Team Scotland, led out by flagbearers Alex Marshall MBE and Sarah Adlington, received a huge welcome from the home crowd as the 23rd Commonwealth Games got underway in Glasgow with a spectacular Opening Ceremony at the Hydro.

The ceremony, the first in Commonwealth Games history to be held indoors, brought together the vision of some of Glasgow’s greatest creative talents to work with some of the world’s most experienced producers of world-class ceremonies.

In the opening scene, a giant living garden was crossed by a Saltire-shaped walkway for the athletes, evoking a living piece of the Scottish landscape and memories of Glasgow’s Garden Festival; a horticultural and cultural exhibition held in 1988, on a 120 acre derelict dockland site along the south bank of the River Clyde.

In a twist on Commonwealth Games tradition, the Glasgow 2026 King’s Baton Relay concluded its journey tonight with every nation’s uniquely decorated Baton being planted in the garden, creating a collective artwork.

The parade of nations concluded with Team Scotland’s entrance – last into the stadium as Games hosts. Double Commonwealth medallist, Sarah Adlington and Team Scotland’s most successful athlete of all-time, Alex Marshall MBE proudly led in Team Scotland to rapturous applause.

The oaths promising sportsmanship and fair play on behalf of all athletes and officials were taken by six-times bowls medallist Paul Foster MBE,  3×3 wheelchair basketball player Robyn Love and athletics official Leslie Roy MBE.

The Scottish Baton containing the King’s Message, placed inside on March 10 2025, when he launched the King’s Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace, was paraded around the arena by basketball player Kieron Achara MBE, para cyclist Neil Fachie OBE and swimmer Hannah Miley MBE who delivered it to HRH King Charles, who declared the Glasgow 2026 Games open.

With Jason Banks getting Team Scotland off to a winning start in the pre-opening ceremony  bowls session, the sporting action resumes at 9.55am with the Women’s Pairs team of Caroline Brown and Beth Riva, followed swiftly by the first of three games on the opening day for the men’s 3×3 Basketball team, the first boxing action and the start of the swimming competition.

Finlay Davidson will be the first Team Scotland athlete in action in a medal event, as Para Powerlifting gets underway at 1pm with the Men’s lightweight category. Hope Gordon goes later in the day in the women’s heavyweight event. Other finals on day one will see the male gymnasts aiming for the podium in the team event, before the swimmers take to the pool for the evening finals session.