CRICKLADE’S Laura Halford may not have the chance to savour tonight’s Opening Ceremony but the rhythmic gymnast is still enjoying soaking up the atmosphere at the Commonwealth Games.

The Welsh teenager is currently staying in the Athletes’ Village in Glasgow ahead of the Games getting underway tonight but, given she begins competition on Thursday, she will not be attending the Opening Ceremony at Celtic Park.

Instead, Halford will be watching the festivities on television in her temporary home but the Esprit gymnast is still making the most of her time at the Games, where her club teammate Stephani Sherlock also competes for England.

“We’re in the village and it’s really nice, really big and a very friendly place to be,” Halford told the Advertiser.

“We’re in a house and there’s a lot of Welsh houses around us and it’s a nice place to be at the moment because everyone’s getting excited.

“I’ve seen Steph (Sherlock) around the village too which has been nice.

“This has all come around really quickly and it’s pretty scary to think that in a couple of days we’ll be competing, but it’s exciting too.

“We’ve been to the arena and it’s so big. It’s really exciting to know I’m going to be competing in there.

“Because our competition is the next day we don’t actually get to go to the ceremony because we need to rest, which is a bit of a shame, but there’s plenty of televisions around.

“My competition is more important and I do get to go to the Closing Ceremony so that should be good.”

Halford and Sherlock begin with the team event on Thursday before the all-around title is on the line on Friday, with the individual disciplines on Saturday.

DEVIZES JUDOKA TOM REED AND CHIPPENHAM MIDDLE-DISTANCE ACE DAVID BISHOP LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR COMMONWEALTH GAMES EXPERIENCE IN TOMORROW'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF ALL THE WILTSHIRE COMPETITORS AT GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK/SPORT DURING THE COURSE OF THE GAMES