Queen’s Baton to Reach Karnataka on Sept.1

The Queen's Baton for the Commonwealth Games, which journeyed through 70 Commonwealth countries and several states and union territories of India, will enter Karnataka from Tamil Nadu at 12.30 p.m. on September 1, 2010.  It will be welcomed by the President of the Karnataka Olympic Association K.Govindaraj and MPs   at Chikkanahalli ( of Chamarajanagar District) - a border village in Karnataka.

Disclosing this at a press conference, the Minister for Textiles, Youth Services and Sports Gulihatti D. Shekar said: “The relay after passing through Bandipur, Gundlupet, Nanjangud will reach Mysore at 3 pm. on Sept 1.  A special cultural programme, depicting the cultural heritage of Mysore, will be held at Mysore Palace at 7 p.m.”

“The baton will enter Bangalore from Mysore on Sept. 2 at 3 p.m and it will be received by the Chief Minister Shri B.S.Yeddyurappa at the Kanteerava Stadium   at 4 p.m. World Badminton Champion Prakash Padukone, the champion sprinter of yesteryears, Kenneth Powell, a host of Arjun and Dhronacharya Awardees, Ministers, BBMP  Mayor, leading personalities, cine stars, and school children  will carry the baton through several parts of the city. A commemorative postal stamp will be released to mark the occasion. A cultural programme will be held at Sri Kanteerava Indoor Stadium at 6.30 p.m., the Minister said.

“After leaving Bangalore on Sept 4, the relay will reach Hassan on the same day, Mangalore on Sept 5, Karwar on Sept 6 before reaching Goa Border on Sept 7”, he added.

“To make the baton relay a success, the Government of Karnataka has taken the help of Karnataka Olympic Association, Karnataka State Athletics Association and other Sports Associations”, the Minister said.
It may be recalled that the baton for the 2010 Games was launched by Queen Elizabeth II from Buckingham Palace in London on Oct 29 last year in the presence of President Pratibha Patil. 

Baton Relay route in Bangalore
The Queen’s baton rally will start from Kanteerava Stadium at 4 p.m. on Sept.2 and pass through Kasturaba Road, Cubbon Park, Ambedkar Veedhi, K.R.Circle, Nrupathunga Road, Hudson Circle, J.C. Road, Mission Road, Subbaiah Circle, Lal Bagh Main Road, Lalbagh Main Gate, Glass House, K.H. Road, Richmond Circle, Rajarammohan Roy Road before culminating  at Sri Kanteerava Stadium.

Baton Features
The baton is created using a triangular section of aluminium which has been twisted in the form of a helix and then coated with a diverse range of coloured soils collected from all corners of India. Culminating at the pinnacle of the Queen’s Baton 2010 Delhi is a precious jewellery box containing the Queen’s message to the athletes. It has a GPS system which will allow its location to be viewed on the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi website. 
Led light emitting diodes embedded within the baton will transition into the colours of a coutnry’s flag, whilst the baton is in that country.
Messages of congratulations and encouragement can also be sent to the baton. Selected messages will be available for viewing on the Commonwealth Games 2010 website. To send SMS to the baton, type baton <space> (text message with your name and city) to 53030.