Queen's Baton 2010 Delhi begins its journey Down Under

The Queen's Baton 2010 Delhi begun its journey Down Under from Parramatta (the first Australian city to host the Queen’s Baton) making its way through the main business district to Parramatta Town Hall with the first Batonbearer Kristy Pond, wheelchair athlete and Parramatta sports person of the year. Five Batonbearers relayed the baton to Parramatta Town Hall very excitedly.

Later in the morning, the baton entered Parramatta Town Hall for the official reception and cultural display. Parramatta Lord Mayor Mr. Paul Garrard, Ms. Tanya Gaddiel, Member for Parramatta and the Indian High Commissioner Ms. Sugatha Singh welcomed the baton with traditional aboriginal smoking ceremony followed by speeches and a number of cultural performances.

The baton then passed to 2006 Commonwealth Games road cycling champion, Natalie Bates, who carried the baton to Parramatta Wharf and took the baton onto the RiverCat ferry with cheering from the crowd. The ferry dropped off the team at Homebush ferry wharf and the baton then went on Marine Rescue Vessel to Sydney Opera House. Along the way the baton had lots of pictorials including with the Sydney Harbour Bridge where the Commonwealth Games Flag was flying atop throughout the day.

Later the baton arrived Man-o-War wharf where students of Gladesville Public School were lined up to greet the baton, after which the baton was handed to one of the students who took it to the steps of the Sydney Opera House and passed it to Matt Shirvington, Commonwealth Games sprinter. Matt Shirvington took the baton on the stage for the official welcome by MC James Bracey from SkyNews who spoke about the baton and its features and addressed all the dignitaries from Australia and India followed by some speeches and music & dance performances.

In the afternoon, eight Batonbearers conveyed the baton across the Opera House forecourt and south along East Circular Quay. This concluded the relay’s Parramatta and Sydney.

In the evening, the baton attended CBCI reception hosted by the New South Wales (NSW) Consulate General of India and the Australian Indian Business Council. This was a well attended reception by leaders from Australian-Indian business community, Games Organisers, Australian companies doing business in India and dignitaries from the Indian, Australian and NSW governments.