Commonwealth Games: Queens Baton Relay reaches Orissa

The Queens Baton Relay (QBR), one of the greatest traditions of the Commonwealth Games, reaches the Orissa at Jamsola Gate on Sunday and scheduled to depart from here on August 11 .
The Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) arrived at Baripada via Jamsola where it was received by the state Sports Minister Prabin Bhanjadeo, President of Orissa Olympics Association Sameer Dey and veteran hockey player Dilip Tirkey amid much fanfare today.

A large number of public, dignitaries and sports lovers were seen desperately waiting to have a glimpse of the QBR which entered Baripada at around 1 pm.

Odisha is the 18th State which receive the baton after its 44th day in the host country, which was launched by Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace in London on October 29 in 2009, will travel 20,000 km in India for 100 days covering 400 cities and towns.

QBR enter the State at Jamsola Border at 12 o'clock. The Odisha Olympic Association has arranged a grand welcome and it will make a night stay at Baripada. It will start its journey to Cuttack on Monday morning; on the route it will touch Balasore at 8.15 am, Bhadrak 11.15 am and Jajpur 1.15 pm. OOA president and Cuttack District Athletic Association secretary and many more eminent people will receive the Baton at Chhatia 3.15 pm.

The OOA has arranged a grand welcome function at Barabati Stadium in the afternoon and the Barton to reach Kalinga Stadium in the evening and the night halt will be here on Monday. Before the departure on August 11, it will reach Puri and Konark at 9.45 am and 12.15 am respectively on Tuesday.

Over the years, the Queens Baton Relay has evolved into a powerful symbol of the unity and diversity of the Commonwealth nations. The Queen's Baton will travel through all the Commonwealth countries until it lands in India where it will spend 100 days touring the 28 States. It will then be taken to its final destination, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi for the opening ceremony of the XIX Commonwealth Games.