Pics : Spectacular opening ceremony of 2014 CWG

First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond, Leader of Glasgow City Council Gordon Matheson and CGF chief Prince Imran Tunku gave brief speeches before the Queens Baton was brought in to the stadium by Jennica Sterling,a 12-year-old girl from Jamaica.32 grassroot volunteers held the Baton turn by turn and took it towards the Royal Box. Britain's most famous athlete Sir Chris Hoy was handed the Baton by his wheeled-chair borne 97-year-old uncle Andy Coogan who inspired him to take up cycling and who used to run at the Celtic Park in the days when it had athletics during half time of football matches. Sir Hoy presented the Baton to CGF chief Prince Imran who struggled for a while in taking out the piece of paper on which the Queens message was written. Her Majesty then read out the message to the Commonwealth before declaring the Games opened. During the ceremony, a moment's silence was also observed to pay homage to the victims of the Malaysian airliner which was shot down recently over Ukraine airspace.