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Queen Starts Commonwealth Baton Relay

© Stuart Buchanan MacWatt

Buckingham Palace, 11 March.
Buckingham Palace forecourt was the unlikely starting line and The Queen the unlikely Starter of what is billed as the longest baton relay in sporting history. The countdown to The Queen's opening of the Commonwealth Games on 26 July at the spanking new Manchester stadium began at 12 noon on Commonwealth Day. Dressed in a strikingly rich fuchsia pink outfit which set off the Royal pearls to perfection, The Queen sent the first runners on their way down the Mall with a Royal baton that will travel 64,000 miles through 23 Commonwealth countries before it arrives back on Blighty's shores on 6 June for a month's tour of Britain.

This baton is the modern equivalent of a Royal summons delivered to the far off castle gate by a medieval monarch to his Barons to mount their horses and make all speed to attend the annual jousting tournament at Greenwich Palace. It contains Her Majesty's invitation to athletes to compete in the XVII Commonwealth Games, a sporting celebration of unity that will also celebrate Her Golden Jubilee as Sovereign Head of State in many of the participating countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica.

She handed the baton to the first relay runner, Sir Roger Bannister, first man to run a 4 minute Mile. The baton was then passed to Sebastian Coe and Steve Cram who set off with it eastward down the Mall on route for Canada, (which is actually in the opposite direction,) to a rousing send off of fireworks bursting over the Royal Standard flying from the Palace roof. Their participation provided a fitting start to what looks set to be a successful Games. After the start The Queen and Her Consort the Duke of Edinburgh went to Westminster Abbey to attend a multi-faith Commonwealth Day Observance service.

Five months before the opening ceremony, two thirds of tickets for the Commonwealth Games are already sold for what will be the largest multi- sport event ever staged in Britain. The Games provide a central focus in the Golden Jubilee Year celebrations and are part of the Spirit of Friendship Festival, itself The biggest arts, culture and sport festival ever staged in the UK. Along with other major British cities Manchester is to host a feast of artistic and cultural events during this year which will do much to cement its growing reputation as a cultural rival to London. Mancunians have much to boast about in their thriving and exciting city. Together with a revitalized Liverpool and Leeds it stands as one of the thrilling cities of the North.