Delhi Commonwealth Games head to visit Australia

The chairman of the Organising Committee for the New Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, Suresh Kalmadi, will be in Australia next week, in a visit that will coincide with the arrival of the Queen's baton relay, the Australian Commonwealth Games Association said on Monday.

Kalmadi will travel to Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast, where he will attend a number of the organised functions and activities associated with the baton's arrival, the ACGA said.

The Queen's baton, on its 190,000-kilometre (120,000-mile) journey around the world, will make its first stop in Sydney on April 19, before travelling to Melbourne, the host of the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the following day.

On April 21, the baton will go to Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the Queensland city which recently submitted its official bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

A series of events and activities featuring dignitaries, athletes, school children and members of the Indian community will be held during the time the baton is in Australia, the ACGA said.

"Suresh has a big task and it is an honour that he has taken time out to join us for the Australian leg of the Queen's Baton Relay," AGCA chief executive Perry Crosswhite said.

The New Delhi Games, from October 3-14, will comprise 19 sports, making it the largest Commonwealth Games to date.

The ACGA said it anticipated sending its largest-ever team to compete in an overseas Commonwealth Games, with more than 425 athletes and 175 officials expected to be selected.