Commonwealth Games 2022 Opening ceremony live: Key moments, pictures from Birmingham
Nothing was going to stop the Aussies getting a selfie during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony — even if it caused a traffic jam. Recap the “mayhem” of a grand start.
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Well, that was a jolly good show.
The Commonwealth Games opening ceremony delivered heart, hedonism and a history lesson with a healthy dose of working class swag.
Prince Charles rocked up in his own $1 million Aston Martin before Australia’s athletes, led by the beaming Eddie Ockenden and Rachael Grinham, scrubbed up more than all right to lead a stirring Parade of Nations. The Brummies and England did themselves proud. Well played.
Australia led the parade of nations waving to the royal party, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Commonwealth Games Federation vice patron, the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex to kick start a smorgasbord of 10 days of sport and fun.
SCROLL DOWN FOR A FULL RECAP OF THE OPENING CEREMONY
It was perhaps fitting Australia had the lead-off honour as the most successful country at the Games, and team officials are hoping to eclipse its 1000th Commonwealth gold medal of all time sometime at these Games.
Prince Charles had even told some of the Australian athletes earlier in the day when he visited the athletes village that other nations were “terrified’’ of competing against them.
Just don’t tell that to host nation England, who were paraded into the stadium as the final nation to the soundtrack of We Will Rock You and David Bowie’s Let’s Dance on a high octane sound system.
Most of Australia’s competitors due to begin performing on Friday’s first day of competition, such as the high calibre swim team, elected to watch the ceremony at the athletes’ village.
But the Australians who did march — most of whom didn’t wear masks — almost caused a traffic jam at the end of the 100m straight when a third of the team walked off early to get an early night’s sleep, but stopped mid track to get team selfies first.
Oceania teams following behind like Niue, Tuvalu, Fiji and Tonga were only briefly indisposed by the good natured mayhem. It was that kind of feel-good night.
What began with African sakara drums beating in a ‘’call to gather’’, the evening included a surprise appearance by the youngest Nobel laureate Mulala Yousufzai who lives in Birmingham, welcoming the crowd — and receiving a huge cheer when she called for a world where women can participate fully in society.
Throughout the three hours there was an electrifying rock and roll playlist and it finished with dancing and fireworks to a superb show by locals Duran Duran and Charles delivering the Queen’s message which had been transported around the Commonwealth in the baton relay. The Queen may have been referring to the Australian and England rivalry when she said in her message:
“Over the years the coming together of so many of these Friendly games has created memorable shared experiences … and created some friendly rivalry, but above all it has reminded us of our connection to each other as part of the Commonwealth family of Nations” She added that the “novel adventure in Birmingham is symbolic of the rich diversity and unity of the commonwealth and one which I know welcomes you all”.
Everywhere was evidence of England’s second biggest city’s deep and vibrant ethnicity: the artistic director Iqbal Khan, is the son of two Pakistani parents who introduced parkour artists, stunt cyclists, giant puppets, oversized props such as the Queen’s gold carriage, and the fearsome bull to bring a Willy Wonka air to proceedings.
There was even an enormous 10m high mechanical bull and a 1000 person choir.
While India and Pakistan received huge cheers from the audience, it was Jamaica who received the biggest roar, until Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and then the host nation walked into the stadium.
Peaky Blinders screenwriter Steven Knight was the executive producer of the show, who noted: “I love the people of Birmingham, it’s a hard city, a city of iron and steel after all, but everyone here has a sense of life’s absurdity too’’.
And so that quirky stage was set early in the show during a tribute to the Commonwealth Games patron, the Queen, with a parade of vintage cars from throughout her 70-year reign to deliver the VIP guests into the stadium in a parking lot formation of the Union flag.
Later there would be even reference to Birmingham’s infamous road system, the “spaghetti junction”.
Charles and Camilla arrived in their favourite million dollar blue Aston Martin DV 6 Series II Volante, modified to run on ethanol made from cheese and wine.
Charles has had the car since being given it by the Queen and Prince Philip on his 21st birthday.
There was a particularly moving moment, that perhaps wasn’t captured on television, which pointed to the 19 sports which include para events.
Some severely disabled performers in wheelchairs were surrounding the huge stage and at one point one wheelchair became stuck and without missing a beat, and with arms still moving with the choreographed movements, another performer quickly moved in to help.
British Olympic diver Tom Daley, who has been critical of nations which don’t fully recognise the LGBTQ+ community, was one of the final baton runners.
ENGLAND’S MESSAGE OF INCLUSION LIGHTS UP COMM GAMES
In a week where displaying a rainbow on sporting kits has divided Australia, England and the Commonwealth Games set the perfect tone for inclusivity at the Opening Ceremony.
