Field Hockey Canada 2002 COMMONWEALTH GAMES Manchester, England July 25 - August 4, 2002

Queen's Baton Relay

The Queen's Baton is to the Commonwealth Games what the Torch is to the Olympic Games: it is carried from Buckingham Palace, across the Commonwealth world and to the Opening Ceremony of the Games, symbolising the calling of the athletes to the Games. It contains a message from the Queen to be read during the Opening ceremony.

The Baton departed Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day (11 March 2002) and will travel approximately 64,000 miles across the Commonwealth, visiting 23 countries over 87 days including: Canada, Jamaica, Barbados, Dominica, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, India and Malta.

During these 87 days the Baton will:

• Travel to 5 continents (Africa, The Americas, Europe, Oceania and Asia );
• Travel on 69 aeroplanes;
• Visit the smallest country per square mile in The Commonwealth (Malta) and the largest (Canada);
• Visit countries with a total population of more than 1.39 billion - approximately one fifth of the global population.

As the first country to host a Commonwealth Games (Hamilton, 1930), Canada has been honoured to be the first country to welcome The Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay (March 12 to 17).

The Baton is constructed of machined aluminum with sensors inside detecting and monitoring the Runner's pulse rate, which causes The Baton to pulse with light. The hearts of the Runner and the Baton beat as one until it is passed on, symbolizing the journey of humanity and the essence of life.

March 13 - Ottawa
	Synchronised swimmer Fanny Letourneau passes the Baton to British High Commissioner Sir Andrew Burns, with field hockey player Ian Bird in the background
Sprinter Donovan Bailey hands the Baton to Canadian Deputy Prime Minister John Manley on Parliament Hill
	Yan Huckendubler

---

For more information: fhc@fieldhockey.ca

---

FHC Menu                                             2002 Games Menu