Baton will enjoy a ride in Metro

It has travelled in cars, boats, trains, submarines and almost every conceivable mode of transport. When it comes to Delhi, the Queen’s Baton, which symbolises the Commonwealth Games 2010, will be carried around the capital in the Delhi Metro, auto rickshaws and special buses, Sidhartha Roy reports.

It has travelled in cars, boats, trains, submarines and almost every conceivable mode of transport.

HT Image

When it comes to Delhi, the Queen’s Baton, which symbolises the Commonwealth Games 2010, will be carried around the capital in the Delhi Metro, auto rickshaws and special buses.

“It’s a tradition to carry the Queen’s Baton in different modes of transport that are symbolic of the place. In Delhi, the baton will be carried in the Capital’s pride — the Metro,” said a senior official of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (OC).

“It could have been taken on a tonga ride but those are not used in the city anymore.” Lalit Bhanot, the OC Secretary General and spokesperson, said, “There will be a three day Baton’s relay in Delhi and we have planned celebration surrounding the event.”

Nearly a year after its relay across the world begun, the Queen’s baton arrived in India from Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border on June 25, 2010. From there, it has started its Bharat darshan and will reach the host city on September 30 at 11 a.m.

“The batonbearers will comprise eminent personalities from the field of sports, culture and politics,” the OC official said.

“The baton will also be taken to most of the historical monuments and landmarks of the city such as Red Fort, Qutab Minar and India Gate.”

Apart from the Opening and Closing ceremonies, tickets for which are selling like hot cakes, there will be an array of cultural events planned across the city during the Games.

“There will be a bit of everything from music and dance performances to literary fests, film festivals,” said an officer.