Commonwealth Games 2018 opening ceremony – as it happened
The Commonwealth Games got under way on Wednesday evening in Gold Coast, the 21st edition of the event and the fifth time Australia has played host
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Your support makes all the difference.The 2018 Commonwealth Games get under way on Wednesday evening in Gold Coast, the 21st edition of the event and the fifth time Australia has played host.
This will be the most expensive Commonwealth Games ever put together, with spending estimated to finish at around AUS$2bn. It will be the first time women have the same number of events as men, and the most para-events incorporated with 38 in total.
England head into the Games looking to defend their crown as the most successful nation in 2014, having claimed 58 golds in Glasgow four years ago.
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Here is what you need to know ahead of the opening ceremony:
What time does it start?
The opening ceremony will start at around 7.30pm in Gold Coast, 10.30am in the UK.
Where does it take place?
It will take place in Carrara Stadium, a venue usually used for Aussie rules football which will play host to athletics during the Games.
How can I watch it?
The ceremony will be broadcast live on the BBC.
Who will be Team England’s flag bearer?
Alistair Brownlee will be England’s flag bearer for the Commonwealth Games. Double Olympic triathlon champion Brownlee, is defending Commonwealth champion in the individual and mixed relay races. Team England selected their flag bearer after a vote of all sport team leaders.
Some superb outfits on show from the African nations. Plenty of colour, as you'd expect.
Stylish bunch, aren't they?
Zambia are the last African nation out and next up will be the Americas, starting with Belize.
I've just discovered that there aren't too many American countries in the Commonwealth.
Their involvement in the opening ceremony ended pretty quickly and now it's the turn of the Asian countries, of which there are seven.
Members of the England team take photos as they arrive during the opening ceremony
Next up it's the turn of the Caribbean nations, with Anguila first out followed by Antigua and Barbuda.
Here they are, the Jamaicans - sans Usain Bolt :(
This is the first major athletics event since Bolt's retirement. Can Yohan Blake, who promised so much at London 2012, fill the big man's spikes in the Gold Coast?
Now it's the turn of Oceania, which suggests we're approaching the end of this ceremony!
Men at Work's Down Under is currently blaring out of the speakers. Could this get any more Australian?
Meaghan Benfeito, flag bearer of Canada arrives with the Canadian team
Here they are... it's the Australian team!
The hosts, as you might expect, enter the stadium to rapturous applause.
They're led out by men's hockey captain Mark Knowles.
Australia finished second in the Glasgow 2014 medals table behind the mighty England (any excuse to mention that).
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