Tata Motors bags turnkey deal for 2010 CWG

Organizing Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi has signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tata Motors to provide turnkey transport solutions during the Games and Queens Baton Relay 2010 Delhi. Tata Motors has been signed as official motor transport sponsor for Commonwealth Games Delhi.

The Organizing Committee has ordered a total of 1,789 vehicles from Tata Motors during the Games, which include 1,550 Tata Indigo, 100 Tata Safari, 109 Sumo Grande and 30 trucks required for transportation during the CWG.

As a part of turnkey commitment with the Organizing Committee, Tata Motors will also provide the drivers with CWG branded uniforms, fuel for all vehicles along with backup services and maintenance. In addition, Tata Motors will offer fleet and depot management services, beside 24x7 call center facilities. All vehicles provided by Tata Motors will have Commonwealth Games branding on them.

Tata Motors will also provide vehicles for the ongoing Queen Baton Relay, They will offer 20 Sumo Grande, one Land Rover, three trucks, and two buses for the relay. The fuel, driver and backup services for the vehicles during the Relay will be taken care of by the dealers of Tata Motors in different cities.

"We are delighted to welcome Tata Motors to our sponsor family. We are well on track to host a great Games and the arrival of Tata Motors as an official partner will contribute towards the delivery of the best ever Commonwealth Games," said Organizing Committee CWG 2010 Delhi chairman Suresh Kalmadi, MP.

"We are very happy to be associated with a mega sporting event in the league of Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi. This is a very proud alliance for us and we are sure that the Games will be a huge success." said Nitin Seth, head-car product group, passenger car business unit, Tata Motors.

Queen's baton to arrive in India on 25-June

The 2010 Commonwealth Organising Committee and Thursday announced the India schedule of Queen's Baton Relay. The Commonwealth Games baton will pass through the various states and Union territories in the run-up to the quadrennial event starting from October 3.

The baton will arrive in India on June 25 at 1300 hrs through Wagah Border after finishing its Pakistan tour. The Common Wealth Games (CWG) and proceed to Amritsar via road on the same day in the evening.

Queen's baton reaches Mozambique

The Queen's Baton Relay reached the Maputo Airport to initiate its interactive relationship with the people of the African country of Mozambique. Dr. Maputo Airport , Indian High Commissioner along with Mr. Marcelino Macome, CGA President welcomed the Queen's Baton on its arrival.

Mozambique, located on the southeast coast of Africa, is the world's 35th largest country. Portuguese is the official and most widely spoken language of the nation, however, only 40 percent of the population speaks the language. Mozambique is one of Africa's up-coming hot-spots, with stunning beaches, excellent diving sites and offshore islands that are magical in their beauty.

Mozambique joined the Commonwealth in 1995 as a former Portuguese territory and made its debut in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Games. The country won the Gold and Silver on its debut at Kuala Lumpur in the women's 800m, with the legendary Maria Mutola winning the race. It was a feat she repeated in the 2002 Manchester Games, while the Melbourne Games yielded her a Bronze in the same event. The Queen's Baton started its journey for the Maputo Municipal Council after the reception at the airport. Binta Jambane - participant in 1984 Olympics in Athletics - was among the 10 official batonbearers. It was a 7 km journey that took the Baton through the Lusaka Avenue, Marianne Nguambe Avenue, Karl Marx Avenue and Praça da Independecia. The entire journey took two hours.

At 4.45 PM, the official function at the Municipal Council premises started. The Indian Ambassador and His Excellency Mr. David Simingo the President of the Municipality were among those who were present for the event.

Commonwealth Games Canada gets sponsors for QBR

Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) announced today that two prominent members of the Indo-Canadian business community have pledged support for Canadian athletes competing in the October 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

India tourism and MyBindi.com will sponsor high profile events to celebrate the Queen's Baton Relay (QBR) in April of this year. The QBR is a global event that will see the baton travel more than 190,000 kilometres. The international celebration showcases the cultural spirit of India to the world, traveling 240 days across 70 Commonwealth nations, before ending with an ambitious 100-day tour of India.

