As Glasgow 2014 comes to an end tomorrow at Hampden Park ,the ceremonial Commonwealth Games flag will be passed to Gold Coast City Mayor Tom Tate. As the event has developed into a television spectacular over the last 30 years or so, the usual practice has been for the next hosts to offer a glimpse of  what they have to offer.

When Sydney took the flag in Atlanta at the 1996 Olympics, however,,they were criticised for a performance in which  the image which lingered in the memory was of kangaroos on bicycles. The Gold Coast would not reveal any details of their handover segment  although Mayor Tate insisted "we have moved on from Kangaroos".

The Gold Coast party piece  has been devised by David Atkins, one of the creative brains behind the Sydney 2000 ceremonies.

After the problems experienced with opening the Queen's Baton at the opening ceremony, the Gold Coast team were taking no chances and headed to Hampden to take part in rehearsals following an early morning press conference.

Queensland Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey will deliver a speech. "It will be one of the most nervous speeches of my life it is such a deep honour," she said.

Kangaroos on bicycles at the Closing Ceremony of Atlanta 1996 was a memorable part of the Sydney 2000 handover ©Wikipedia

Mayor Tate then receives the ceremonial flag. This will be kept in the Municipal buildings on the Gold Coast for the next four years until the Games are due to open on April 4, 2018.

"I was joking  with the Lord Provost of Glasgow, it is going to be hard to let go," said Tate. "I am going to have to tug hard to take it off her.When I touch the flag it will inspire our city."

Since its introduction, the handover segment has been a golden opportunity for the next host city to introduce itself. In Delhi, a lone piper played the opening chords of the popular bagpipe tune "The Black Bear". He was not alone for long as a "Highland  Charge."of some 350 youngsters raced into the stadium.

Some lifted the piper above their heads as the rest of the company performed Highland dances to traditional airs "Scotland the Brave" and "Auld Lang Syne". A maze of tartan appeared  on the floor of the arena and then as a grand finale  a representation of the "Armadillo" - officially the Clyde Auditorium - suddenly took shape in the Nehru Stadium. All that was missing was the waters of the River Clyde.


Glasgow's handover for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi featured a bagpiper and the Armadillo ©Glasgow 2014

There was no shortage of water the last time an Australian city performed at a handover for a Commonwealth Games. As the rains fell in  Manchester 2002, the Premier of Victoria Steve Bracks promised " another golden year " as he received the flag from Roy Walter, Lord Mayor of Manchester.

Singing star Vanessa Amorosi was revealed on stage behind a huge parcel bearing the legend "From Manchester to Melbourne". Dressed in bright red dress, she  received a soaking as she performed her hit "Shine" front of The Queen. Kylie Minogue will be hoping to stay dry when she sings at tomorrow's Ceremony. Although she is Australian she is not part of the Gold Coast segment. 

Her Majesty the Queen declared the Games closed for the first time at Edinburgh in 1970, the first occasion they were held in Scotland. Since then she has performed the closing on six other occasions, more than any other individual. She had been  also been scheduled to do so in 1958 but illness had prevented her from attending the Games in Cardiff. 

Her son, Prince Edward, VIce-Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation, will close Glasgow 2014 with a traditional wish. "May they continue to display friendship and concord, so the spirit of our family of nations  may be carried on with enthusiasm, courage and honour for the good of humanity and peace of the world."

Philip Barker has worked as a television journalist for 25 years. He began his career with Trans World Sport, then as a reporter for Skysports News and the ITV breakfast programme. A regular Olympic pundit on BBC Radio, Sky News and Talksport, he is associate editor of the Journal of Olympic History, has lectured at the National Olympic Academy and contributed extensively to Team GB publications. To follow him on Twitter click here.