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    Commonwealth Games 2014: Nicola Benedetti, Pumeza and Scottie dogs star in the opening ceremony - pictures

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    Rod Stewart! Nessie! Tiny dogs! A giant kilt! The spectacular opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow starred a whole host of classical musicians and general weirdness.

    1. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      1. Nicola Benedetti

      Violinist Nicola Benedetti plays Loch Lomond as the flag of the Commonwealth is raised. Photo: Chris jackson/ Getty

    2. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      2. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      Comedian Karen Dunbar and Scottish-American actor John Barrowman emerge from a giant kilt on the roof of a jeep to kick off the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony at Celtic Park in Glasgow. Photo: Richard Heathcote

    3. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      3. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      John Barrowman sings a tribute to the landmarks and history of Scotland at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow. Photo: Richard Heathcote

    4. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      4. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      The opening ceremony of the the Commonwealth Games includes a tour of Scottish landmarks and icons, such as the Loch Ness monster. Photo: Richard Heathcote

    5. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      5. John Barrowman's 'gay kiss'

      John Barrowman kisses a jilted groom surrounded by 'newlywed couples' during a section of the musical tour devoted to Gretna Green. Photo: Ian Walton/ Getty

    6. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      6. Tunnocks teacake Dancers

      Dancers dressed as Tunnocks teacakes perform at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell

    7. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      7. Dancers running about

      Dancers run around during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games at Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland. Photo: Colin Mearns-Pool/ Getty

    8. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      8. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      Karen Dunbar, a host of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, takes to the jeep roof to sing about Scotland. Note the Irn Bru (made in Scotland with girders) propping up the model of the Forth Bridge. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell

    9. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      9. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      John Barrowman sings from a model crane, representing Glasgow's industrial past, at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell

    10. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      10. Susan Boyle

      The dancing teacakes and Gretna Green brides give way to more traditional entertainers as Susan Boyle sings Mull of Kintyre accompanied by pianist Kennedy Aitchison at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony at Celtic Park in Glasgow. Photo: Quinn Rooney

    11. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      11. Rod Stewart

      Rod Stewart sings at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony at Celtic Park in Glasgow. Photo: Ben Stansall

    12. Rod Stewart

      12. Rod Stewart

      Rod Stewart performs at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Photo: Richard Heathcote

    13. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      13. Amy McDonald

      Singer-songwriter Amy McDonald performs during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at Celtic Park in Glasgow. Photo: Chris Jackson/ Getty Images

    14. Red Arrows

      14. Red Arrows

      The Red Arrows herald the arrival of the Queen at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony at Celtic Park in Glasgow. Photo: Ben Stansall

    15. Red Arrows

      15. Red Arrows fly into the sunset

      Red Arrow fly over Celtic Park during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow. Photo: Ryan Pierse

    16. The Queen and Prince Philip

      16. The Queen arrives at the Commonwealth Games

      The Queen and Prince Philip arrive at Celtic Park for the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Photo: Francois Nei/ Getty

    17. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      17. The Queen

      The Queen and Prince Philip stand with Prince Imran, the Commonwealth Games Federation President, and Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland during the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games at Celtic Park in Glasgow. Photo: Ben Stansall/ Getty

    18. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      18. The huge screen

      Dancers perform in front of the biggest screen in Europe during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at Celtic Park in Glasgow. Photo: Ian Walton/ Getty

    19. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      19. Scottish Ballet

      Sophie Martin and Christopher Harrison of the Scottish Ballet perform at Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Photo: Chris Jackson/ Getty

    20. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      20. Scottish Ballet

      Sophie Martin and Christopher Harrison of the Scottish Ballet perform at Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Photo: Chris Jackson/ Getty

    21. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      21. Scottish terrier dog

      A Scottish terrier dog leads the Indian team out during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. Each country had its own terrier during the ceremony. Photo: Ben Stansall/ Getty

    22. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      22. Commonwealth Games spectators

      Spectators at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games at Celtic Park in Glasgow Photo: Ben Stansall/ Getty

    23. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      23. Scottish team

      The team the spectators have been waiting for arrives in the stadium. Flag bearer Euan Burton leads the athletes of Scotland during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. Photo: Richard Heathcote/ Getty

    24. Nicola Benedetti at the Commonwealth Games

      24. Nicola Benedetti

      Violinist Nicola Benedetti performs Loch Lomond at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Photo: Quinn Rooney/ Getty

    25. Nicola Benedetti at the Commonwealth Games

      25. Nicola Benedetti

      Violinist Nicola Benedetti performs Loch Lomond at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Photo: Paul Gilham/ Getty

    26. Nicola Benedetti at the Commonwealth Games

      26. Nicola Benedetti

      Violinist Nicola Benedetti performs Loch Lomond at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Photo: Chris Jackson

    27. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      27. Pumeza

      South African soprano Pumeza sings the Scots protest song Freedom Come All Ye at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Photo: Ian Walton/ Getty

    28. Pumeza Commonwealth Games opening ceremony Freedom

      28. Pumeza

      Freedom Come All Ye sings the South African soprano Pumeza, at the opening ceremony of the 20th Commonwealth Games at Celtic Park, Glasgow on 23 July 2014. Photo: Roger Sedres/Getty

    29. Pumeza Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      29. Pumeza

      Pumeza at the Opening Ceremony for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games at Celtic Park on 23 July 2014 in Glasgow. Photo: Paul Gilham/Getty

    30. Eric Whitacre’s National Virtual Youth Choir

      30. Eric Whitacre's Virtual Youth Choir

      Composer and conductor Eric Whitacre leads the National Youth Choir of Scotland, accompanied by the Virtual Youth Choir, during the Opening Ceremony for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The virtual choir, performing on the huge screen behind, was made up of over 2,000 children from 80 countries around the world. Picture: Getty

    31. Eric Whitacre’s National Virtual Youth Choir

      31. Eric Whitacre's Virtual Youth Choir

      Composer and conductor Eric Whitacre leads the National Youth Choir of Scotland, accompanied by the Virtual Youth Choir, during the Opening Ceremony for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Picture: Getty

    32. Eric Whitacre’s National Virtual Youth Choir

      32. Eric Whitacre's Virtual Youth Choir

      Composer and conductor Eric Whitacre leads the National Youth Choir of Scotland, accompanied by the Virtual Youth Choir, during the Opening Ceremony for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Picture: Getty

    33. Eric Whitacre’s National Virtual Youth Choir

      33. Eric Whitacre's Virtual Youth Choir

      Composer and conductor Eric Whitacre leads the National Youth Choir of Scotland, accompanied by the Virtual Youth Choir, during the Opening Ceremony for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Picture: Getty

    34. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      34. Conehead

      Dancers perform by a replica of the Duke of Wellington Statue with a traffic cone on its head, because... reasons. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/ Getty

    35. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      35. Fireworks

      No sporting opening ceremony is complete without a firework display. Here, several tonnes of gunpowder explode over Celtic Park to kick off the Commonwealth Games. Photo: Adrian Dennis/ Getty

    36. Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

      36. Fireworks at the Commonwealth Games

      Fireworks bring the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games to a close. Photo: Ryan Pierse/ Getty

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