Indiatourism is sponsoring relay events in both Toronto and Ottawa, as well as an exciting luncheon in the Nation's Capital. Popular Indo-Canadian website MyBindi.com is also sponsoring one leg of the QBR in Toronto.

"We are so pleased that these two important partners, who have a substantial interest in the host nation, have stepped forward to make the Queen's Baton Relay a truly international event," said George Heller, President of the Commonwealth Games Foundation of Canada. "We have seen increased excitement and engagement from the corporate community in support of Canadian athletes, and we are certain there will be more partnerships to come."

The relay began at Buckingham Palace in London on October 29, 2009. It will move through parts of Toronto on April 14, and be in Ottawa on April 15. Full details of all QBR events will be released at a later date.

"The Queen's Baton Relay will remind Canadians that Incredible India is a fabulous tourist destination," said Ronjon Lahiri, Director of India tourism, Toronto. "The Delhi Commonwealth Games in October 2010 will showcase to the world the great transformation that is taking place in India - visible will be the state of the art technology, and the warmth of the people. We are proud participants in these events."

"We are in a unique position to ignite passion, increase awareness, and generate a lot of buzz around the Commonwealth Games in Delhi this year," said Syerah Virani, Editor-in-Chief and CEO of MyBindi. "MyBindi.com is North America's leading online destination of all things South Asian, and we are looking forward to highlighting and sharing Canada's participation in the Delhi Commonwealth Games with our online community."

Commonwealth Games Baton reaches Swaziland

The Queen's Baton Relay has reached the Kingdom of Swaziland, South Africa.

The Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010 Queen's Baton Relay arrived at the capital city of Swaziland, the Mbabane after a two day stop over at Lesotho.

Mbabane, along with Manzini, the largest and main industrial hub, extended a warm welcome to the first baton-bearer for the day, Mr. Robert Magagula, the President of the Commonwealth Games Association (CGA). Hundreds of people cheered the baton on the streets of Swaziland as they carried the Baton past the landmarks that dot the streets of Manzini and Mbabane.

The Kingdom of Swaziland is a small country to the east of Southern Africa. Bounded to its east by Mozambique, South Africa shares the rest of landlocked Swaziland's borders.

The economy is dominated by the service industry, manufacturing and agriculture. Swaziland joined the Commonwealth in 1968 and made its debut in the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, to boast a record thereafter, of fielding its sporting prowess in each and every edition of the Games.

Swaziland's first medal came at the 1974 Games in Christchurch when Richard Mabuza picked up a bronze for clocking 2 hrs 12 minutes 54.4 seconds in the men's marathon. In the last edition of the Games in Melbourne in 2006, Simanga Shiba took home a boxing Bronze Medal in the men's light flyweight class. The Swaziland National Olympic Committee was established in 1974 and is responsible for their country's participation at the Commonwealth Games.

The relay passed through the Old Trade Fair Gate, the Mahhala Complex, the Coronation Park, the Mananga Training Centre and the Olympafrica Centre in Manzini and Mbabane. Mrs. Vickey Nxumalo, Deputy Mayor of the Old Trade Fair region and Mr. Sibusio Dlamini, Honourable Member of Parliament were among the batonbearers. One of the highlights of the day was the traditional singing and dancing performance - Ummiso and Sibhaca, and a gymnastics display by three teams.

Queen's Baton reaches Ghana

The Queen's Baton 2010 Delhi arrived to a warm welcome in Accra on Tuesday. Commonwealth Games Baton is generating enormous interest in the local media and amongst the people of Ghana. The baton has now completed 18710 kms of international travel and arrived from Gambia.

The High Commissioner of India in Ghana Mrs. Ruchi Ghanashyam and her colleague Mr Rajkumar Thakur as well as officials of the Ghana Commonwealth Games Council received the baton at the Accra Airport where it arrived from Banjul in the Gambia.

