WITH the opening ceremony just two days away, Evening Times photographer Mark Gibson captured the spectacular light show that will launch the Games.

Celtic Park will be bathed in light as hordes of athletes and spectators attend the opening ceremonyon Wednesday.

And the good news is that Glasgow is expected to bask in heat on the day that the mammoth sporting event gets underway.

Stuart Brooks, forecaster at the Met Office, said: "The Games should get off to a good start weather-wise.

"Temperatures should rise to 24 or 25 degrees Centigrade in Glasgow on Wednesday, and even with a slight wind, the weather should be warm and pleasant for the opening ceremony."

Mr Brooks added that later in the week there could be a chance of some showers, though temperatures should remain high.

He said: "The weather should stay on the warm side for the rest of the week. There is a small chance of scattered showers in the west on Thursday and Friday, though these may miss Glasgow.

"Even so we still have a warm air mass over us and there will be a warm summery feel to things."

Thousands of spectators are due to arrive in Glasgow for the landmark sporting event, which continues until August 3.

Millions of people across the globe are expected to watch the 2014 Games on TV, and the competition will be a chance for the organisers to showcase the city and Scotland to the world.

Rock star Rod Stewart, former Britain's Got Talent finalist Susan Boyle, singer Amy Macdonald and violinist Nicola Benedetti are among those due to perform at the colourful extravaganza.

It will be watched by 40,000 spectators on the ground and more than a billion television viewers worldwide.

The story of the Commonwealth nations will be represented through the Parade of Nations and the Competitors' Oath, while the finale will be the arrival of the Queen's Baton Relay after its 118,000-mile, 288-day journey.

All 71 nations and territories taking part in the Commonwealth Games have had a visit from the baton since it set off from Buckingham Palace in October.

A climax will be when the Queen reads out the message that has been hidden inside the baton during its journey around the world before officially announcing the Games open.

Fans, families of athletes and volunteers have also started pouring in to the tented village at the fields of the Cartha Rugby Club near Pollok Park.

Volunteer Abigail Norris, an 18-year-old from Oxford, who has lived in Huntly in Aberdeenshire for the last four years, said: "I've just finished school and wanted something to do over the summer before university.

"The London Olympics looked amazing, but I missed out of volunteering for that, so I thought this would be pretty cool - and it wasn't too far away from home."