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Queen’s Baton to Arrive in 14 Days

Bridgetown, Barbados – In just 14 days, the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton will arrive from Guyana, the 42nd of its 71 Commonwealth destinations. Barbados will provide an integral link when it welcomes the baton as it travels on one of the most engaging relays in the world. Today the Baton is currently travelling through St. Helena (an island in the South African Ocean).

The Queen’s Baton Relay is the traditional curtain raiser to the Commonwealth Games and has been an inclusion in the Games program since the Cardiff 1958 Commonwealth Games in Wales. The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay began at Buckingham Palace on October 9, 2013, when Her Majesty the Queen handed the Baton to Alan Wells, a Scottish sprinter who won gold in the men's 100m at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, the first of many thousands of baton bearers to carry the baton around the Commonwealth.

Mr. Steve Stoute, President of the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) said, “he is delighted Barbados has been granted the honour of hosting the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay, bringing with it the opportunity to highlight and promote Barbados via the accompanying media attention.”

Erskine Simmons, General Secretary of the BOA said, “Planning is already well underway to celebrate the arrival of the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay in our community. We look forward to seeing many locals join in the festivities and turn out to cheer on the relay’s baton bearers.” Along with a relay involving past and present athletes, the baton will be visiting local schools, sports facilities, visiting the Governor General’s residence and iconic Landmarks while on the Island. A special welcome ceremony is also planned to officially mark the arrival of the baton in Barbados. Details of the exact route the baton will travel through and information about celebration activities will be released later.

As part of its epic journey, the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay will traverse the length and breadth of the Commonwealth visiting all 70 nations of the Commonwealth covering 190,000 kilometres in 288 days. The baton will travel throughout Asia, Oceania, Africa, Americas (south), the Caribbean, Americas (north) and Europe. The baton will then complete the final part of the journey in Scotland where the baton will spend a total 40 days.

The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay will conclude during the Opening Ceremony of the XX Commonwealth Games July 23, 2014. During the ceremony, the final baton bearer will hand the baton back to Her Majesty, or Her representative. The message is then removed and read aloud, officially opening the Games.

For Further information about Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay visit: www.glagow2014.com/baton-relay