Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

The 19th Commonwealth Games begins tomorrow, but today is all about the opening ceremony. A near-capacity 60,000 crowd enjoys the spectacle which, as its centrepiece, features an illuminated aerostat Photograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images A close-up shows the intricacy of the design Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are in attendance. The games will brining together 71 nations from across the Commonwealth - from the tiny Caribbean islands of Anguilla to the African nation of Zambia Photograph: Prakash Singh/AFP/Getty Images A laser show lights up the sky as huge drums are wheeled into the arena Photograph: Mark Dadswell/Getty Images Ear plugs at the ready Photograph: Mark Dadswell/Getty Images Here comes Shera, the Games' mascot. His name is derived from the Urdu word Sher – meaning tiger. Apparently his motto is 'Come out and play' Photograph: Graham Crouch/Getty Images Camilla makes Prince Charles laugh Photograph: Ian Walton/Getty Images Nine thousand performers are taking part in tonight's opening ceremony Photograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images These youngsters look happy to be a part of the action Photograph: Feng Li/Getty Images More performers wearing colourful costumes prepare to take centre-stage Photograph: Graham Crouch/Getty Images Now for the flag-waving athletes ... here's the Australian team, led by netball player Sharelle McMahon Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images The Scots have, unsurprisingly, donned their kilts Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images Abhinav Bindra has the honour of leading the host nation out with the Indian flag. Bindra is an Olympic rifle champion Photograph: Andy Clark/Reuters