Commonwealth baton to be on display in Andhra Pradesh from August 14

The Queen's Baton of the Commonwealth Games would be on display in Andhra Pradesh for five days from August 14.

The baton would be received by the representatives of Andhra Pradesh Olympic Association at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here on August 14.

It will be handed over to AK Parida, principal secretary (sports), who is the nodal officer for the Queen's Baton Relay in the state.

The baton would be taken in a convoy of vehicles from the airport to the Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy stadium at Yousufguda in the city.

Governor ESL Narasimhan would flag off the relay and hand over it to ace shuttler Saina Nehwal, who will be the first baton bearer in the state, Parida told reporters here today.

From the stadium, the baton would be taken to People's Plaza, on the banks of Hussain Sagar lake, where a colourful programme will be held from evening with chief minister K Rosaiah attending as chief guest.

Hundreds of sportspersons from cities and rural areas would take part in the events, he said. 

All the Padma Sri, Dronacharya, Arjuna award winners and Olympians from the state would be felicitated on the occasion.

The next day, on August 15, the baton would be put on display in the Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy stadium.

The baton would go to the port city of Visakhapatnam on August 16 and from there to Vijayawada on August 17. From Vijayawda, the baton would be taken to the temple city of Tirupati on August 18. The baton would reach Chennai on August 19, Parida said.

Stating that the government is keen on making the whole event colourful and grand, he appealed to sports lovers and general public to participate in the related programmes in large numbers.

The Queen's Baton Relay, similar to the Olympic Torch Relay, is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from
the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen Elizabeth II.

The Relay traditionally begins at Buckingham Palace in London. The Queen entrusts the baton to the first relay runner. At the Opening Ceremony of the Games, the final relay runner hands the baton back to the Queen or her representative.

The Baton carries a special message of Queen Elizabeth
which is read out at the Opening Ceremony of the Games.

For the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Baton started its journey from Buckingham Palace on October 29, 2009.

It is travelling 1,90,000 kms in 340 days, making it the longest relay in the history of the Games, officials said.