is going to talk to me. hello, we met earlier. is going to talk to me. hello, we met earlier- is going to talk to me. hello, we met earlier. ., ., , ., ., ., met earlier. how are you doing? i am well, how met earlier. how are you doing? i am well. how are met earlier. how are you doing? i am well, how are you? met earlier. how are you doing? i am well, how are you? tell met earlier. how are you doing? i am well, how are you? tell me met earlier. how are you doing? i am well, how are you? tell me about - well, how are you? tell me about what ou well, how are you? tell me about what you will well, how are you? tell me about what you will be well, how are you? tell me about what you will be doing. well, how are you? tell me about what you will be doing. we - well, how are you? tell me about what you will be doing. we are i well, how are you? tell me about what you will be doing. we are a l what you will be doing. we are a professional what you will be doing. we are a profe
a cast of 2,500 including duran duran and black sabbath s tony iommi will be part of the show here. 0rganisers say the brummie accent will be put on the world stage and the ceremony will also celebrate lgbt rights, as homosexuality is still outlawed in 35 commonwealth countries. now someone who knows alexander stadium very well is the midlands very own denise lewis. the track and field athlete won gold in herfirst commonwealth games in canada in 1994, and her second in kuala lumpur in 1998. she s been sharing what it means to have the games so close to home. my childhood, growing up in wolverhampton, travelling back and forth to birmingham was literally like a ritual. i hustled and bustled through new street station.
this venue at these commonwealth games? well, i m speechless. itjust is so amazing. and the fact that this event is going to come to smethwick and people all around the world are going to be watching is just so amazing. it s usually something that happens somewhere else. we feel an incredible responsibility for putting on a brilliant games for birmingham, the west midlands and the rest of the country, and, you know, showing what britain s is all about a welcoming, inclusive society where everybody gets on. and, do you know what, it is a privilege to do that, but a responsibility, as well. it starts tonight at the alexander stadium, which has gone from local track to national emblem. in four years there s been lock downs and setbacks, but across this city, they are ready. joe lynskey, bbc news, birmingham. we rejoined by ian reid, chief executive of the commonwealth games.
those who would not normally have the opportunity to participate a chance to be part of something special. we work with young people from the age of two, three to 19. where are they? in bed having a lie in. education is a huge part of our organisation, as well. i in. education is a huge part of our organisation, as well. in. education is a huge part of our organisation, as well. i am grateful to ou, organisation, as well. i am grateful to you. getting organisation, as well. i am grateful to you. getting up organisation, as well. i am grateful to you. getting up so organisation, as well. i am grateful to you, getting up so early - organisation, as well. i am grateful to you, getting up so early this - to you, getting up so early this morning. to you, getting up so early this morninu. . . to you, getting up so early this morninu. ., ., ., to you, getting up so early this mornin.. ., ., ., ., ., ., morning. have a great commonwealth games. morning. have a great commonwealth games-
will break again. the wind picks up in scotland and then the arrival of rain. temperatures tomorrow, 15 in lerwick, 25 in birmingham, 27 in london. and the opening ceremony tonight, it should be dry and mild. saturday, rain crosses us, not much in the south east, if any. showers followed behind. some sunshine in scotland. temperatures on saturday getting up to 27 in the south. thank you. network rail says disruption to trains will continue this morning because of the knock on effect of yesterday s strike action. several operators have warned that services will start later than usual and people are being advised to check before travelling. another walkout of drivers at seven companies is planned for saturday, and the aslef union has announced that its members at nine firms will strike on the 13th august. tomos morgan reports.