Commonwealth Games: Pool wins help get Glasgow in the swim

Hannah Miley got the pool programme off to a rollicking start in the 400m individual medley. Photo / Getty

Two days in and Glasgow is looking good, in a range of ways. For a start, the host city for the 20th Commonwealth Games has a pleasing vibrancy to its heart.

The opening ceremony - and you can't get away from some of the more tedious elements under which every Games start labours - had plenty of colour and life about it.

Glasgow has a slogan for the Games - "People Make Glasgow". You see it everywhere, and if it sounds a touch corny that doesn't make it wrong. The Friendly Games is invariably trotted out too. Tick that box too.

There have been some transport teething issues, but it should be said the helpful and friendly attitude has been welcome. The Army staff manning the security desks are in on it. "All right, mate?" is a common greeting.

The sun belted out of a cloudless sky on each of the first two days. The risk of sunburn hadn't been among the first thoughts when looking ahead to Glasgow a couple of weeks back.

As for the athletes, the Games are all about - in the words of New Zealand weightlifter Stas Chalaev - "unleashing the beast".

That is, firing up for game day.

Few things can match success for the home nation as a positive indicator of a Games. It puts the nation in the right mood and certainly adds to the vibe around the city.

On that score, the Scots can't be faulted. The first day of competition produced 10 medals for the hosts, four of them gold.

At the end of that day they sat third on the medal table, behind England and Australia.

The first two Scottish golds were won by judo sisters Kim and Louise Renicks, in quick order.

Champion swimmer Hannah Miley got the pool programme off to a rollicking start in the 400m individual medley, with a Games record performance. Flower of Scotland fair rattled off the rafters.

But what Scotland didn't get was gold from the local hero. In the 200m breaststroke final, Michael Jamieson was beaten into second by another Scot, Ross Murdoch.

Still, if you can't have the right Scot winning, at least make it another one. And in any case, a gold-silver double will do nicely.

The time for ifs, buts and maybes is over. The Games are under way, and they've got off to a decent start.