More than 5,000 athletes from 72 countries and territories have landed in the English city of Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games.
Held every four years, one of the world's biggest athletics gatherings after the Olympics will take place across 11 days, with competitions in 19 sports and 280 medal events.
Prince Charles inaugurated the event on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday and said the games "reminds us of our connection with one another ... as a family of nations". Commonwealth states were originally mostly former British Empire colonies but today that condition is not needed for new members.
Scroll through the gallery above for some of most striking team uniforms at the Commonwealth Games
Birmingham band Duran Duran also performed at the ceremony, which also included a speech by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, who was treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in 2012 after she was shot in the head by the Taliban aged 15.
Representatives from each of the countries turned out in their finest gear at Alexander Stadium for the opening ceremony, put together by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.
Host country Team England wore bright red jackets by Scottish fashion designer Patrick Grant. The outfits were created by Grant's sustainable fashion brand Community Clothing and featured lines from boxer Matt Windle's poem Bring It!, which he composed especially for the Games.
The jackets also featured patches created by various artists across England, with each athlete given the freedom to use them to customise their own looks.
Standout looks also came via Team Scotland who wore kilts to the ceremony. Created by Scottish designer Siobhan Mackenzie, the tartan design was a nod to colours synonymous with both Team Scotland and the games.
“It’s a contemporary take on tradition and, importantly, is made in Scotland using traditional methods," Mackenzie told STV when the outfits were first revealed last month.
The Scots were not the only ones in skirts. Team Tonga also wore traditional tassled pieces while their flagbearer, rugby captain Sione Tupou, looked set to recreate the stir caused by fellow athlete Pita Taufatofua at the Tokyo Olympics. Taufatofua became a viral sensation when he walked into the ceremony shirtless, inspiring thousands of memes.
South Africa, which was initially meant to host the Games in Durban, but pulled out citing financial problems, also stood out with its athletes' looks on Thursday night.
Working with a team of young designers such as Sandile Sikhakhane, Mbali Zulu, Sipho Lushaba and Nompumelelo Mjadu, the uniforms were created to showcase "all things South African", including the discovery of diamonds, South African royalty and the colours of the country's flag, the countries sports federation said.
"Tonight teams from 72 countries and territories join the people of Birmingham to celebrate friendship across borders," Yousafzai said during her speech at the opening ceremony.
"The young athletes who will compete over the next few weeks represent millions of girls and boys across the commonwealth — our shared hope for the future."
It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times
If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.
A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.
The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.
In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.
The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.
Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.
Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.
“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.
The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.
“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.
“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”
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Afghanistan squad
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Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
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