India on Queen’s Baton Relay 2010

XIX Commonwealth Games

The Queen’s Baton Relay is one of the most celebrated traditions of the Commonwealth Games. It has served as the ceremonial curtain-raiser for every Games since its introduction at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff. The relay symbolizes the coming together of nations across the Commonwealth for a four-yearly festival of sport, culture, and unity.

Over time, the Queen’s Baton Relay has grown into a powerful representation of the unity and diversity of the Commonwealth of Nations. With each edition, the relay expands in scale and participation. The relay for the 2010 Commonwealth Games was planned to be the longest and most technologically advanced Baton Relay ever undertaken.

Design of the Delhi 2010 Queen’s Baton

The Delhi 2010 Queen’s Baton was designed by Michael Foley, a graduate of the National Institute of Design. The baton features a triangular aluminium section twisted into a helix shape, symbolizing dynamism and progress.

For the first time in the history of the relay, the baton was coated with coloured soils collected from across India, reflecting the nation’s cultural diversity.

A jewel-encrusted box housed The Queen’s message, which was laser-engraved onto a miniature 18-carat gold leaf, inspired by ancient Indian patras.

Specifications of the Queen’s Baton

• Height: 664 millimetres
• Width: 34 mm at the base and 86 mm at the top
• Weight: 1900 grams
• Ergonomically contoured for ease of use

Technological Innovations

The Delhi 2010 Queen’s Baton incorporated several cutting-edge technological features, including:

• Ability to capture images and sound
• Built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) to track its location
• Embedded LED lights that changed to the colours of each country’s flag
• Text messaging capability, allowing people to send messages of encouragement to Baton bearers during the relay

These features made it the most technologically advanced baton in Commonwealth Games history at the time.

Launch and Journey

The Queen’s Baton was officially launched on 29 October 2009 at Buckingham Palace, where Elizabeth II handed it to Pratibha Patil, the then President of India.

Abhinav Bindra, India’s Olympic gold medal-winning air rifle champion, began the Baton’s journey with a ceremonial relay around the Queen Victoria Memorial.

The Baton subsequently travelled across all Commonwealth nations before arriving in India on 25 June 2010, where it toured the country for 100 days leading up to the Games.

Commemorative Postage Stamp – XIX Commonwealth Games

To mark this historic global relay, a commemorative postage stamp was issued in celebration of the XIX Commonwealth Games – Queen’s Baton Relay. This stamp commemorate the worldwide journey of the Baton and its role in uniting nations ahead of the Commonwealth Games.