This impressive figure comes after Scottish cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy and actor James McAvoy sent out a heartfelt appeal to spectators, fans and athletes alike during the Ceremony in Celtic Park.

The duo called for everyone to get out their phones and text "FIRST" to 70333 to donate £5 ($8.50/€6.30) to UNICEF and help change the lives of children throughout the Commonwealth nations.

Initial figures show that more than 500,000 people across the UK messaged UNICEF in the hour or so after the pair made the appeal, with figures from other territories and online still being counted.

"With this money we will be able to achieve our joint ambition with Glasgow 2014 to reach every child in Scotland and children in every single Commonwealth country to give them a brighter future," said UNICEF UK executive director David Bull.

"We will do this in a whole range of ways; by helping ensure children have the best start in life and grow up in an environment where their rights are respected; protecting children from disease and exploitation; providing life-saving food and vaccines to help children grow up healthy and safe, and by giving children the chance to take part in sport – many for the first time.

"Thank you to everyone who held their hands and heads high tonight and voted to 'Put Children First'.

"The children and young people across the Commonwealth were absolutely the heart and soul of tonight's electrifying event, and iconic images of Jennica delivering the Baton into the stadium for its final journey to HRH The Queen, alongside UNICEF Ambassador Sir Chris Hoy, will live in our collective memories forever."

In a incredible Opening Ceremony which saw children and young people celebrated as the "heart and soul" of these Games, it was another Scottish actor, Ewan McGregor, who first hinted at the unique idea put forward by UNICEF and Glasgow 2014 to give spectators the opportunity to text their support for this cause.

Speaking during the opening countdown, McGegor said: "Right now thousands of world-class athletes are here in Glasgow.

"And over the next eleven days they'll be doing their best to come first.

"But tonight, they're asking all of us watching to take a moment to think about the children in our Commonwealth who usually come last.

"Last to get clean water.

"Last to get vaccinated.

"Last to get an education.

"Last to just get a fair chance in life.

"So they've teamed up with UNICEF – people dedicated to putting children first.

"And now we'd like to team up with you.

"Because the 'big idea' is that, for a single moment during our show, one billion of us come together to do something extra-ordinary – to make a positive difference to thousands of young lives."

More than 500,000 people text in to UNICEF during the Glasgow 2014 Opening Ceremony including many of those inside the Celtic Park Stadium ©ITG


McGregor's words were reiterated by McAvoy and Sir Chris in their appeal later on in the show, where they called to the audience, athletes and those at home to text the number and give just a little to make a huge difference to those children across the Commonwealth who really need it.

The latest figure raised tonight will be added to the £1.2 million ($2.04 million/€1.52 million) already raised for the ground breaking partnership between UNICE, Glasgow 2014 and the Commonwealth Games Federation before the Opening Ceremony, with these latest boost hoped to transform the lives of millions.

"From the moment that Ewan McGregor broke onto our screens during the countdown and told us about the big idea, the children who are often last in today's world were put first," said Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg.

"I am immensely proud that, working with UNICEF, the CGF and the creative team at Jack Morton, we have changed the landscape for sporting legacies.

"We all know sport has a tremendous power to unite, and tonight, here in Glasgow, we united people across the Commonwealth in the world's first ever global fundraiser for children."

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