The 2014 Commonwealth Queen’s Baton Relay takes off
Tanzania will have the honour of receiving the Commonwealth Baton on 18th January 2014.
Queen's Baton Relay
The twentieth Commonwealth Games are due to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in the United Kingdom from 23 July-3 August 2014 the link to Glasgow 2014. The Games will see seventeen sports played over eleven days featuring up to 4,500 top international athletes from throughout the Commonwealth.
One of the greatest traditions of the Commonwealth Games is the Queen’s Baton Relay which began its190,000 km journey around the Commonwealth from Buckingham Palace in London on 9 October 2013. The baton itself is a powerful symbol of the unity and diversity of the 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth, home to one third of the world’s population.
The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which will be read out on completion of the baton’s epic journey around the globe at the opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2014 games on 23 July 2014. The baton has a built in camera that will record the journey, including through Tanzania.
As an active member of the Commonwealth, Tanzania will have the honour of receiving the Commonwealth Baton on 18th January 2014. This will be the fifth time Tanzania has received the baton. The baton will be in Tanzania for 2 days, helping to sensitize, unite and raise the morale of the citizens, athletes and especially the young people on what the Commonwealth Games are all about.
In addition to HE President Kikwete receiving the baton, Tanzanian Filbert Bayi, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tanzanian Olympic Committee and holder of the Commonwealth 1500 metre record for the past 40 years, will also be on hand to witness the baton’s proud journey through Tanzania.
Further background on the Commonwealth Games can be found at [Glasgow 2014] (www.glasgow2014.com) and Commonwealth Games Federation . The international journey of the Commonwealth Baton can be followed at QBR Route.