Baton Bound for India

Discover our diverse Commonwealth in images, videos and stories of the Queen’s Baton Relay. Find them at brand.gc2018.com – Queen’s Baton Relay, International Sector.

From the Himalayan peaks to the Indian Ocean coastline, and a history reaching back five millennia, the Queen’s Baton is today entering India, the largest Commonwealth country by population.

Bustling with 1.26 billion people, the Queen’s Baton will spend six days touring the Commonwealth Games powerhouse country.

With a sporting past as rich as its culture and vast terrain, the 2010 hosts are looking to build on their fifth place finish at Glasgow 2014.

During the Baton’s visit, it will attend a workshop to discuss women’s participation in sport in India, whilst also visiting iconic landmarks including the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Taj Mahal and the Qutub Minar.

The Baton is now a continent closer to the Gold Coast, having arrived into Pakistan on Friday to mark the start of the Asia region.

After India, it will travel to Bangladesh, a country of 156 million people, before making its way to Sri Lanka and Malaysia. Of the Commonwealth’s 2.3 billion people, 94% live in Asia and Africa combined.

In Australia, successful batonbearers will be announced nationwide on 18 October.

Web: gc2018.com/qbr

QBR Hashtag: #QBR2018

GC2018 Hashtag: #GC2018, #SHARETHEDREAM

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Sarah Owens – sarah.owens@goldoc.com / +61 481 916 084

Public Relations Officer, Queen’s Baton Relay

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC)

BACKGROUND

The Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) continues to connect the Gold Coast with the entire Commonwealth.

Already the Baton has been passed between thousands of people across Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas and Europe, building excitement for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018).

The GC2018 Relay is the longest and most accessible in history, travelling through the entire Commonwealth for 388 days and 230,000 kilometres.

The Baton engages with all Commonwealth nations and territories of Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania for 288 days before it arrives in Australia for a further 100 days.

The Baton arrives into Brisbane on Christmas Eve and 3,800 batonbearers will carry it through every state and territory in Australia.

The Relay started on Commonwealth Day, Monday 13 March 2017, at Buckingham Palace when Her Majesty placed Her message inside of the Baton.

The distinctive design of the GC2018 Queen’s Baton captures the boundless energy of the Gold Coast. In form and inspiration, the Baton is a symbol of our past, present and future.

The Queen’s Baton arrives on the Gold Coast for the XXI Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony on 4 April 2018, where the Prince of Wales will remove Her Majesty’s message from the Baton and read it aloud to declare the Games open.

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