Baton’s 100-day sojourn: OC wants to make it memorable

With the Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton set to enter the host nation in June, a meeting of the nodal officers from all the states and Union Territories was held on Thursday at the Organising Committee (OC) headquarters. The Relay will enter the country through the Wagah Border on June 25 after finishing its journey across Pakistan.

“During its 100-day programme, the Baton will pass through all the states and UTs before arriving in Delhi on Sept. 30, two days before the start of the Games,” OC chairman Suresh Kalmadi said.

The meeting was held to ensure that all the creases are ironed out when the Baton passes through the states. Kalmadi said that all stakeholders— state administrative officers, state sporting associations, local defence forces, police and the OC — must coordinate to ensure smooth running .

International athletes have to be in the foreground of the Relay and should be the Baton bearers in cities, said Kalmadi. “All international sportspersons must be sent invitations to receive the Baton.”

Sports secretary, Sindhushree Khullar, called upon the nodal officers to ensure that their states used the Relay as a platform to convey a larger message: “Sport is for all and the Relay will test the reach of the directorates of sport and the state Olympic associations,” she said.

To ensure adequate security cover, four teams have been set up for reconnaissance of the domestic sector covering all states, starting February 8.