Commonwealth Games Federation African region Vice President Mr. Abdoulie M Touray, who travelled with the baton from the Gambia handed it over to Ghana Commonwealth Games Council President Mr. B T Baba at a press conference where the journalists were acquainted with the blend of Indian tradition and modern technology in the Queen's Baton 2010 Delhi.

The baton was received in the British High Commission by Deputy High Commissisoner Mr Matthew Johnson and wished India all success in hosting a wonderful Games next year. Australian High Commissioner Mr. William Williams, who helped organise the Sydney Olympic Games 2000 and the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006 said he loved the design and technological features of the baton.

At the High Commission of India in Ghana, Mrs Ghanashyam was happy to receive the baton again. She assigned her colleague Mr Thakur to be with baton for the duration of its stay in Ghana. The Queen's Baton 2010 Delhi will spend the next two days in Ghana before it heads to Nigeria.

Commonwealth Games' baton scales Rock of Gibraltar

The Queen's Baton 2010 Delhi added the cable car to the different modes of transport on its journey across the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Games baton took a ride to ascend the famous Rock of Gibraltar on Thursday during its visit to the self-governing territory.

The relay started with Gibraltar's school children and athletes taking it on a relay walk. Minister for Sport Mr Edwin Reyes launched the walk at Victoria Stadium. Commonwealth Games Federation Vice President Mr. Ian Emmerson and Mr. Flower were also present.

Mr. Reyes emphasized the significance of the Queen's Baton's presence in Gibraltar. "We are a part of the Commonwealth family and the fact that it is here is hugely important. The fact that the baton relay comes to Gibraltar means she is playing her part as part of this large family," he said.

Mr Flower spoke of the importance of having the baton in Gibraltar. "It goes to all the countries of the Commonwealth, and it means that we are living the Commonwealth which is very important in this day and age. It is also important to make young people aware of the Commonwealth so that they now that we are involved too as members," he said.

Prospective Delhi 2010 athletes from swimming, athletics, shooting, tennis and hockey came together on the relay that was met at Casemates Square by the Gibraltar Re-enactment Society Group. The relay concluded at the House of Assembly where it was met by the Mayor of Gibraltar, Ms. Olga Zammit.

Zammitt spoke on behalf of the citizens of Gibraltar emphasizing that they are proud to be a part of the Commonwealth Games. "I hope all the participants enjoy the Games in the spirit of friendship, peace and harmony," she said. "These are the qualities that we cherish here in Gibraltar and they are prominent among the aims of the vibrant community of nations that make up the Commonwealth."

Commonwealth Baton goes underground :)

The Commonwealth Games Baton on Wednesday had its first experience of going underground when it visited Big Pit, a coal mine that houses the National Coal Museum of Wales in Blaenafon. The Commonwealth Games Baton's visit to the mine, 300 feet below ground, comes in the wake of being carried by a trapeze artist, suspended from a heliosphere in Twickenham last week.

Welsh rugby 7s captain Lee Beech, 10000m runner Simon Lawson, 400m hurdler Matt Elias, all of whom hope to represent Wales in the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi, and Olympic 4x400m relay silver medalist Commonwealth veteran Jamie Baulch were the athletes chosen to carry the baton through some underground tunnels.

School children accompanied the elite athletes during the hour-long relay 300 feet below the ground. The baton travelled through some tunnels that form part of the last remaining deep mine in Wales.

The Commonwealth Games baton relay was started by the Mayor of Torfaen Cllr Bob Jones who has seen the arrival of the Queen's Baton 2010 Delhi as an opportunity for Big Pit and Blaenafon to take center-stage and showcase Wales' unique culture and geographic attributes to the world besides the values of the mining community.

Mine Manager Mr. Peter Walker was delighted Big Pit was a part of the Commonwealth Games Baton Relay 2010. Welsh coalfield communities have a great sporting tradition and it was fitting that the Queen's Baton should be run underground at the museum which is dedicated to telling the stories of these communities, he told the Big Pit's official website.

