GLASGOW is expected to be basking in balmy sunshine for the start of the Commonwealth Games
GLASGOW is expected to be basking in balmy sunshine for the start of the Commonwealth Games
Temperatures of up to 25ÚC are forecast for the day of the opening ceremony, with the fine weather extending into the evening when the event takes place at Celtic Park.
Thousands of spectators and athletes along with their entourages are due to arrive in Glasgow over the next few days for the landmark sporting event which continues until 4 August.
Millions of people across the globe are expected to watch the 2014 Games on television and the competition is a chance for the organisers to showcase the city and Scotland to the world.
Stuart Brooks, forecaster at the Met Office in Aberdeen, said: "The Games should get off to a good start weatherwise.
"Temperatures should get up to 24ÚC or 25ÚC in Glasgow on Wednesday, and even with a slight wind, the weather should be warm and pleasant for the opening ceremony in the evening."
Mr Brooks added that later in the week there was a chance of some showers, though temperatures should remain high.
He said: "There is a small chance of scattered showers in the west on Thursday and Friday, though these may well miss Glasgow.
"Even so we still have a warm air mass over us and there will be a warm summery feel to things."
Rock star Rod Stewart, former Britain's Got Talent finalist Susan Boyle, singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald and violinist Nicola Benedetti are among those due to perform at the opening ceremony in front of 40,000 spectators at Parkhead and the worldwide television audience.
The story of the Commonwealth nations will be represented through the Parade of Nations and the Competitors' Oath, while the finale will be the arrival of the Queen's Baton Relay after its 118,000-mile, 288-day journey.
All 71 nations and territories taking part in the Commonwealth Games have had a visit from the baton since it set off from Buckingham Palace in October.
A climax will be when the Queen reads out the message that has been hidden inside the baton during its journey around the world before officially announcing the Games open.
In a novel fundraising plan devised by the organisers and Unicef, spectators, athletes and television viewers will be invited to raise money for millions of vulnerable children across the Commonwealth by making a donation via text.
David Grevemberg, chief executive of Glasgow 2014, said: "This is a ground-breaking and profoundly important opportunity for the people of the Commonwealth to come together to put their children first and improve lives.
"Glasgow 2014 has had so many firsts in terms of Games and again we are making history, we are changing the conversation.
"We are taking an opening ceremony and elevating it into something which will not just be experienced by people but will leave a lasting legacy for the young people of Scotland and across the Commonwealth."
A plan to demolish Glasgow's Red Road tower blocks during the ceremony was withdrawn.
On Thursday the first medals of the Games will be decided in the triathlon at the Strathclyde Country Park.
On the same day cyclist Bradley Wiggins, who was not selected by Team Sky for this year's Tour de France, will be aiming to win the first Commonwealth title of his career if he is picked for the men's 4000m team pursuit.
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