BLOEMFONTEIN: Legendary Archbishop Desmond Tutu became another of the many thousands of pairs of hands to hold the Queen's Baton 2010 Delhi after it reached Bloemfontein in South Africa. Revered by Indians and in the same league as Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s participation in the Relay has made it a momentous day for the Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi.
Bloemfontein, or the fountain of flowers, is the capital city of Free State Province of South Africa. It’s also one of the nation’s three capitals – the judicial capital. The city hosted the famous Bloemfontein Conference, the last ditch effort to avert a war between Britain and the South African Republic in 1899. The conference failed and the two nations went to war the same year. Today, it’s a city of sports lovers, and is scheduled to host the FIFA 2010 South Africa matches. The Queen’s Baton travelled to Bloemfontein by air from Cape Town. Mr Dan-Kgothule, Minister of Sports and Executive Mayor with the representatives of ministries of sports and culture received the baton at the airport. After the staging of cultural performances, the baton was handed over to executive mayor for the relay in Bloemfontein.
Thereafter the relay commenced towards Seisa Ramaboudu Stadium, where it stayed for 2 hours to witness a cultural show and the concluding speeches from various dignitaries. Later in the afternoon the baton was felicitated by the South African hockey team and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Reverend Desmond Tutu, availed himself for a photo opportunity with the coveted in the Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi.
At Bloemfontein the relay witnessed the enthusiastic participation of about 300 Batonbearers and an enthusiastic response from hundreds of citizens.
The baton will leave for Johannesburg in the morning at 0400 hrs.