Later, the Queen's Baton visited the Treganna School here and saw that its students had prepared Indian flags to welcome it and went to the Cardiff High School during the inter school hockey tournament before making a stop at the Cardiff castle where Welsh rugby player Rhys Williams held it.

Air Balloon ride for Queen's Baton at Twickenham

The Queen's Baton got its first experience of air travel when a trapeze artist, suspended from a heliosphere (air balloon) carried it around the packed Twickenham Stadium, venue of the England-Australia rugby international on Saturday. It was the last day of its stay in England during its epic journey.

After the trapeze artist held the baton and made the crowd hold its breath with her daredevilry, it was carried around the stadium by four English Rugby 7s players and received an enthusiastic reception from the 80,000 spectators.

Sgt Paul Davies of the 2nd battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusili held it when the teams lined up for the National Anthems. Earlier, before the crowd came into the stadium, the Australian players showed much curiosity in the baton that is a blend of hand-crafted design and modern technology.

Earlier, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II placed message to the athletes of the Commonwealth in the baton and handed it over to India's President Patil.

The baton has traveled to Manchester, Cannock, Sheffield, Droitwich, Birmingham, London and Newham where the venues for the Olympic Games 2012 are coming up before moving to Twickenham.

The baton is now due to move from England to Wales on its 190,000 km journey around the Commonwealth, spreading the message of the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi, the host city's majestic heritage and India's fascinating potential as a sporting, tourist and investment destination.

Commonwealth Games Federation and Queen praise QBR

Commonwealth Games Federation and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II have congratulated 2010 Delhi CWG Organizing Committee for the successful launch of the Queen's Baton Relay in London.

"It was both a colorful and impressive event and I know that it was enjoyed by all who took part. It was certainly a wonderful way for Her Majesty and India's president Patil to mark the end of the President's State Visit to the United Kingdom," the Queen said.

On Saturday, the Baton will travel to Twickenham, where England and Australia will play a rugby match before 60,000 spectators. The baton will then travel to Wales as part of its 190,000 kilometer journey.

Commonwealth Games baton reaches Manchester city

Athletes and civic dignitaries gathered at the City of Manchester Stadium to take hold of the Queen's baton as it is relayed around the world for next year's Commonwealth Games in India.

The baton will travel more than 100,000 miles and will pass through 70 Commonwealth countries on its journey to Delhi for the games next October.

It was welcomed back to Manchester outside the stadium that hosted the games in 2002 by a host of athletes including Chris Newton from the Great Britain Cycling Team, the 400m runner Andrew Steele and squash player Laura Massaro.

Emerging athlete Shauna Thompson and Manchester's lord mayor Alison Firth also greeted the baton on behalf of the city.

The baton will be carried across the globe for 240 days before being taken on a 100-day, 118,000-mile tour of India. It will be carried to the capital cities of India's 28 states.

When it finally enters the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi, the baton will be one of the longest relays in the games' history.

The Queen's baton relays have been a curtain raiser to every games since Cardiff in 1958.

SIS Live to cover Commonwealth Games

Indian public broadcaster Doordarshan has inked contract with Europe's largest outside broadcast (OB) and uplink supplier, SIS Live (Satellite Information Service) to cover the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi.

SIS Live has got rights for production and coverage facilities and services of the Commonwealth Games. The British company will use High Definition TV (HD TV) for the first time in the history of Commonwealth Games to cover the prestigious games with better image resolution.

Aruna Sharma, Director General of Doordarshan and Prasar Bharati, informed media that they have signed a contract with SIS Live to cover 2010 Commonwealth Games after a 3 month long process.

Mrs. Aruna added that 17 different sporting events will be held across 12 venues in New Delhi, and SIS Live will provide all production facilities and personnel to cover games including grand opening and closing ceremonies and Queen's Baton Relay.

