PICK OF TODAY’S TV

COMMONWEALTH GAMES: OPENING CEREMONY, 7PM, BBC1

THIS really is a summer of sport and tonight, 11 days of top-class competition gets under way at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, where the parade of nations takes place, along with the Competitors’ Oath and the finale of the Queen’s Baton Relay — the culmination of a 90,000-mile journey taking in every nation and territory in the Commonwealth. The creative team behind the opening ceremony includes Peaky Blinders’ Brummie creator Steven Knight, and the spectacular show will be celebrating West Midlands talent and diversity, as well as exploring the history of the Commonwealth. Holly Hamilton, Gabby Logan, Ayo Akinwolere, Clare Balding, JJ Chalmers, Hazel Irvine, Jason Mohammad and Isa Guha (pictured, left to right) will be our hosts for more than 200 hours of live sporting coverage on BBC1, BBC2 and BBC3, as well as BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and Red Button. These 22nd Commonwealth Games will feature athletes from more than 70 countries, and more para sports than ever, and is the first major multi-sport games to have more women’s than men’s medal events. As well as the renovated athletics stadium in Perry Barr, there will be action across the city and the wider West Midlands region, including at the brand-new, purpose-built Sandwell Aquatics Centre.