King Charles III opens 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
via The Namibian3 min read
King Charles III officially opened the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, launching a 10-day event designed to control costs. Approximately 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories will compete for 215 gold medals across 10 sports and six para-sports. The King, accompanied by Queen Camilla, addressed the athletes, stating, "As we gather, we celebrate the dedication and talent of every athlete and team. Your perseverance inspires us, and we eagerly anticipate your achievements in the coming days." He then declared the Games open. This marks the first-ever indoor opening ceremony for the event, which underwent a major restructuring after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew as hosts in 2023 due to spiraling costs. Glasgow stepped in, hosting the Games at a quarter of the cost of its previous hosting 12 years ago, and with the sporting program nearly halved. George Black, Chair of Glasgow 2026, commented on Glasgow's readiness to host. Attendees included UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney. The Falkland Islands' team received a significant ovation. Key sports include athletics, swimming, artistic gymnastics, track cycling, netball, weightlifting, boxing, judo, bowls, and 3x3 basketball. The largest-ever para-sport program features athletics, swimming, track cycling, powerlifting, bowls, and wheelchair basketball. Notable athletes include Scotland’s Josh Kerr, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, India’s Neeraj Chopra, England’s Adam Peaty,
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