How Bad Bunny is inspiring Glasgow's Commonwealth Games

In a Glasgow sports hall on a dreary midweek evening, dozens of dancers are on the move.

Some are twirling fabrics into the air, others are tucked into a corner practising an arms-in-the-air routine and a handful are perched near racks of costumes.

It is now just weeks from the start of the Commonwealth Games, and the work taking place here will be replicated - in bolder and more colourful fashion - at the city's OVO Hydro venue on 23 July.

Organisers told BBC Scotland News they are taking inspiration from sources as varied as the famous dancing teacakes that highlighted Glasgow's previous opening in 2014 - and music superstar Bad Bunny's half-time show at this year's Superbowl.

The Puerto Rican singer's performance was rooted in his home, although it raised the ire of US President Donald Trump.

The director of Glasgow 2026's ceremony, Roxana Cole, was among those watching. She felt the show's sense of community and pride in Puerto Rico perfectly captured what she hoped to achieve for Glasgow at the Games.

"Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl is a massive inspiration," she said, as dancers went through their warm-ups behind her, soundtracked by pop hits from Sophie Ellis Bextor and S Club 7.

"How the Superbowl show held this feeling of an authentic community has been deeply inspirational to us.

"We had already been thinking about those things and how we could do that, and then we all watched Bad Bunny and went 'bingo!' There is something inspiring about that sort of performance."

Cole has lived in Glasgow for nine years, and has a background that includes several years working with Scottish Opera.

It is her task to ensure the Games kicks off with a bang, after Glasgow was parachuted in at short notice to take on hosting the troubled competition.

"One of the first things I did was a marathon watch of different opening and closing ceremonies," she said.

"We need to understand how we make drama at this scale. There's big gigs and massive tours like the Bad Bunny show, that have inspired me as they have images that really translate to both an arena and also sitting at home watching it on TV."

A cast of 600 will appear at the Hydro, a selection of whom were being put through their paces by Cole.

All had earpieces plugged in while Cole directed from a balcony above, creating the slightly surreal visual of the groups laughing or nodding in response to words the rest of us could not hear.

For Kira Ewing, 26, a family connection made her want to be involved.

Her mum took part as a Highland dancer in the opening ceremony of the 1986 Games held in Edinburgh.

"She always spoke about what an incredible experience it was," Kira recalled.

"It was always on my bucket list to try and do something like this, to really experience it for myself and once I set something that goal it was something I had to do!"

A soloist in a ballet company and an accomplished Highland dancer, the Hydro show will see the dancer perform to the biggest crowd of her career.

"I'm really excited to be in an arena performing live, it's such a cool opportunity. My mum has said to just enjoy it – working in ballet is so stressful and while this is still stressful and high stakes, there is a lot of fun to be had in performing too."

The 2014 edition was held at Celtic Park, and featured appearances by the likes of Rod Stewart and Susan Boyle, along with references to everything from the Loch Ness Monster to Glasgow's fondness for placing traffic cones on statues.

Cole is tight-lipped about who exactly is lined up this year, but organisers say major international artists and emerging talent will appear, while singers from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Youth Chorus will perform the national anthem.

Scottish Dance Theatre performers are also confirmed to perform, while the band Valtos - who combine electronic music with trad - have collaborated with musicians from across the Commonwealth to soundtrack the parade of nations arriving.

Cole says the ceremony will be rooted in the host city.

"Home is a very big, key theme throughout this, making the athletes feel at home and feel welcome in Glasgow, but also a sense that Glasgow is for everybody," she says.

"It has frequently shown that everyone is welcome in this city and it's one of the reasons I am proud to live here. Inclusion, activism and a deep sense of warmth are all characteristics of the city."

This year's pared back Games features 10 sports compared to the 17 that took place 12 years ago, following a difficult time for the competition.

However Cox is confident that the opening ceremony will kick-start the Games in style.

But she is coy about arguably the most famous sight of the 2014 ceremony - dancers spinning around while holding up giant teacakes, and if they will make a comeback.

"Everyone mentions the teacakes! I would say that this year we are embracing the things that really worked last time, and maybe doing them with even more of a bang."