Queen Elizabeth to open 2014 Commonwealth Games

Queen Elizabeth II will this evening officially open the 2014 Commonwealth games here in Glasgow city, Scotland in the United Kingdom.

The Queen, who is the Head of the Commonwealth, an association comprising 53 countries, will at 21:00 hours local time stand before a crowd of about 40,000 people at the Celtic park to deliver her speech.

Republican  Vice President Guy Scott will be among high ranking officials from Commonwealth countries that will witness the opening of the games  featuring 17 sports disciplines that will end on August 3, 2014.

Organisers of the event say a worldwide audience of over one billion people is expected to watch the ceremony that will be beamed live on television.

A total of 4,500 athletes representing 71 Commonwealth countries and territories will parade during the ceremony while 2,000 cast members will perform in the ceremony.

The 17 sports disciplines are aquatics, athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, and Judo.

The rest are lawn bowling, netball, rugby sevens, shooting, squash, table tennis, triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling.

However, Zambia will only participate in eight disciplines namely badminton, bowling, boxing, judo, squash, swimming, table tennis and athletics.

Scott has since urged the 43 athletes representing Zambia to do their country proud by winning medals.