SIS Live will provide 1,000 highly-skilled technical and production staff for coverage of games at 12 venues apart from training 300 DD staff starting soon in New Delhi by foreign technicians.

Queen's Baton begins its epic journey

The relay, which has been the curtain raiser to every Commonwealth Games since 1958, began when the Queen Elizabeth II entrusted the baton containing her message to the President of India.

The baton will appear at various high-profile sporting events and pass through all of the Commonwealth nations before arriving in Delhi in a journey that will cover 190,000 kilometers in 336 days.

Dame Kelly Holmes, Commonwealth Games England President, said: "Excitement is now building towards the Games in Delhi next year and the Queen's Baton Relay is one of the longest standing traditions of the Commonwealth Games.

"The Baton's journey symbolize the unity and shared ideals of the Commonwealth Nations.

The baton, packed with high-tech cameras, sound-recorders and LED lights all made in India, contains a message to the athletes from the queen that will be opened and read out at the launch of the Games in New Delhi Oct 3.

The baton will traverse the length and breadth of the Commonwealth for 240 days before arriving in India, where it will launch into a 100-day national tour, going through all the states and union territories.

After a colorful performance of Indian music and dance on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace Thursday, the baton was passed in turn from the Queen to Patil, to Sports Minister M.S. Gill, Games Organizing Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi, and finally to the 14 athletes who began the baton relay.

Running with the baton outside the Palace in central London were shooter Abhinav Bindra, former British runner Sebastian Coe, former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev, tennis star Sania Mirza, 'Flying Sikh' Milkha Singh, British runner Kelly Holmes, England cricketer Monty Panesar, boxer Vijender Kumar, squash player Misha Soni, wrestler Sushil Kumar, British wheelchair table tennis player Susan Gilroy, weighlifter Karnam Malleshwari, hockey star Dilip Tirkey and decathlete Gurbachan Singh Randhawa.

They were cheered by hundreds of people who lined the gates of Buckingham Palace.

The baton was carried to the Queen Victoria Memorial and The Mall in central London, before making its way to Trafalgar Square.

The baton's journey will take in some of the most remote places in the Commonwealth, including the British-administered territory of St. Helena - accessible only by boat - and the Falkland Islands.

It will enter India from the Attari border with Pakistan June 25 before starting on a journey of 28 States and seven union territories, covering a distance of over 20,000 km.

The relay will end at the opening ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Oct 3, where athletes will be read out the Queen's message, engraved on a miniature 18-carat gold leaf representing the ancient Indian 'patra' - currently locked in a jewelery box inside the baton.

Batonbearers excited ahead of Queen's Baton relay

The air was thick with anticipation as Batonbearers from India and Britain chosen to feature in the launch Queen's Baton Relay 2010 on Thursday gathered at the official hotel of the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi on Wednesday.

Lord Sebastian Coe, a two-time Olympic Games champion and Chairman, London 2012 Organising Committee, enquired about Delhi's preparedness of the Commonwealth Games and embraced former India cricket captain Kapil Dev.

Kapil, who was captain of the Indian cricket team that won the World Cup in 1983, loved the opportunity to interact with champions from other sporting disciplines. "It is wonderful to meet people like Lord Coe as well as our own champions like Abhinav Bindra, Milkha Singh, Vijender Singh and Sushil Kumar," he said.

He said he had no doubt that Delhi 2010 would be a memorable event and that the athletes from the Commonwealth nations and territories would enjoy their visit to compete in the biggest sporting extravaganza in Delhi.

Olympic Games and World championship bronze medalist boxer Vijender Singh was thrilled that he would play a role in the Queen's Relay at Buckingham Palace on his 24th birthday on Thursday. Freestyle wrestler Sushil Kumar, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, and India's first woman medalist at the Olympic Games, Karnam Malleswari, were excited too to be a part of the opening day ceremonies.

