It’s around 10pm on the Broomielaw and two young African lads are taking pictures of each other looking over the river near the Bell’s Bridge. Eager to do my bit for Glasgow as a friendly host of the Commonwealth Games, I offer to take their picture together. This is Niven Chemben and Josian Lebon from Mauritius and they’ve just watched the opening ceremony.

“Where can I visit Loch Ness,” says Niven, and I become slightly fearful that he’ll ask about the monster. What would I tell him? That it’s a myth? That wouldn’t be very sporting. And, well … you just never know. Niven, though, just wants to know how far away it is. I tell him it’s only about three and a half hours and that a bus will take them there no bother. “If you’ve got the time, you’ll love it,” I tell them. “It’s a great trip and Scotland looks brilliant all the way up there."

To be fair, Scotland’s looking brilliant down here on the Clyde too and Josian and Niven are enjoying Glasgow. “It’s wonderful to be here,” says Niven. Scotland’s great national beast had featured prominently in that opening ceremony with a smart piece of choreographed, electronic genius and had left its mark on these two Mauritians.

I leave them as the sun sets over the river and my city shimmers in its wake. And with it, the final layer of my cynicism peels away too. That was a grand opening ceremony. It lifted the spirits in ways that troubled me. I’m a journalist FFS, we’re supposed to be detached. We avoid emotional responses, but there were moments during that wee music and dance extravaganza at the Hydro when I had to get a grip of myself.

Greg McHugh and Sir Chris Hoy wave during the opening ceremony (Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

King Charles III, Queen Camilla and Sir Chris Hoy step out of the TARDIS (Image: PA)

Graeme Stevely (Grado) is dressed as a teacake during the pre-ceremony show before the opening ceremony (Image:........

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