In London today, the official launch of the Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi took place within the historic Forecourt at Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II heralded the start of the relay, by placing her ‘message to the athletes’ into the wonderful and uniquely Indian styled baton which then set off on its journey around the globe.

The Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi will traverse the length and breadth of Commonwealth for 240 days visiting all of the other 70 nations, before embarking upon a 100 day national tour of India. The relay will conclude in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the XIX Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi on 3October 2010. During the ceremony, the final Batonbearer will hand the baton back to Her Majesty, or her representative who will retrieve the message and read it aloud, officially opening the Games.

Mike Fennell, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation said “In the wake of recent global events, the relay extends an important message of hope and community to the broader Commonwealth family.”

Mr Suresh Kalmadi Chairman of the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi said, “The inclusion of every Commonwealth nation in the relay route provides Commonwealth Games Associations in each region with an exciting opportunity to participate and generate excitement for the Games at a local level.”

The Queen’s Baton 2010 Delhi will be arriving in Scotland for the eighth leg of its marathon journey. It will be in Glasgow on Sunday 29 November for a series of events and celebrations and on Monday 30 November it will be in Renfrewshire, Falkirk and Edinburgh.

Attending the event at Buckingham Palace and looking forward to the Baton’s arrival north of the Border, Commonwealth Games Scotland Chairman, Michael Cavanagh said: “Our preparations for Team Scotland participating in Delhi 2010 are well on track and the start of the Queens Baton relay brings it all a step closer still. We look forward to welcoming the Baton to Scotland where we have an exciting range of celebrations planned including a gathering of the Thistle Club with our member athletes and officials past and present.”