Celebration to kick off the Games
Commonwealth Games
BBC 1, 10.30am, 12.15am; BBC 2, 7pm
OPENING ceremonies for major sporting events tend to go on a bit, and watching them can make you feel like you’ve been through an armchair marathon. There are lashings of pomp and celebration, while hundreds of people in native dress and period costumes excitedly run around for no discernible purpose, other than to promote the venue to tourists once the competition’s flame has been extinguished.
The XXI Commonwealth Games gets under way this morning, so get ready for a showcase of music, dance and visual effects, as Hazel Irvine introduces the curtainraiser at the Carrara Stadium in Gold Coast, Queensland.
As well as the traditional parade of each nation’s athletes, the ceremony will culminate with the Competitors’ Oath and the finale of the Queen’s Baton Relay, which has travelled 150,000 miles around every part of the Commonwealth.
Then, once the pleasantries are out of the way, the real business of the sporting competition begins Down Under.
The first medals of the Games are decided in the women’s triathlon, and the Home Nations’ athletes stand a good chance of being on the podium.
Bermuda’s Flora Duffy will start as the favourite, but England’s Olympic bronze medallist Vicky Holland and Wales team captain Non Stanford are also among the leading contenders.
The men’s triathlon also takes place and few would bet against England’s brilliant Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonny, battling it out at the head of the field.
There is also action from the pool, where Scotland’s Hannah Miley is chasing a hat-trick of Commonwealth golds in the 400m individual medley.
As well as triumphing at Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014, Miley is also a triple Olympian having competed at the Beijing, London and Rio Games, where she finished sixth, fifth and fourth respectively. Also tonight, there is action from the women’s hockey tournament, with Wales facing India and Scotland clashing with New Zealand.
Looking ahead, and the Commonwealth Games should give some of the world’s top sporting stars the chance to shine.
In athletics, Canada’s Andre de Grasse looks like one of those most likely to emerge from Usain Bolt’s shadow. He will be competing in the 100m and 200m.
Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson won double gold at
the Olympics at Rio and is also expected to do well on the Gold Coast. South African Caster Semenya has confirmed her place as the leading female middle distance runner and will be going for gold in the 800m and 1,500m.
Thirty-four-year-old Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot will be the favourite for the 5,000m and 10,000m titles, while her compatriot Eliud Kipchoge should be a leading contender in the men’s marathon.
The Commonwealth Games may not carry the prestige of the Olympics, but with more than 6,600 athletes and officials from 70 nations and territories taking part across 18 sports, including 38 Para events, it promises to be a highly competitive and enjoyable 11 days in Queensland.