THE QUEEN'S Baton finally ended its global adventure as it arrived at Celtic Park for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

The symbol of the games has travelled through 70 nations and territories in a relay since it was sent on its way by the Queen at Buckingham Palace last October.

The unique hand-crafted baton, made of titanium, wood and granite, has been carried by thousands of baton bearers around the globe - and touched by many more onlookers - during its epic 120,000-mile journey around the Commonwealth.

Singing star Susan Boyle carried the baton during its journey around Glasgow in the lead-up to the opening ceremony.

Other baton-bearers have included top athletes and celebrities such as Britain's most successful Olympian Sir Chris Hoy and Scotland football manager Gordon Strachan.

But thousands more "local champions" have also held aloft the symbol of the Glasgow Games on its journey.

A total of 400 baton bearers carried it around Glasgow, and yesterday it visited the athletes' village before arriving at the Games opening ceremony at Celtic Park.

The baton spent at least a day in each of the other 31 Scottish local authority areas before arriving in the Games host city on Sunday.

All 71 nations and territories taking part in the Games have had a visit from the emblem. It visited Asia, Oceania, Africa, North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe before returning to the UK and finally to Scotland.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "It's finally here. Glasgow 2014, the best Commonwealth Games there will ever have been.

"The Games have put our city in the spotlight like never before. It will be the biggest sporting and cultural celebration ever witnessed in Scotland with over 1 million tickets sold and an expected television audience of 1.5 billion. And we are ready to wow the world.

"It's fantastic to see so many visitors in the city and I'm encouraged that businesses are able to give them a great experience by being prepared."

People were also basking in the sunshine at a 16 day pop-up festival organised by the BBC next to the River Clyde. BBC at the Quay will see radio shows broadcast in front of a live audience, and Simple Minds were among yesterday's guests of Radio 2's Ken Bruce.

The city opened its arms to thousands of sports fans from across the world as the Games finally arrived. The hum of excitement could be sensed amongst the hundreds that have flocked to the largest venue precinct of Glasgow 2014, the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre area, by car, by public transport or increasingly by bike.

Australian team supporters Kathy Datta, 26, and Kristina Creighton, 25, from Sydney, shrieked with laughter as they soaked themselves in the cool water spray from the sprinklers set up to water the grass on the banks of the Clyde.

Back home, temperatures were a good 10°C cooler.

"The welcome we have had here has been amazing and a far cry from Delhi, where you just got the feeling that they were just not ready to deal with the games," said Ms Datta, who is following 100m freestyle swimming world champion Cate Campbell.

"We both love the building [the Clyde Auditorium or Armadillo] by the SECC that looks like the Sydney Opera House . It's copied from us, right?" quipped Ms Creighton.

Many residents of flats overlooking the Clyde bedecked their balconies with Saltires as a host of nationalities descended on the city.

Statues of the Glasgow 2014 mascot Clyde placed along the banks of the river proved popular with some visitors, who stopped to take pictures with the colourful thistle creature.

The People Make Glasgow street hire cycles launched by Glasgow City Council in June proved popular, as visitors and locals got on their bikes to sidestep city traffic restrictions.

Ryan Bell, an accountant from Ontario, Canada, was one of those taking advantage, and said he believed he had clocked up 15 miles in an hour-and-a-half.

The 30-year-old, is a fan of trap shooter Susan Nattrass, a six-time Olympian, who will carry Canada's flag into the opening ceremonies.

He said: "From what I have seen, Glasgow has really served up its A game. Everything seems to be meticulously organised, well thought out.

"There are a lot of security restrictions, which can be a problem, but really you should expect that. I hope the rest of the Games go as well as they have gone so far."

With temperatures reaching 25°C in the early evening, thousands of people sprawled out across a sunny George Square. They included a group of friends from Ayrshire, including Julie McPhee, 31, from Arran, who arrived with a group of friends to spend the evening there and sat in collapsible chairs. She said: "It's a great atmosphere. We're hoping to find somewhere to watch the ceremony."

Paul Swarbrigg, from Huntly, Aberdeenshire, picked up tickets for the opening ceremony with wife Yvonne and son Andrew.

"We're also going to see the badminton, rugby and table tennis," he said. "It's great".

Games organisers said the square had been a magnet for people.

A spokesman "It's been busy all day and late into the night. The weather has helped bring people out. We've seen impromptu singing and dancing. It's been a great atmosphere".