LONDON, October 29, 2009: A delightful India aroma wafted across the Buckingham Palace this morning as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II launched the Queen’s Baton Relay 2010, 339 days before the start of the XIX Commonwealth Games in Delhi, by placing her message to the athletes in an exquisite jewellery box in a handcrafted Baton.
A brief but delightful Indian cultural pageant preceded the formal ceremony in the packed forecourt of the Palace before Commonwealth Games Federation President Mr Michael Fennell carried the Baton to the Queen so that she could place her message in the Baton. The Queen then handed over the Baton to Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil.
The President then passed on the Baton to Sports Minister Dr. M.S. Gill who gave it to Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi, MP, who in turn handed it to the first Batonbearer, Abhinav Bindra. The Olympic air rifle champion then set off on a walk to the Palace Gates where he was met by Lord Sebastian Coe.
Bindra and Coe ran three laps of the Queen Victoria Memorial as the Baton changed hands and involved the likes of Kapil Dev, Sania Mirza, Dame Kelly Holmes, Vijender Kumar, Sushil Kumar, Milkha Singh, Misha Grewal Soni, Monty Panesar, Sue Gilroy, Karnam Malleswrari, Dilip Tirkey and Gurbachan Singh Randhawa.
The last two then drove off in a Delhi2010 branded London Taxi to signal the start of an amazing journey that will see the Baton travel 190,000 km before it reaches the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi during the Opening Ceremony of the Games on October 3, 2010. It will have visited all 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth.
Some reactions from Batonbearers:
Abhinav Bindra: A great privilege and an honour to be the first Batonbearer. It was exciting to be here and to be with so many champions.
Lord Coe: It was a great honour and a great privilege to be involved in a Baton Relay that will touch the lives of a third of the Global population and something that is so important for India as well.
Milkha Singh: I was happy and felt honoured to be a part today. I feel that the Baton will carry the love of all of India and the message of peace across the Commonwealth.
Gurbachan Singh Randhawa: It is an honour and is one of the most memorable days for me after the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Sania Mirza: It is a privilege to be one of the few chosen to be a part of the launch of the Queen’s Baton Relay. I hope to compete in my first Commonwealth Games next year and the excitement kicks in.
Vijender Singh: It was a great honour and I was excited to be in the Palace on my birthday.
K Malleswari: I was thrilled that I was a part of the Relay and I am proud that we on course to hosting a good Games the next year.
Misha Grewal Soni: It has been an amazing opportunity and I think we have done well to showcase our rich culture and great tradition.
The performance by Tarang was superb
The first performance in the cultural ceremony was excellent. Tarang played some beautiful compositions and the young performers were excellent. Congratulations!
Show was really spectacular
Show was really spectacular in London, especially when kids were chanting Rig-Veda mantras on that dynamic arena. I know CWG will create new image of India in mindset of whole world. We all are excited for that moment. - Sandeep Pathak, New Delhi
Queen’s Baton Relay 2010
I am proud to be present in London to witness the start of Queen’s Baton Relay 2010. I wish XIX Commonwealth Games in Delhi will start a new era in Indian sports horizon.