Dpa/Glasgow, Scotland
The first day of competition at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow got underway on Thursday, with 20 gold medals up for grabs in events including cycling, swimming, rhythmic gymnastics and triathlon.
The day began overcast, but was expected to get brighter and warmer later in the day, with temperatures reaching around 26 degrees Celsius.
England's Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonny, who won gold and bronze respectively at the 2012 Olympics, were firm favourites in the men's triathlon, though South Africa's Richard Murray looked likely to prove a threat.
Another English hero of the London games, Bradley Wiggins, was to chase gold in the track cycling team pursuit - the only event in which he is taking part - with tough competition expected from defending champions Australia and New Zealand, which has two members of the winning team from the 2014 world championships in its line-up.
Jaelle Cohen, Amy Quinn and Danielle Prince were looking to defend Australia's Delhi 2010 team rhythmic gymnastics title, but were likely to face challenges from Wales, Malaysia and Canada.
In the pool, the host nation's Olympic silver medallist Michael Jamieson was going for gold in the men's 200m breaststroke, while his compatriot Hannah Miley was to defend her Commonwealth 400m medley title.
South Africa's Roland Schoeman, who holds the Games record of 23.34 seconds, and Chad Le Clos were set to battle it out in the men's 50m butterfly. Defending champion Jason Dunford of Kenya, making a comeback after a poor showing in London 2012, could also manage a podium finish.
India was hoping to medal in the first weightlifting events, with Sukhen Dey, who won silver in Delhi four years ago, looking for gold in the 56 kg event, and Sanjita Chanu Khumukcham and Saikhom Mirabai Chanu strong favourites in the women's 48 kg.