Commonwealth Games Federation President Mr. Michael Fennell will take the Baton from the plint and carry it to Her Majesty the Queen. She will place her message to the athletes in a jewellery box in the handcrafted Baton. Her message has been engraved onto a miniature 18-carat gold leaf that is symbolic of the ancient Indian palm leaf patras. The embossing has been made by using modern laser technology. The Baton has been created by Foley design along with Titan Industries and Bharat Electronics.

The Hon'ble President of India will pass on the Baton to the Minister for Sports, Dr. M S Gill who will then turn it over to Mr. Kalmadi, Chairman of the Organising Committee and President of the Indian Olympic Association. Mr. Suresh Kalmadi will then hand over the Baton to the first Batonbearer, Abhinav Bindra.

On October 30, Organising Committee Chairman Mr. Kalmadi will hand over the Baton to the Commonwealth Games Council of England Chairman Sir Andrew Foster in the presence of the Union Sports Minister Dr. MS Gill and the Rt. Hon. Mr. John Bercow, Hon'ble Speaker of the House of Commons and Mr. Tejendra Khanna, Lt. Governor, National Capital Territory of Delhi. The ceremony will be held at the Greens in New Palace Yard, Houses of Parliament.

After journeying for 170,000km over 240 days in different lands that are members of the Commonwealth, the Baton will arrive in India at the Wagah Border with Pakistan with just 100 days left for the start of the Games. It will then travel to all State Capitals, a number of other towns and villages, exhorting all of India to be a part of the celebrations. It will reach the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the Opening Ceremony on October 3, 2010 when the Queen or Her representative will read out the message to the athletes, marking the start of the Games.

Indian Prez in UK for Queen's Baton Relay

Indian President Pratibha Patil arrived in Britain on Monday for a state visit during which she will join Queen Elizabeth II to launch the baton relay for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Patil touched down to a red carpet reception at London's Heathrow airport where she was greeted by dignitaries including the head of the capital's Metropolitan Police, Paul Stephenson.

During her visit, Patil will on Tuesday visit the queen's Windsor Castle residence outside London for a ceremonial welcome and state banquet, then hold talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the president will attend the launch of the Commonwealth Games baton relay at Buckingham Palace in London. The relay will travel through 70 countries and reach the Indian capital when the games open on October 3.

Patil is the first Indian head of state to visit Britain for almost 20 years.

Improving trade links and boosting British investment in India will be high on the agenda for the visit, Indian officials said.

"Apart from the growing trade and economic relations, India and Britain cooperate well in a number of areas including education, research, science and technology," foreign secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters last week.

Patil, the first Indian woman to be elected to the ceremonial role, will leave on Thursday and visit Cyprus before returning home on October 31.

Prince Edward visits Commonwealth Games venues

Earl of Wessex Prince Edward visited the Commonwealth Games venues and the Games Village here on Sunday. He inspected the sites carefully and at the end expressed satisfaction at the infrastructure being developed for the coming international sporting event.

Dressed in a blue t-shirt with the Commonwealth Games Federation logo, Prince Edward showed keen interest in the infrastructure development in Delhi and the level of preparedness of the Organising Committee. He was particularly keen on knowing details about the Queen’s Baton Relay that will be launched by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace on October 29.

Prince Edward visited the headquarters of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games 2010. Later he also inspected Thyagaraj Stadium, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium and the Games Village.

At the Games Village, the prince was shown a miniature model of the 34-tower facility. He also saw a model of the apartments before visiting tower no. 9 of the Games Village in a golf cart. He then took a round of two fully-furnished apartments and spent about 10 minutes inside the apartments looking at the facilities for athletes and left after signing the guest book.

At the Thyagaraj Stadium, the prince asked specifically about an entrance that has been created for vehicles to enter the field of play area and was happy that it was designed to allow ambulances to have easy access to injured athletes. He spent a long time at the National Stadium, where the hockey competition will be held.

