XVIII Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia-Queen’s Baton ready to leave for Tanzania after eventful journey here |09 June 2005

The baton will fly to Tanzania, its 22nd destination in the 71-Commonwealth nation relay ahead of the start of the XVIII Commonwealth Games in Melbourne Australia, on March 15, 2006.

Before ending its six-day tour of Seychelles, the baton toured Mahe Wednesday June 8.
The relay on Mahe started at 9.30 a.m. at the Beau Vallon Secondary School. The baton went round the northern coast via Glacis.

As it journeyed through different districts and on its way to the western part of the island, the baton stopped at the Pointe Larue, Anse Royale and Anse Boileau schools.

Schoolchildren made the most of the opportunity to hold the baton and to be photographed with it.

Rain did not spoil the day as the baton was carried under a protective cover and a series of activities, like traditional dance performances, were organised in schools to welcome the baton.

Two of Seychelles’ three medallists at past editions of the Commonwealth Games – boxers Rival Payet (bronze medal in Victoria, Canada, in 1994) and Jerry Legras (silver medal in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1998) – carried the baton Wednesday.

A third Commonwealth Games silver medallist in 1998, boxer Roland Raforme had the privilege of carrying the baton in Victoria on Tuesday afternoon, the same day it returned to Mahe from Praslin.

The ongoing Queen’s Baton Relay, the most inclusive relay ever held before any major Games, will cover more than 180,000 kilometres and will visit all 71 Commonwealth nations.

It is to note that the Queen’s Baton Relay has been the curtain-raiser to every edition of the Commonwealth Games since 1958 in Cardiff, Wales.

The baton arrived here from neighbouring Mauritius Saturday June 4, 284 days before the official opening of the Games in Melbourne on March 15, 2006.

Melbourne will host the Games from March 15 to 26 next year.

G. G.