Birmingham Sparkles as Commonwealth Games Open to Strains of Duran Duran

General view during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, Britain, July 28, 2022. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

British pop giants Duran Duran headlined a glitzy Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Birmingham on Thursday as more than 5,000 athletes braced for battle.

Competitors from 72 nations and territories, many of which are former British colonies, will be vying for medals in 19 sports over a jam-packed 11 days in the English Midlands, AFP said.