Kicking off at 8pm and lasting around two and a half hours, the ceremony took place at the Alexander Stadium with Prince Charles watching from the stands. It’s been almost 10 years since the critically acclaimed opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. Over the next 11 days, more than 5,000 athletes from a total of 72 nations will compete in 19 sports. It will also be the first major multi-sport Games to award more medals to women than men. 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 grassroots athletes. Carrying the flag for Team England during the ceremony were diver Jack Laugher and weightlifter Emily Campbell. As the ceremony began, the crowd of 30,000 cheered and whistled as the performers danced and sang. Throughout the show, a video was played showing a star falling to earth and various people, known as Stella and the Dreamers, picking up pieces of it. The ceremony was meant to tell the story of the team as they discover Birmingham, meeting historic people from the city, who are depicted in strange giant figures, and learning about its past as they go. The first part of the show ended with 72 houses appearing in the stadium, representing each of the nations competing this year. Tributes were also paid to the Queen for her leadership of the Commonwealth, with a mix of clips played showing various appearances and speeches during her role as head of state. While 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.

Queen urges people to celebrate Birmingham 2022 to remember ‘our connection to each other’

The Queen said we should all celebrate the “very special sporting event” of the Commonwealth Games as a reminder of “our connection to each other, wherever we are in the world, as part of the Commonwealth family of nations”. The monarch’s message, carried around the world in the Commonwealth baton, was read by her son, the Prince of Wales, at the opening ceremony of the Games. Speaking about the symbolic importance of the sporting event, the Queen wrote: “On 7 October last year, this specially created baton left Buckingham Palace to travel across the Commonwealth. “For the past 294 days, it has carried not only my message to you, but the shared hopes and dreams of every nation and territory it has passed through as it has arrived in Birmingham.” As head of the Commonwealth, she emphasized her sense of belief in the importance of the body of nations, adding: “Over the years, the gathering of so many for the Friendly Games has created unforgettable shared experiences, created long-lasting relationships, and even created some friendly rivalries. “But above all, they remind us of our connection to each other, wherever we are in the world, as part of the Commonwealth family of nations.” The Queen’s opening message also praised the “hard work and dedication” of organizers and athletes. The 95-year-old monarch, who has already started her summer break in Scotland, also made a special mention of host city Birmingham as she wrote: “Tonight, in the words of the founder of the Games, we embark once again on a novel adventure here in Birmingham, a pioneering city that has attracted and embraced so many throughout its history.
“It is a city that symbolizes the rich diversity and unity of the Commonwealth, and a city that now welcomes you all with friendship.” Also appearing in a number of classic cars was a group of Birmingham residents who formed a 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 introduced to the Library of Birmingham fire 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 give an inspiring speech about her experience in the city. “In the coming weeks, as we watch the incredible Commonwealth Games athletes, remember that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential and chase their wildest dreams,” he said. The world’s youngest Nobel laureate was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in 2012 after being shot in the head in Pakistan for demanding the right to education. Her applauded speech was followed by a moving song by two Birmingham singers, who were joined by dancers from across the West Midlands. Continuing with the history of the city, the show went into a steampunk theme to depict the industrial revolution. A giant mechanical bull was dragged into the stadium by 50 female chain-builders, sending the actors running and screaming. The beast was then “tamed” by Stella and the Dreamers, and a glittering celebration of various kinds of dancing ensued. As the dancers clashed, the once calm bull became agitated and the ceremony took a peaceful turn as the performers gathered to unite and restore peace. Once the performances were over, the competing athletes marched into the stadium with the England team breaking into We Will Rock You. CGF president Dame Louise Martin DBE said: “Our 72 nations and territories are all here – and Birmingham looks great. “The city and the wider region will provide the perfect stage for our athletes to compete in. I believe this event will be one of the biggest and most important editions of the Commonwealth Games in our 92-year history.” Olympian Tom Daley, who is not competing, later appeared in the Queen’s Baton Relay and used his role to highlight LGBTQ+ rights. He was joined by gold-winning gymnast Max Whitlock – who is also not competing – boxer Galal Yafai, British Paralympian and junior doctor Kim Daybell and retired hockey player Alex Danson-Bennett. Games organizers want sport to be the vehicle to start conversations and prompt the necessary action to tackle inequality and discrimination across the Commonwealth. The evening ended with a musical performance by Duran Duran, which was accompanied by spectacular fireworks. Unfortunately, Team England’s medal hopes were dealt a blow on Wednesday when sprinter Dina Usher-Smith was forced to withdraw from the competition with 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.