Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines and the Official Airline Partner of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay, fired the starting pistol on the first leg of the Baton’s journey round the world, beginning its international journey in Glasgow.
Travelling in style, the Queen’s Baton will be transported by Emirates, visiting a selection of the Commonwealth’s nations and territories ahead of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, 23rd July to 3rd August.
Following its public launch at Buckingham Palace yesterday, attended by Scotland’s greatest Commonwealth and Olympic athletes Sir Chris Hoy MBE, eleven-time world champion and six-time Olympic champion and Allan Wells MBE, winner of two Commonwealth Gold medals and an Olympic title at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, the Baton has been successfully checked-in for its flight with Emirates and is on its first journey to Delhi, India.
“As a result of our official partnership with the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Emirates is playing an integral role in uniting the Commonwealth countries, its two billion citizens and many cultures across the globe. Through our association with this landmark occasion, we hope to bring fans closer to the action and the sports that they love world-wide,” speaking of the Queen’s Baton Relay, Laurie Berryman, Vice President Emirates UK, said.
“Emirates became a partner of the Glasgow 2014Commonwealth Games underlining our continued commitment to Scotland, where over the past eight years, we have played a key role in supporting international connections from Glasgow International Airport, carrying over 1.7 million passengers and over 46 million kilos of cargo to and from the Middle East and beyond.
“We are delighted to have set this inaugural event off and look forward to taking the Baton on its journey across our extensive network, including 22 Commonwealth countries.”
The Queen’s Baton Relay is a unique tradition of the Games that famously unites the citizens of the Commonwealth in a celebration of sport, diversity and peace.
Flags from the 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth were carried by children chosen by UNICEF UK, the world’s leading children’s organisation and international charity partner of the Games at the event at Buckingham Palace yesterday..
The titanium, wood and granite Baton, specially-designed for Glasgow symbolises Scotland’s culture, history and innovation by combining leading-edge technology with traditional skills and craft. The Queen will place her message within it after which it become the Baton’s visual core, illuminated but unreadable until the opening ceremony.