People make Glasgow and last night it was Glasgow’s people who made the opening ceremony of the XX Commonwealth Games. It was a spine-tingling blaze of colour and song that Scotland and Glasgow can be so proud of.
With a billion pairs of eyes watching, it may have been big but it was always on a human scale. Always warm, always personal and always welcoming just what you’d expect from one of the friendliest cities in the world.
After going through airport-style security checkpoints from cheerful but professional guards, smiling volunteer Clydesiders directed people to the appropriate entrances although many, including myself, were distracted by a live broadcast of the One Show from outside the stadium.
A heady mix of saltires and union flags were being waved as families and people of all nationalities arrived.
As a Dundee United supporter, I had vowed not to return to this east end of Glasgow venue, for a while at least, following a disappointing Scottish Cup final day in May. However, I was prepared to make an exception for this big ticket occasion!
Celtic Park had certainly been dressed up. Most striking was Europe’s largest TV screen along one side of the pitch a 310-tonne “window on the Commonwealth” that was to be an integral part of the spectacular show that followed.
A shiver went up the spine as the pre-show entertainment started at 8.14pm. It included an energetic performance by Glasgow ban Esperanza. There was applause as film director Lord Puttnam sent out a serious message about the work of Unicef.
Then the mesmerising two-hour show proper began. The Glasgow Countdown worked well, with a special cheer for the depiction of the traffic cone placed on the head of the Duke of Wellington statue in Royal Exchange Square.
The show packed in a fun-filled musical look at what it means to be Scottish. From John Barrowman appearing from beneath a giant kilt to Amy Macdonald singing her own version of Rhythm of My Heart.
From Rod Stewart, to Susan Boyle singing Mull of Kintyre. From the Pipes and Drums of the Scottish regiments to Nicola Benedetti and a sea plane arriving on the Clyde with the baton.
It truly welcomed the world to Scotland and showed off Scotland to the world. There was even a flypast by the Red Arrows.
The teams were welcomed in a blaze of colour.
There was of course a special cheer for Team Scotland, led by flag bearer Euan Burton. Concluding with impressive pyrotechnics, now the attention turns to the sport.
Bring it on!