This is a great idea. Why has no one thought of this before?

The Commonwealth Games, designed for the United Kingdom and its various and sundry former colonies — aside from the Yanks, for forcibly removed themselves from the Empire nearly 250 years ago — will begin in Glasgow, Scotland, with a bang.

To wit:

Five 30-story buildings that have “shaped the city’s skyline for five decades” will be imploded during the opening ceremonies.

As Reuters describes it: “Five of the six remaining Red Road blocks of flats will be brought down simultaneously in the space of 15 seconds during the opening ceremony at Celtic Park on 23 July.

“Their demise, the likes of which has never been seen at a sporting event, is the biggest demolition of its kind in Europe and it will be shown live on a 100-metre screen at the stadium and to a TV audience.”

Shona Robison, minister for the Glasgow Games, said: “This spectacular start to the games within the opening ceremony will send a strong signal about the power of the Commonwealth Games.

“For many people, these games are more than sport, they are a chance for regeneration, renewal and having better places to live and work.”

Well, yeah. And they’re also about some really big explosions!

And getting rid of some eyesores.

According to Reuters, the residential blocks “were built in the 1960s and were once the highest flats in Europe” but are now being turned into opening ceremonies sideshow as they are “demolished as part of a Glasgow Housing Association regeneration project.”

I predict that bit of the Glasgow’s Games will be seen … even in America.