Commonwealth Games England's new BRAND identity

The England team for the 2010 Commonwealth Games has called in Threepipe Sport to launch its new brand identity. Commonwealth Games England has also asked Threepipe to raise awareness of the sponsorship opportunities around Team England, as they prepare for Delhi 2010.

Threepipe will help to raise consumer awareness of the new Team England brand positioning and logo, which was recently redesigned by Corporate Edge and was due to be officially unveiled this week.

The agency will attempt to use social and digital media to engage sports fans and young people directly.

In seeking to raise awareness of the new range of commercial sponsorship opportunities around Team England, Threepipe Sport will offer brands a chance to be -associated with a national sporting property in the build up to Delhi 2010, the last major multi-sport event to take place before London 2012.

In the early part of the activity, Threepipe Sport will help to raise awareness and excitement around the Queen’s Baton Relay, the traditional forerunner to each Commonwealth Games.

Monty Panesar to participate in Queen's Baton Relay

England left-arm spinner Monty Panesar's Indian roots have earned him the honour of being a part of the October 29 Queen's Baton Relay to launch next year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Panesar's former agent Vic Sethi, who is a member of the UK launch arm of the organising committee, said the left-armer was chosen to add an Indian flavour to the much-awaited ceremony at the Buckingham Palace.

"We thought that someone from the UK was needed because the Queen, the head of the Commonwealth is British; we needed a link to India. I think Monty was perfect because he is one of the first British Sikh sports stars to wear the turban and the full beard," Sethi was quoted as saying by the local media.

The baton will be carried from the palace on an international journey before finally touching down Delhi next year.

Queen's Baton Relay on 29-Oct

The Queen’s Baton Relay, a traditional event that has launched every Commonwealth Game since 1958, will be held next October 29 at Buckingham Palace in London.

Apart from the visiting Indian President, other dignitaries expected to attend the ceremony include Prince Philip, Commonwealth Games Federation President Michael Fennell and the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Delhi Games, Suresh Kalmadi. Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra will be the first athlete to run with the baton, a high-tech stick that will contain a digital camera, a GPS and a Queen’s message to athletes engraved on a gold leaf.

The baton will be carried to the Queen Victoria Memorial and The Mall in central London, followed by a colorful parade of performers, before making its way to Trafalgar Square, where a grand finale will showcase Indian culture.

The baton will then traverse the length and breadth of the Commonwealth for 240 days, visiting all of the other 70 nations and territories, before entering India for a 100-day national tour.

By the end of this epic journey, it will have traveled for 340 days and covered more than 190,000 km, passing through the hands of thousands of individuals across land, air, sea and on many different modes of transport – from bicycle and boat to hot air balloon, steam train and even an elephant.

The journey will include some of the most remote places in the Commonwealth such as St. Helena – accessible only by boat – and the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.

The baton will enter India from the Attari border with Pakistan June 25 before starting on a journey of 28 States and seven Indian Union Territories, covering a distance of over 20,000 km.

The relay will end at the opening ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium October 3, where athletes will be read out the Queen’s message, engraved on a miniature 18-carat gold leaf representing the ancient Indian ‘patra’.

Queen's Baton Relay: CWG tradition

The Queen's Baton Relay, similar to the Olympic Torch Relay, is held around the world prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games.

The Queen's Baton Relay was introduced at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff. The relay begins at Buckingham Palace in London as a part of the city's Commonwealth Day festivities.

The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen entrusts the baton to the first relay runner. This year, the relay will start on 29-Oct.

At the Opening Ceremony of the Games, the final relay runner hands the baton back to the Queen or her representative, who reads the message aloud to officially open the Games.

The Relay for the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was the first to travel to other nations of the Commonwealth. Till then, the relay only went through England and the host nation. The 2002 Relay covered over 100,000 kilometers and went through 23 nations. The Baton Relay for 2006 Melbourne Olympics was most inclusive of all covering around 180,000 kilometers covering all 71 nations.