’s Message’ hidden in the Baton and read it aloud, thus
officially declaring the Games open.
The Entry and Raising of the
Commonwealth Games Federation Ceremonial Flag
Once the Games have been declared open, the
Commonwealth Games Federation Ceremonial Flag is carried into the
stadium and raised on a flagpole.
Competitors’ Oath
A representative of Scotland’s athletes along with the Scotland
flag bearer will deliver the Competitors’ Oath. Whilst surrounded
by the flagbearers of all the nations, the athlete, whilst holding
a corner of the Scottish flag will pronounce the oath on behalf of
all competitors. The Competitors’ Oath declares that the athletes
will take part in the Commonwealth Games in the spirit of true
sportsmanship, recognising the rules which govern them and desirous
of participating in them for the honour of the Commonwealth and for
the glory of sport.