A time-travelling king and visit from Nessie: inside the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony

The Commonwealth Games has always been a competition shaped by its history as well as its sport. Previously known as the “British Empire Games”, the competition is perhaps viewed by many as the “Olympics-lite”, a place where smaller nations and territories get their time to shine (although Australia, England and Canada dominate the medal table). For others, it is a perpetual reminder of the presence of colonisation on our shores, a place where the damaging and violent histories of the British…