The weather

Glasgow basked in a mini-heatwave during the opening days of the Games, with temperatures of around 27C, with bottled water and sun cream handed out to visitors. However, by the second week it was business as usual as the downpours kicked in.

The opening ceremony

Dancing Tunnocks teacakes proved an unexpected hit at Celtic Park, while the jacketed Scottie dogs leading out the 71 teams were the stars of the night. Glasgow-born entertainer John Barrowman kissed a male cast member at a mock Gretna Green, a move hailed as a snub to homophobia in Commonwealth countries which criminalise homosexuality.

Usain Bolt

The world's fastest man grabbed the initial headlines with his denial of reports he had slurred the Games to a journalist. He wrapped up his time in Glasgow with a lap of honour after landing his first Commonwealth gold medal, entertaining the crowds at a rain-soaked Hampden Park, posing for selfies with a Jamaican flag and a Saltire draped over his shoulders..

Selfies.

Australian athlete Jayde Taylor scored the top goal on social media when she captured an image of herself alongside the Queen, who appeared in the background smiling over her shoulder.

Charlie Flynn

Motherwell boxer Charlie Flynn won gold, declaring he was "buzzing like a jar of wasps'', before the former postal worker fought back the tears while bellowing out Flower of Scotland. He later quipped: "The mail man has delivered once again."

Erraid Davies

The Shetland schoolgirl and Games' youngest medallist became an instant crowd favourite as she was roared on to finish third in the para-sport 100m breaststroke final aged just 13.

Clyde

A green thistle with purple hair, Clyde was designed by a 12-year-old girl, with the cuddly version of the mascot flying off the shelves and outstripping T-shirts and badges to become the Games' most popular item of merchandise.

Wedding bells

First to pop the question was Team Scotland cyclist Chris Pritchard who proposed to his girlfriend after finishing his race at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. Later in the day, fellow Scottish cyclist Aileen McGlynn was celebrating after her boyfriend asked her to marry him. Both said yes.

New swimming stars

Ross Murdoch snatched gold in the 200m breaststroke, beating not only fellow Scot Michael Jamieson but Australian Christian Sprenger and South Africa's Cameron van der Burgh on the opening night. He was joined in the limelight by Dan Wallace, who shot to fame with gold in the 400m individual medley.

The hosts medals tally

Team Scotland surpassed its target of 33 medals halfway through the Games. Two boxing golds saw them pass the 50 mark on the penultimate day and they soon made sure they would more than double their 2010 tally of 26, as well as finishing fourth in the medals table.