HM the Queen launched the Glasgow 2014 Queens Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace today at a simple but hugely well-attended ceremony which attracted crowds of supporter as well as some of Scotland’s greatest athletes, young people from across the Commonwealth and senior representatives from across the Commonwealth.
Sir Chris Hoy six- time Gold Olympian, double Commonwealth champion and UNICEF UK ambassador was the Baton’s special escort as it made the processional journey to the ceremony accompanied by the Pipes and Drums of 1st Battalion Scots Guards and the Royal Scots Borderers.
Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, The Queen placed Her message inside a baton specially crafted in Scotland
HRH Prince Imran, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation and Lord Smith, Chairman of the Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee took part in the ceremony.
Allan Wells, winner of two Commonwealth Gold medals and the 100m Olympic title at the 1980 Olympic Games, was the first athlete to receive the baton, joined by honorary batonbearer Monica Dzonzi, an inspirational youth leader from Malawi.
They were then supported by further batonbearers:
Caitlin McLatchey, Olympic and Commonwealth swimmer
Daniel Purvis; Team Scotland gymnast
Cara Kennedy, Scottish gymnast;
Morgan McKinnon Scottish athlete;
Ruairi Kirkwood, Scottish swimmer ;
Izzy Conway, Glasgow 2014 Clyde-sider;
Aamir Meymood, Glasgow 2014 Tartan designer
Gregor Edmunds, former Scotland’s Strongest Man ;
Julie McElroy, advocate for Para-Sport at Glasgow 2014;
Beth Gilmour, Glasgow 2014 Mascot designer.
Seventy young people chosen by UNICEF UK, the international charity partner of the Games, carried flags from the 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth. Over 248 days and 190,000km the baton will visit all the nations and territories of the Commonwealth and be the first baton ever to visit Rwanda.
Contacts: Kate McCheyne at Glasgow 2014 can be contacted on: +O30 2014 0176 I and Peter Murphy of the Commonwealth Games Federation can be found on +44 (0)207 491 8801 or p.murphy@thecgf.com
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