Not only did England’s athletes sport a rainbow flag on the shoulder of their kits, but Olympic diver and LGBTQ activist Tom Daley entered the stadium with the Queen’s baton surrounded by rainbow flag bearers in a “historic” statement against homophobia.
The display of support for the LGBTQ community was in stark contrast to events that unfolded in Australia this week with seven Manly players refusing to wear the club’s Pride round jersey citing religious reasons.
Their decision to boycott the club’s do-or-die clash against the Roosters on Thursday (AEST) sparked widespread debate in Australia and divided the playing group.
Daley has been very vocal in recent days calling out homophobia across Commonwealth nations.
35 Commonwealth member states criminalise same-sex relations. That’s more than half of the countries globally that outlaw homosexuality. Tom Daley using his platform to condemn homophobia in sport across the Commonwealth states. #legendpic.twitter.com/P6HoV7oJmY
— Stephanie (@stephgeographer) July 28, 2022
The British athlete – who will not compete in Birmingham as he takes a break from competing – highlighted the number of competing nations where same sex relationships remain illegal and in some cases carry a sentence of life imprisonment.
“Thirty-five out of the 56 Commonwealth member states criminalise same-sex relations,” Daly, who married husband Dustin Lance Black in 2017, said. “That’s half the countries in the world that outlaw homosexuality.
“This Opening Ceremony for us is about showing LGBTQ+ visibility to the billion people watching.
Brilliant having @TomDaley1994 promoting our LGBTQ+ communities and surrounded by the pride flags. In many Commonwealth countries, being LGBTQ+ is still absurdly criminalised, sometimes punishable by death. Important message for the world. ðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆðŸ³ï¸â€âš§ï¸ #CommonwealthGames2022#Birminghampic.twitter.com/tVYPejderF
— BrandEquality (@brand_equality) July 28, 2022
“LGBT+ athletes must be safe and feel comfortable being their authentic selves without fear of persecution or death.
“Something that is happening at the opening ceremony is going to be quite the historic moment.
“I’ve experienced homophobia all my life, competing in countries where it’s illegal to be me and where I don’t feel safe to leave the venue I’m competing in. If I feel that as a privileged man, I can’t imagine what day-to-day life is like for LGBT+ people around the Commonwealth.”
Brilliant having @TomDaley1994 promoting our LGBTQ+ communities and surrounded by the pride flags. In many Commonwealth countries, being LGBTQ+ is still absurdly criminalised, sometimes punishable by death. Important message for the world. ðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆðŸ³ï¸â€âš§ï¸ #CommonwealthGames2022#Birminghampic.twitter.com/GZtEyox7It
— Guy Duncan (he/ him/ his) (@gdaduncan) July 28, 2022
7:15AM CHARLES BOND-STYLE ENTRY
An entrance James Bond would be proud of.
They stole the show during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations and the Cambridge youngsters, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are sure to do the same during the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
But it was their grandfather Prince Charles – who will open the Games in Birmingham on behalf of the Queen – that stole the show at the opening Ceremony.
The heir to the throne was accompanied by his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall as they arrived in style in an Aston Martin before a spine tingling rendition of the national anthem captivated the stadium.
Don’t expect to be going down to the second hand car yard and picking up a set of wheels like the one Prince Charles arrived in at the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony.
The Queen gave Charles the 1969 Aston Martin DV 6 series II Volante on his 21st birthday.
He converted the car to become more environmentally friendly and it now runs on ethanol apparently made from cheese and wine.
The car, even without being converted, is worth being over $1m.
The Queen, 96, has already travelled to Balmoral Castle for her summer break and will be watching the Games events on television, palace insiders say.
7:05AM THE NEW TONGAN THOR
Not the fan favourite but the usual attire for the Tongan flag bearer which causes plenty of hype every year.
6:50AM NOT A MASK IN SIGHT
As Aussies mask up in the middle of winter, they were scarcely sighted during the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.
Athletes were marching into Alexander Stadium mask-free.
It comes after Commonwealth Games doctors admitted that athletes are likely to be competing with and against competitors suffering from Covid.
World javelin champion Kelsey-Lee Barber has already been diagnosed with Covid but is still set to compete for Australia when the athletics commences next week.
It is a far cry from the locked stadiums and the athlete stand-downs that have dominated competitions in Australia in the past two years.
6:25am HERE COME THE ATHLETES
Australia were first to enter the Stadium and from what we have beenb told there was a little chaos as they went in – some of them seemingly trying to leave after taking a few selfies. More of that to come.
Going in first always fun but also means you have to sit there while some 6000 more athletes enter.
‘I’m going to do something that that British government doesn’t always do … and welcome some foreigners!’
Joe Lycett with the gags.
6:10am HAVE I EATEN THE WRONG MUSHROOMS?
