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 The success of the Games was assured with the golden seal of
approval from Bolt, the world's most recognisable athlete, whose
cameo in Jamaica's sprint relay triumph lit up Scotland's biggest
city.
Inevitably, Bolt stole the show, providing one of the images of the
"Friendly Games" as he returned home with a gold medal from his
maiden Commonwealth appearance.
The Games provided few truly jaw-dropping sporting moments, but they
will be remembered for the spirit in which athletes and visitors
from the 71 Commonwealth nations and territories were greeted by
crowds determined to enjoy the party.
"In my view, they are the standout Games in the history of the
movement," Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper
said.
"The way in which the people of Scotland and Glasgow have embraced
the Games right from the get-go has been incredible."
With England's double Olympic champion Mo Farah pulling out, it was
left to the world's fastest man Bolt to provide the glamour and
boost TV ratings but there was no shortage of quality on show, from
the netball courts, to the judo mats, the swimming pool and the
velodrome.
After reportedly making disparaging remarks about the Games,
eight-times world champion Bolt did not disappoint when he finally
arrived at the Hampden Park track to rapturous cheers from a
capacity crowd.
"It's always great to have fun with the fans. They made the Games
what it was. They are so warm, even when I was cold they were always
warm," Bolt, the 100 and 200 metres world record holder, said of his
time in Glasgow.
Having anchored Jamaica to victory in the 4x100 relay to give the
crowd the result they craved, Bolt continued his Scottish charm
offensive by donning a tartan hat and scarf while performing his
'lightning bolt' celebration and posing for selfies with ticket
holders.
"I'm happy for the fans and I'm happy to get my Commonwealth gold
medal. It (the Commonwealth Games) was always on my to-do list,"
Bolt said. "Other than the weather it's been brilliant."
There were few incidents to mar the feast of sporting action but two
failed drugs tests did cast a shadow.
Nigeria's 16-year-old weightlifter Chika Amalaha was stripped of her
gold medal after failing a doping test and Botswana's former 400m
world champion Amantle Montsho also tested positive for a banned
substance.
HEART-WARMING STORIES
But among the 6,500 athletes representing 71 mostly former British
colonies, there were many heart-warming stories.
Kiribati celebrated its first Commonwealth medal after
guitar-strumming David Katoatau won weightlifting gold while
compatriot Taoriba Biniati fought another woman for the first time
as women's boxing made its Games debut.
Cyclist Muhammad I’maadi Abd Aziz, Brunei's only athlete at the
Games, enjoyed his lonely ride and the balti boys, Muzahir Shan and
Mohammed Qureshi, co-owners of a curry house in Glasgow, formed part
of Pakistan's first lawn bowls team.
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At the other end of the scale, Olympic champion Chad le Clos of South
Africa secured the biggest individual medal haul of the Games with seven
podium finishes in the pool, including two golds. For Australia's Sally
Pearson, the Games offered a chance of redemption.
Vilified by Athletics Australia head coach Eric Hollingsworth for her
decision to miss a pre-tournament training camp with her team mates in
Glasgow, Pearson stormed to gold in the women's 100m hurdles to defend
the title she won in Delhi four years ago.
The Australian swimming team dominated, winning 57 of 133 medals on
offer at the Tollcross Swimming Centre, and breaking the only world
record during the Games in the women's 4x100 freestyle relay, beating a
time set by the Netherlands in the now-banned bodysuits in 2009.
The Australian team could not stop England topping the medals table with
58 golds, surpassing their arch-rivals for the first time since 1986
when the Games were last held in Scotland.
Among the gold rush for England was three-times world champion Nick
Matthew, who resorted to 'caveman' tactics to retain his squash title in
an epic final against compatriot James Wilstrop and secure the highest
honour in a sport still excluded from the Olympic programme.
Diver Tom Daley successfully defended his 10m platform title with a
stunning performance, combining power and finesse to add to the silver
he won in the synchronised event.
At the Chris Hoy velodrome, Olympic cycling champion Laura Trott
overcame a kidney infection to win the women's 25km points race, but it
was not all good news for England as 2012 Tour de France winner Bradley
Wiggins had to settle for silver on his return to the track in the team
pursuit.
Cycling ended on the rainy streets of Glasgow on Sunday in the road
race, where Welshman Geraint Thomas overcame a late puncture in
treacherous conditions to claim gold and provide late drama on the last
day of the Games.gl
Australia's Gold Coast will host the Commonwealth Games in 2018. The
south-eastern Queensland city has a lot to live up to.
(Editing by Ed Osmond and Martyn Herman)
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