20th Commonwealth Games open
It was only fleeting and came amid a Scottish extravaganza of pop
performances, dancing teacakes and a giant replica sea monster, but there was
no mistaking its message.
During the opening ceremony of the 20th Commonwealth
Games in Glasgow, actor and singer John Barrowman planted a kiss on a male
dancer, before dragging him to the altar for a mock wedding.
It was a move intended to remind millions of
viewers that homosexuality remains a crime in 42 of the 53 Commonwealth member
countries.
The kiss won broad support on Twitter, though
Barrowman retweeted negative comments with the retort: "I am retwtin the
neg because I want u all to see how bitter and Nasty and Neg some people r:) I
am so happy right now. Jb"
Queen Elizabeth II made a less controversial
appearance, declaring the competition open ahead of 11 days of sport, headlined
by a cameo appearance by the fastest man on the planet Usain Bolt.
Britain's monarch read out a message that had
been kept hidden inside the Queen's baton during its parade and relay around 70
nations and territories in the last nine months.
"To you, the Commonwealth athletes, I
send my good wishes for success in your endeavors," Queen Elizabeth told
the athletes.
There was also a minute's silence, led by
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, for the 298 people who died in the
Malaysia Airlines MH17 flight disaster, 82 of whom were from Commonwealth
nations.
The Malaysian team also carried its flag at
half mast on entering the Celtic Park stadium where the ceremony took place.
A capacity crowd of 40,000 were treated to a
festival of dance and music with a strong thread of Scottish culture and
heritage.
World famous Scottish singers Rod Stewart and
Susan Boyle also performed live, while former Manchester United manager Alex
Ferguson and Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar made appearances on video
clips to highlight a UNICEF fund raising initiative promoted by the Games.
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