Commonwealth Games 2014: Day-by-day guide to the highlights in Glasgow
Every event worth watching, including Mo Farah and Usain Bolt
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Your support makes all the difference.The Commonwealth Games are taking place in Glasgow, running from Wednesday 23 July (which features the opening ceremony) through to Sunday 3 August. Here, we guide you through every day and pick out the events you won't want to miss.
Thursday 24 July
Some familiar names launch a busy first day of the Games with 20 gold medals on offer – one of the Brownlee brothers may well claim England’s first around tea time in Strathclyde Country Park, a few miles outside Glasgow, with Alistair again the favourite to finish ahead of Jonny as in the triathlon at London 2012. Sir Bradley Wiggins returns to the track in the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in search of a first Commonwealth gold. He rides in the team pursuit in what is a good-looking opening night in the velodrome, also featuring the men’s team sprint where England, Scotland and Australia chase gold. Over the road in the Tollcross pool it’s a big night for the host nation – Michael Jamieson is Scotland’s golden hope in the 200m breaststroke, while Hannah Miley is the fall-back option in the 400m individual medley.
Friday 25 July
Cycling and swimming dominate the early days of the Games. The evening medal session in the velodrome sees Jason Kenny, whose form has deserted him since the Olympics, look for gold in the sprint but the event of the day will be the women’s individual pursuit where Jo Rowsell, Laura Trott, Katie Archibald and Elinor Barker will have an almighty tussle to claim gold for England, Scotland or Wales respectively. In the pool it has the makings of a green and golden night for the Aussies with Advance Australia Fair set to be the most-played anthem. Early birds should look out for 17-year-old Amber Hill of England shooting for gold in the skeet over at Barry Buddon, the most distant of the venues over on the east coast near Carnoustie.
Saturday 26 July
The first weekend sees the medals coming think and fast – 29 golds on offer today. Chad Le Clos, no doubt cheered on by his equally famous dad, will be chasing one on the pool. The South African was one of the surprise stars of 2012 and is the man to beat in the 200m fly. Euan Barton and Gemma Gibbons, husband and wife, Scotsman and Englishwoman, chase judo medals for the family mantelpiece in the -100kg and -78kg events respectively. Away from the medals there is plenty to catch the eye – England against old enemy and main rivals for gold Australia in netball and day one of the rugby sevens.
Sunday 27 July
Today is a sporting marathon, beginning at 9am with the marathon and ending at 10.30pm with the final of the rugby sevens at Ibrox. In between there are another sporting couple in action – Laura Trott and Jason Kenny both have medal chances in the velodrome – while the man the organisers are keeping their fingers ever so tightly crossed doesn’t suffer any last minute niggles goes for first half of his historic treble double. Mo Farah goes in the 5,000m having won it and the 10,000m at the last Olympics and worlds. Cue the McMobot?
Monday 28 July
The old and the new – Olympic champion Nicola Adams will be the main attraction as women’s boxing takes its Commonwealth bow, while Mike Gault will pull out his pistol and aim for a record 18th medal at the Commonwealth Games. The blue ribband event of just about any Games is the 100m but given the absence (for the moment) of you-know-who the 100m carries a little less glamour than usual. A big chance for Adam Gemili but also, with Yohan Blake missing, a good chance to see the next Jamaicans off the starting blocks.
Tuesday 29 July
The last night in the pool and a chance of Welsh gold via Jazz Carlin in the 400m freestyle. At Hampden there are seven athletics golds to be won but the event of the day comes in The Hydro where Scotland and England are set to go head to head to claim the men’s team gymnastics crown. Britain enjoyed a memorable London Games but their forces are divided here, in the white corner Louis Smith, Max Whitlock and co, in the blue Dan Purvis and Daniel Keatings.
Wednesday 30 July
Amid the sound and glory of Mo Farah and Usain Bolt at London 2012, Kirani James’s brilliant 400m win slipped under the radar. He’s back in Britain for the Commonwealths and looking to make amends for a poor worlds last year. The Grenadian is still only 21 and has the potential to become one of the greats. Greg Rutherford is another who has had his ups and downs since London – he goes for long jump gold. Elsewhere Scotland and England’s female hockey players clash in the final round of group games
Thursday 31 July
The time trial was expected to be all about Wiggins but his absence opens the door for Scotland’s David Millar, the defending champion who was cruelly left out of this Tour de France, to find a fairytale end to his career. Emma Pooley will be the woman to beat. A good night of athletics with Dai Greene and Eilidh Child, Scotland’s big hope on the track, jumping for gold in the 400m hurdles.
Friday 1 August
It’s all about Mo (providing he did the necessary on Sunday). Farah goes for his second gold in the 10,000m – fandabidozi Friday? The Commonwealths are the big event for the lawn bowlers and today’s the grand finale for the men.
Saturday 2 August
A super Glaswegian Saturday promises a thrilling climax to the Games. There are 33 golds to be won, more than any other day, and one of them seems certain to be hung round Usain Bolt’s neck. He goes for Jamaica in the 4x100m relay. There is also the rarely-sighted Phillips Idowu in the triple jump while over in Edinburgh Tom Daley dives for gold in the 10m platform. The boxing medals are also settled.
Sunday 3 August
The final 11 golds are sorted out including netball, hockey and squash finals before the men’s road race wraps up the Games. Lizzie Armitstead is favourite to take the women’s but with no Mark Cavendish the men’s is wide open. Then all roads lead to Hampden Park and the closing ceremony.
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