Team Scotland Roared Into Opening Ceremony

The spectacular opening ceremony of the 20th Commonwealth Games has taken place in Glasgow. An audience of around 40,000 gathered at Celtic Park to witness the arrival of the Queen's baton and mark the official start of the 11-day competition. Scottish Comedian Karen Dunbar, wearing a kilt, opened proceedings by telling the cheering crowd: Welcome to Scotland.'' In the opening act, Glasgow-born Dr Who actor John Barrowman and Dunbar, star of the comedy sketch show Chewin' The Fat, hammered home the cliches by singingWelcome to Scotland'', taking viewers on a trip round Scotland with a colourful cast and props representing places and culture. Dressed in a purple suit, Barrowman made his entrance from beneath a giant kilt and kissed a veil-wearing male bride'' at a mock Gretna Green before being carried along on a sea ofheather''. The Loch Ness monster, Glasgow's history of ship-building and the Forth Rail Bridge all featured in the act, which also celebrated the great Scottish inventions. The Kingdom of the Scots'' sequence featured the firing of the One O'Clock Gun at Edinburgh Castle, a giant haggis and Tunnock's famous teacakes. A tyre - included as a tribute to pioneer John Boyd Dunlop - was transformed into Nessie and the Standing Stones of Callanish were represented by giant slabs of shortbread. There was singing on top of whisky barrels and St Andrews was celebrated as the home of golf. The cast gathered under the Forth Rail Bridge, which was supported by cans of Irn-Bru - known as Scotland's other national drink - and Barrowman finished the number standing on top of a replica of the iconic Finnieston Crane. Dunbar sang:It's a land of invention and culture that's true; But all that matters really; Is that Scotland's full of people just like you.'' She said: This is our home and you're all very welcome. Whoever you are, wherever you're watching, come on in and meet the people of Glasgow.'' Speaking in an earlier video message on the stadium's 100-metre wide screen, Unicef ambassador Ewan McGregor told the crowd and an anticipated one billion television viewers:I'm proud to say welcome to Scotland, welcome to Glasgow, welcome to the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.'' Glasgow 2014 organisers have teamed up with Unicef to ask viewers across the nations to donate to its Children of the Commonwealth Fund. Glasgow singer Amy Macdonald took over the entertainment as she appeared on screen strumming her guitar in the city's George Square before appearing in the arena itself. There were huge cheers when she was joined in her performance of Rhythm Of My Heart by Rod Stewart, for whom the song was a big hit. Susan Boyle followed with a version of the popular tune Mull Of Kintyre, co-written by Sir Paul McCartney and originally performed by Wings. Wearing a purple dress with tartan-patterned lapels, Boyle was accompanied by the piano before the arrival of the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and young Highland dancers. Team India, as the host of the 2010 Games, were the first competing nation to enter the arena to cheers from spectators. Actor Ewan McGregor then introduced video footage from Bangladesh showing the work of Unicef to protect children affectedby flooding there, and Indian cricketing star Sachin Tendulkar told viewers: We have an opportunity to show the world what we can do when we act as one.'' McGregor said:Tonight at the end of the parade we're going to come together as one Commonwealth family to do something amazing - we're going to put children first. We will change the lives of millions of children across the Commonwealth.'' Team Bangladesh entered the arena, followed by the six other Asian nations including Malaysia, who received a particularly loud cheer. Each parade was led by a Scots man or woman in tweeds and walking a Scottish terrier wearing a jacket bearing the name of the country. A second Unicef video featured Spooks and Line Of Duty actress Keeley Hawes, reporting on the importance of vaccination programmes for children. Athletes from Team Australia were welcomed followed by the rest of the Oceania region, including Norfolk Island. During the parade, a team member from Tonga received a loud cheer when he held aloft a Celtic football shirt with a grin. Athletes from all nations waved, danced and took photographs as they made their way around the arena. African teams followed a video by Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy in Malawi, and Caribbean nations were introduced after a clip by actor and Radio 1 DJ Reggie Yates in Jamaica. Singer and X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger, meanwhile, welcomed the Americas in a video clip from Guyana. Welsh former hurdler Colin Jackson teamed up with Sir Alex Ferguson for a video clip ahead of the entry of Europe teams. England received a huge cheer as they entered the arena led by flag-bearer Nick Matthew, a multiple squash world champion, while rhythmic gymnast Francesca Jones performed the honour for Wales. Team Scotland unsurprisingly got the biggest cheer of the night when they entered to the song Move Any Mountain by Aberdeen band the Shamen and a burst of blue and white coloured ticker tape. The Scottish athletes were led by Judo star Euan Burton. Following the athletes entrance Hollywood actor James McAvoy urged spectators, athletes and the anticipated one billion viewers of the opening ceremony at Celtic Park to donate cash via a text message or online to Unicef's Children of the Commonwealth Fund. McAvoy, from Glasgow, said:This has never been done before - this many people in a single moment all coming together to make a life-saving difference to millions of children.'' Games partner Unicef also drafted in Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy to make the appeal. He said: Let's make history together.'' Speaking live in the stadium, McAvoy said:Glasgow, I'm proud to be one of your sons, you're amazing.'' The X Men actor described Glasgow as the most generous city I've ever been in''. To donate #5, text FIRST to 70333. Once the last reluctant Scottie had been cradled round the track and the last breath of bagpipes had drifted away into the Glasgow night, Sir Chris Hoy was afforded the honour of handing the Commonwealth Games baton to the Queen who duly declared the Commonwealth Games open for business.