Glasgow 2014 Dubbed "Best Games Ever" at Closing Ceremony

(ATR) The president of the Commonwealth Games Federation Prince Tunku Imran said Glasgow had delivered the "best Games ever" at the closing ceremony on Sunday.

The Games, which began on the 23rd of July, finished with a glittering celebration in a packed-out Hampden Park with a performance from pop star Kylie Minogue the focus of the evening.

Before handing over the Commonwealth Games flag to Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, Prince Imran and chair of Glasgow 2014 Lord Smith of Kelvin addressed the 45,000-strong crowd, television viewers, and the athletes from 71 nations and territories.

"These have truly been the people’s games," Prince Imran said. "Scotland, you have welcomed the athletes to the Commonwealth and have contributed to them realizing their dreams on one of the world’s great sporting stages.

"They’ve been supported by a fantastic organization, and all has been made possible by the invaluable efforts by thousands of volunteers.

"Scotland, Glasgow, you really have delivered the best Games ever. Glasgow, you were pure dead brilliant!"

The last line drew a huge cheer as it is a local colloquialism.

The night had begun loudly with Scottish singer Lulu drawing the athletes out from tents camped on the Hampden Park turf with her hit song "Shout." Organizers had told reporters that they wanted to create a music-festival type atmosphere, and so the set reflected that with the stage and surrounding "campsite."

Once the formal proceedings were over, Gold Coast 2018 had their moment and began by showing spectators what they could expect from visiting the region in four years’ time.

Australian singer Jessica Mauboy led the brief show with Olympic and Commonwealth champion Sally Pearson joining in to invite the Commonwealth to the next games in April 2018.

The show was then handed over to another Australian as Kylie made her entrance to wild cheers and pyrotechnics. At one stage, Australian steeplechase athlete Genevieve LaCaze gatecrashed Minogue's concert, waving her country’s flag amid a group of dancers.

Apart from that though, the entire ceremony went off without a hitch. Some were disappointed that the night seemed to be Australian heavy, and that the Proclaimers, whose hit song "500 Hundred Miles" boomed out at all the venues, did not make an appearance.

However, for a Commonwealth Games that arguably saved the movement following the calamitous edition in Delhi in 2010, it was a fitting and entertaining send-off.

At the close of the Games, England topped the medal tally with a total of 174, including 58 golds – their best showing at a Commonwealth Games.

Australia finished 37 medals behind with 137, 49 of which were gold but will be desperate to reclaim top status in 2018.

Canada followed with 82 medals while host Scotland rounded off its most successful ever games by collecting 53 medals.

Scotland first minister Alex Salmond said the Games had exceeded all expectations.

"The overwhelming impression of Glasgow and Scotland's games is of a job extremely well done," he said.

"They have been seven years and more in the planning. We hope we have taken the baton on for the Commonwealth and can present it to the Gold Coast in fine order."

India Officials Arrested

Indian Olympic Association general secretary Rajiv Mehta and wrestling referee Virender Malik were arrested in Glasgow on Saturday on separate charges, according to reports.

Local media says Malik has been arrested for alleged sexual assault while Mehta has been arrested for alleged drunken driving.

Neither of the two men were staying with the official India contingent in the athletes’ village, but instead in local hotels.

Hooper declined to comment on the arrests from the perspective of the CGF and added that it was "a matter for the police and the courts."

A police spokesman confirmed the arrest of two men in Glasgow but refused to release any more information.

Reported by Christian Radnedge

Homepage photo: Getty Images

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