Commonwealth Games opening makes tribute to MH17 victims

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond made a tribute to the victims of flight MH17 at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony this evening which was followed by one minute of silence.

The First Minister thanked the 40,000 attendees in Glasgow ahead of the 11 days of the Commonwealth Games and remembered the fallen, including the 43 Malaysian citizens who perished when their plane was shot down over Ukraine.

Broadcast live around the world, the opening ceremony held at Celtic Park is expected to have reached over 1 billion people, and a live appeal was launched during the show to support UNICEF's work in support of impoverished children.

Featuring musical performances from the likes or Rod Stewart and a host of celebrities along with the British Royal family, the Commonwealth games opened in style with a spectacular fireworks and aerial displays with the famous British red arrows.

The Queen along with the Duke of Edinburgh, Ewan McGregor, Billy Connolly and Amy Macdonald took part in the historic event, said to be the biggest sporting event ever held in Scotland.

The Queen addressed the crowd with this closing statement:

"At Buckingham Palace last October I placed this message in a special crafted baton...over the past 288 days, the baton has been to all the nations and territories of the Commonwealth...It serves as a reminder of our shared ideals...and now that baton has arrived here in Glasgow, a city renowned for its dynamic, cultural and sporting achievements...To you the commonwealth athletes, I send you my good wishes...you remind us that young people, those under 25 years make up half the commonwealth citizens.

And indeed to the spectators, and the millions watching on television, together we all play a part in strengthening our friendships in this modern and vibrant association of nations...It gives me the greatest pleasure to declare this commonwealth games open."