Scottish songbirds Rod Stewart and Susan Boyle, the Loch Ness Monster and tartan - lots of tartan - all made an appearance at the opening of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The Games were officialy opened by the Queen.
The Queen opens the Commonwealth Games. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Olympic and world champion shotputter Valerie Adams led the New Zealand contingent into the opening ceremony at Celtic Park, which was attended by about 40,000 spectators and was billed by organisers as the biggest live show Scotland has ever staged. It was broadcast to an estimated television audience of more than one billion people.
New Zealand flag bearer Valerie Adams at the opening ceremony of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Adams later said it was an exciting moment to lead the team into Celtic Park, and "was pretty epic".
New Zealand team members at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Photo: REUTERS
New Zealand has 232 athletes at the games, of which 135 marched into the stadium.
New Zealand's triathletes, track cyclists and swimmers missed the ceremony as they prepared for their events.
But the Silver Ferns netballers all marched in the ceremony. The team, which has been on a strict routine in preparation for the Games, is taking a break from its training timetable to attend the ceremony.
The opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow. Photo: REUTERS
Commonwealth Games Federation head New Zealander Mike Hooper said Glasgow had the potential to be the best Games ever held.
Hooper is stepping down following the Games - after 13 years in charge.
Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg says there's huge excitement in the city, and one million tickets for Games events during the next fortnight have been pre-sold.