Excitement for the Commonwealth Games is building in Glasgow ahead of Wednesday’s opening ceremony.
Whilst most of the city was trying to go about its business as normal or as normal as you can do when one million visitors and a potential TV audience of billions is about to turn its gaze upon you it seemed that every second person in the city centre streets had some connection with the games.
From the smiling red-jacketed Clydesiders on standby to answer queries for passengers arriving at Queen Street Station, to the slightly lost-looking TV production technicians standing at bus stops in George Square waiting for their transport to the opening ceremony venue at Celtic Park, there was a noticeable influx of people walking the streets wearing the Commonwealth Games security accreditation badges.
Large queues snaked from the sun-drenched ticket office in George Square as visitors tried to snap up last-minute tickets.
Even the local beggars were getting in on the act.
A grinning homeless man sitting on the pavement off George Square had somehow managed to acquire a Commonwealth Games jersey. Another beggar complained the police were trying to “clean them off the streets”.
A group from the Scottish Youth Theatre, armed with megaphones, were trying to promote their forthcoming show with a musical performance on Buchanan Street.
And down by the Clyde, there were even men out washing down the lifesize statues of Clyde, the games mascot.
Meanwhile, for residents and commuters, there was a warning that special travel arrangements were now in effect, with games lanes affecting the Clydeside Expressway, the M8 across the Kingston Bridge and the M74.
Police warned drivers that anyone caught driving in the specified lanes would be fined £50.
In the west end of the city, the Queen’s Baton Relay continued its journey as it moved a step closer to its arrival at the opening ceremony.
It came as the majority of athletes and officials descended on Glasgow in preparation for the start of the games with most being whisked straight to the athletes’ village for their special welcome ceremonies.
Many of the venues were placed in “lockdown” with parking and driving restrictions in force.
This also applied to the media centre where the army are now manning airport-style security screening points to gain entry to the SECC complex.
In stark contrast to last week, the media centre was heaving with foreign journalists including Australian radio broadcasters recording their bulletins next to The Courier desk.
It’s game on in Glasgow!