British comedian Lenny Hnery who is front and centre of the coverage here in Birmingham seems to have reviewed that opening part of the ceremony perfectly.
“That was some ceremony,” he said. “That or I had thew wrong kind of mushrooms on my toast this morning.”
Us too Len, us too.
5:45AM IT’S GETTING CONFUSING
We’ve gone form Royals to puppets, gigantic lemons and now it’s the industrial revolution. If you’re as old and as English as me you might be sat there thinking this is very VERY similar to the London 2012 opener.
And now a huge bull which apparently represents freedom but it’s getting aggravated by an apparent dance-off happening right in front of it. I mean you would wouldn’t you.
Powerful scenes watching the commonwealth games opening ceremony ðŸ‘ðŸ¼. Hats off to whoever comes up these ideas and creates the content. Simply fantastic! #CommonwealthGames2022pic.twitter.com/f0fUpEmbaW
— Amelia Larard (@AmeliaLarard) July 28, 2022
5.30AM MALALA YOUSAFZAI’S SPECIAL WELCOME
The 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousakzai, who now calls Birmingham home, has opened the Commonwealth Games with a special message with the athletes and the city she loves. She was shot by the Taliban as a teenager. She told the opening ceremony: “Birmingham, when I first came to this city I had never heard its name. But I would come to understand it through the doctors and nurses at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Through the teachers who inspired me at school, helped my mother to learn English, and taught
my little brothers to drive.
“Through the beautiful library of Birmingham, through the friends I have made, from my best friend Ellen, a lifelong Brummie, to the families who have come here from Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and beyond.
“Tonight teams from 72 countries and territories join the people of Birmingham to celebrate friendship across borders. The young athletes who will compete over the next two weeks represent millions of girls and boys across the Commonwealth. “Our shared hope for the future. A future where every child can go to school. Where women can fully participate in society. (APPLAUSE) Where families can live in peace and indeed in dignity. Over the next weeks as we watching credible athletes of the Commonwealth Games remember that every child deserves the chance to reach their full potential and pursue their wildest dreams. And now it is my honour to say, welcome to Birmingham! Thank you.”
4:45AM MOMENTUM IS BUILDING
We are just 15 minutes from the start of the Opening Ceremony and word from the ground is it’s chaos outside the stadium with more than 10,000 people yet to get inside Alexander Stadium – including our team.
Here’s what it looks like inside.
The stage is set, we're ready! 10 minutes to go... #CommonwealthGames#OpeningCeremony#B2022pic.twitter.com/oZSnPYlqXK
— Victoria (@vict_ell) July 28, 2022
Earlier today the Prince of Wales confided to Australian competitors that they are the team that “everyone is terrified of” at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Prince Charles overstayed a planned half-hour visit to meet more than 250 excited competitors at the athletes’ village at the University of Birmingham on Thursday afternoon, on the eve of the Opening Ceremony where he was to formally open the Games on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.
Amid myriad requests for selfies and receiving pins and gifts, Charles, 73, was treated to a hero’s welcome from athletes from the 72 nations competing in these Games. Charles spoke to Australian swimmer Mitch Larkin and diver Melissa Wu, smartly attired in their formal outfits and RM Williams boots, asking where they were from and what sports they competed in.
3:10AM AEST: A RIGHT ROYAL COMPETITION
Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, are on track to visit athletes and watch the Games’ competitions including the rugby. Anne is the patron for Scotland rugby, a position she has held since 1986, and it would be no surprise if William, the patron of the Welsh Rugby Union also pops in to watch some of the Rugby Sevens action with children in tow.
Kensington Palace has confirmed that the Cambridges will attend the Games next Tuesday, August 2.
Given that Anne’s son-in-law, Mike Tindall is a former England rugby international, there is speculation that Zara and Mike may also support the Games with their children Mia, seven, and Lena, four, as well as one-year-old son Lucas. It is unclear if Anne’s other grandchildren Peter Phillips’ daughters Savannah, 11, and Isla, 10, will turn up.
Third in line to the throne George, eight, has already been treated to attending the Wimbledon final, where his mother Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, had to cover his ears when Australian bad boy Nick Kyrgios swore at his entourage sitting nearby to the Royal Box.
The home Games in Birmingham will give William and Kate an opportunity to also treat Charlotte and Louis to some top class action.
However the most enthusiastic Games supporter is Edward, who has already been to Birmingham three times to check on Games’ preparations and has attended every Commonwealth Games since Edinburgh in 1986.
2AM AEST: WHO WILL PERFORM?
Birmingham is set to welcome 72 teams and some 6,500 athletes ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games with the event set to be officially opened at Friday’s (AEST) Opening Ceremony.
Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is one of the masterminds behind the show with many saying they believe the three-and-a-half hour show will rival London 2012.
Organisers predict 1.5 billion people will tune into the Opening Ceremony which will take place at Alexander Stadium from 4am AEST Friday.
“A lot of opening ceremonies are visually spectacular but emotionally quite timid, I think,” Knight told the BBC. “But this one is very emotional.
“It’s got a story to tell. It’s about the people of Birmingham. So it’s the story of what the city has achieved, and how it’s achieved it by the people that are here.
“It feels like it’s Birmingham’s turn to shine – and this show certainly shines.”
While information is being kept secret, we do know there will be performances from Duran Duran and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi to saxophonist Soweto Kinch and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO).
AUSTRALIA’S COMM GAMES FLAG-BEARERS REVEALED
Australia’s flag-bearers for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, to be held in the early morning this Friday, Australian time, will be the one of the most capped Commonwealth Games athletes, Toowoomba’s squash player Rachael Grinham, and the highly successful men’s hockey captain Eddie Ockenden from Tasmania.
The selection of Grinham, 45, is obvious: she has been one of the stalwarts of the Australian Commonwealth Games team for the past five editions, winning a silver medal at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Games, pairing with her sister Natalie for team gold at the Melbourne Games and has been one of Australia’s top squash players on the world circuit. She only missed the Delhi Games because of injury.
Team Scotland has claimed that their female flag bearer badminton stalwart Kirsty Gilmour is the first gay athlete to be given the honour, but Grinham, from Toowoomba, came out as gay more than five years ago, at the time saying it was to “if we can help others, then it’s worth doing”.
Grinham was in shock when told of the flag honour, by Australian Team Chef de Mission, Petria Thomas in the presence of Governor-General, David Hurley and Linda Hurley and in front of over 300 team members inside the Birmingham University Athletes Village.
She was especially chuffed as the Commonwealth Games is the biggest international multi sport event that squash can be part of.
“It has been a bit surreal when I do think I am here for the sixth time,’’ she said, adding that in the previous opening ceremonies “we are never up the front, I am the little one as well. (It will be) lucky if I am seen”.
However the Australian selectors have bypassed another female athlete who has also been at five previous Games, the table tennis player Jian Fang Lay, of Victoria.
Lay has represented Australia at six Olympic Games and she has represented Australia at every Games since the sport was first held at Manchester 2002, winning seven medals. Lay was born in Wenzhou, China, and arrived in Australia in 1994 with her husband and training partner Jorge Lay.
Thomas said Lay had not been nominated for the role.
“She’s obviously very focused on on her competition, and I’m not sure how, how well, it would have sat with her to have the attention that the flag bearers garner.”
She said she didn’t factor that hockey was getting the honour in successive Games.
“You look at the achievements, the longevity, the way that they carry themselves, the respect that they have within the team. So that was the factors. It wasn’t really about what sport they came from. It’s the quality of the people.”
Thomas decided to give the flag raising honour to Ockenden – the second games in succession that the mens hockey captain has been the honour.
His roommate at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Kookaburras captain Mark Knowles was flag bearer at the Gold Coast Games in 2018.
Ockenden, a three-time Commonwealth Games gold medal winner, commented that he felt he had impostor syndrome. “Am I worthy to lead such a fantastic team, can I do a good job?,” he said, adding, “ I am sure I will be fine, it is really cool to be part of it.’’
Thomas said sports federations had submitted 25 nominations to be considered for the honour.
“These decisions are not just based on how many Games they have been too – they have to be model athletes and both Eddie and Rachael certainly tick that box,’’ she said.
“Although we don’t actually have team captains, they do become our unofficial team leaders so it is a great honour.
“And how thankful are we that we get the opportunity to have a male and a female to carry the flag together.
“It is never an easy decision and this one was made in consultation with my fellow team executive members.
“It’s a massive honour to carry the flag.”
More than 200 of the 750 strong team of athletes and officials will march in the ceremony and in a sudden turnaround of the extra strict Australian team rules, masks won’t have to be worn.
Thomas said: “for that special moment it will be masks off. We’re really focusing on wearing masks indoors and while we’re moving around in a crowded sort of space, even outdoors, but given the moment we will be masks off, if people want to.”
As revealed earlier this week by NewsCorp, athletes who have covid will be allowed to compete in the Games competition if cleared by the team doctor. Thomas said “our goal is to make sure that we can get people to the start line”.
She added: “ this is a big moment in an athlete’s life and to be able to potentially miss out because of something like Covid would be heartbreaking. No stone has been unturned for trying to get the athletes to the start line and I commend the Organising Committee for that approach.”
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Originally published as Commonwealth Games 2022 Opening ceremony live: Key moments, pictures from Birmingham
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