Baton to reach Chennai on Aug. 18

The Commonwealth Games (October 3 to 14) in New Delhi is less than six months away and as a prelude to the biggest sporting event that India has ever hosted is the ‘Queen's Baton Relay' that traverses all the 71nations, in the Commonwealth before reaching the venue of the Games.

The specially made Baton, designed by Foley Design and Titan Industries, is in essence an embodiment of the soul and spirit of India. From the soil of India to its waters, not to mention the 18-carat gold leaf which carries the special message of the head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II and special technological inputs, there is everything ingrained in this 1.9 kg object which is being carried around by over 5000 runners through various countries before coming to India via the Wagah border on June 25.

Launched on October 29, 2009, the baton is presently in Vanuatu in the Pacific Islands after completing its journey through Europe, Africa, the Caribbeans, Canada and Australia.

Lt. Gen. Raj Kadyan, Additional Director-General, Queen's Baton Relay, Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, giving a picture of the events ahead to newsmen on Tuesday, said the baton would traverse the length and breadth of the country before returning in time for the inauguration of the Games in New Delhi in October.

The baton will reach Chennai on August 18 before travelling to Thanjavur, Rameshwaram, Madurai and Kanyakumari between August 22 and 26. Then it moves to the Andamans. On its return from the Islands on August 30 the baton will travel to Coimbatore and Udhagamandalam and then to Kerala on September 1.

He said in each State the sports celebrities from there and also other icons as listed by the local authorities would join the relay.

Gen. Kadyan said the baton run was in keeping with the theme of ‘Green Games' and thereby encouraged each State where the baton visits to take steps to plant a minimum of 10,000 saplings. Then again the Baton Relay would prove an ideal forum for each State to present its cultural heritage.

Earlier, Ms. Priya Singh Paul, Additional Director General, Communications, gave an overview of the Games through a power-point presentation and clearly the message was the Indian capital was all geared up to take up this massive venture.

She and Gen. Kadyan had earlier in the day held discussions with the State Chief Secretary, K.S. Sripathi, on the various steps to be taken for Tamil Nadu phase of the Baton Relay. “The State is well prepared” was the assurance given.