The 22nd Commonwealth Games has officially got under way with a huge opening ceremony kicking off the competition in Birmingham.
Starting at 8pm and due to last about two and a half hours, the ceremony is at the Alexander Stadium with Prince Charles watching from the stands.
It comes almost 10 years to the day since the critically-acclaimed opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.
Over the next 11 days, more than 5,000 athletes from a total of 72 nations will compete across 19 sports.
England, Australia and Canada will be joined by lesser-known federations such as Norfolk Island, which will be represented in the second city by 14 lawn bowlers.
Bearing the flag for Team England during the ceremony is diver Jack Laugher and weightlifter Emily Campbell.
As the ceremony began, crowds cheered and whistled while performers danced and sang.
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Throughout the performance, a video has been played showing a star falling to earth and various people, known as Stella and the Dreamers, collecting pieces of it.
The ceremony aims to tell the story of the group as they discover Birmingham, meeting historical people from the city who are depicted with bizarre giant figures.
The first part of the show concluded with 72 houses appearing in the stadium, representing each of the nations competing this year.
A tribute has also been paid to the Queen for her leadership of the Commonwealth, with a combination of clips played showing various appearances and speeches about her role as the head of state.
While she is not at the opening ceremony, Charles and Camilla are there to represent the Royal Family – making quite the entrance by driving into the stadium in an Aston Martin.
Also appearing in a number of classic cars were a group of Birmingham residents, who formed a huge giant Union Jack with their vehicles.
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra then performed the national anthem alongside a choir and opera singer Samantha Oxborough.
As Stella and the Dreamers continue their journey, they are shown the fire of the Library of Birmingham in 1879, which destroyed a number of Shakespeare’s works and the building.
In a perhaps unexpected appearance, Pakistani activist Malala Yousafza took to the stage to deliver an inspirational speech about her experience in the city.
“Over the next few weeks, as we watch the incredible athletes of the Commonwealth Games, remember that every child deserves the chance to reach her full potential and pursue her wildest dreams,” she said.
The world’s youngest Nobel Prize laureate was taken to the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham in 2012 after she was shot in the head in Pakistan for demanding the right to education.
Her applauded speech was followed by a heartwarming song by two Birmingham singers, who were surrounded by dancers from around the West Midlands.
Continuing on with the tale of the city, the performance entered a steampunk theme to depict the industrial revolution.
A giant mechanical bull appeared in the stadium, representing the Bull Ring, leading the actors to run and scream.
The beast was then “tamed” by Stella and the Dreamers and a bright celebration ensued with various different genres of dance performed.
As the dancers clashed, the once calm bull began to get agitated and the ceremony took a calming turn as performers came together to unite and restore peace.
The competing athletes paraded into the ceremony, with Team England entering to We Will Rock You.
Olympian Tom Daley is also expected to appear later in the show as he takes part in the Queen’s Baton Relay, using his role to highlight LGBTQ+ rights.
Unfortunately, Team England’s medal hopes were dealt a blow on Wednesday when sprinter Dina Asher-Smith was forced to withdraw from the games due to a hamstring injury.
Asher-Smith had broken her British record to finish fourth in the World 100m final last week and won a bronze medal in the 200m.
