The journey to Glasgow 2014 goes global on Commonwealth Day (Monday March 11) with the unveiling of the international route taken by the Queen’s Baton Relay – the unique multi-national relay which ends at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

The announcement will be the centrepiece of a fantastic 48 hours of milestones and celebrations building excitement and momentum in the journey towards Glasgow and Scotland’s Games.

Just last week Games organisers were thrilled by the record-breaking 50,811 people who put themselves forward to be Games volunteers.

Now, over a two-day period Glasgow 2014 will be joined by thousands of school pupils across Scotland and people in many of the 71 nations and territories across the Commonwealth in marking both 500 Days To Go until the Opening Ceremony (Sunday March 10) and Commonwealth Day (Monday, March 11) – the start of the annual celebrations of Commonwealth connections and opportunities.

500 Days to Go until the Games will be marked with a specially-created film which goes live on the Glasgow 2014 website at the weekend and which tracks a day in the life of Glasgow from sunrise to sunset.

And thousands of pupils the length of breadth of the country will Sport Their Trainers at school on Monday to mark Commonwealth Day as part of Glasgow 2014’s continued drive to get younger audiences to feel motivated and involved in the Games.

Now in its third year, the Sport Your Trainers 2013 campaign emphasis has been on pupils and teachers who will be donning their trainers in the classroom.

Clyde, the official Glasgow 2014 Mascot, will be on hand at several schools across Scotland to promote the Sport Your Trainers message.

Pupils at participating schools have the opportunity to secure special limited edition Sport Your Trainers laces for their shoes to further generate excitement on the day across all 32 local authorities within Scotland.

And the centrepiece of the two-day celebration and the highlight of Commonwealth Day is the launch of the international route of the Queen’s Baton Relay.

The Relay is a unique tradition that unites the two billion citizens of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace. It’s the world’s most inclusive relay where communities from every corner of the Commonwealth are invited to be part of creating their own chapter of Games history.

The baton, which will be specially created for Glasgow 2014, will begin its journey on 9 October at Buckingham Palace where Her Majesty the Queen will place Her message to the athletes inside. From here the baton will travel to Glasgow and from there on to its first stop on its international journey in Delhi – the Host City of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Lord Smith of Kelvin, Chairman of Glasgow 2014, said:

“It is fitting that we have chosen Commonwealth Day to announce the international route of the Queen’s Baton Relay as it is such a well-loved tradition of the Games. The announcement will be the highlight in this fantastic 48 hours for the Commonwealth and the Games harnessing the pace, momentum and excitement that is building an exciting picture of the Games and the opportunities they will bring to individuals and communities across Glasgow, Scotland and the Commonwealth.”

Michael Cavanagh, Chairman Commonwealth Games Scotland

“Commonwealth Day is a real milestone for Commonwealth Games Associations around the world, as excitement grows towards their competing in Glasgow next year. Events like Sport your Trainers are a way people in each country can get behind their team. For many athletes, the arrival of the Queens Baton relay in their country will be a real highlight, enabling the public and supporters in their country to share and be part the Games experience before the Games come to Glasgow in 2014.”