Top Canadian Athletes to Rally Around Queen's Baton Relay

QBR Baton

OTTAWA and TORONTO, April 7, 2010 – On the heels of the wildly successful 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays, Canada will once again play host to a major international Games relay - The Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi Queen's Baton Relay (QBR) on April 14th and 15th.

The much-anticipated relay began on October 29th, 2009 at London’s Buckingham Palace, and will arrive in Canada next week as a part of a 190,000 kilometre tour of the 71 nations and territories that make up the Commonwealth of Nations. The international portion of the QBR is a joint initiative of the Organising Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi in partnership with the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Canada. The Commonwealth Games will be the world’s largest multi-sport competition this year.

“The arrival of the Queen’s Baton is a major milestone and signals that the Commonwealth Games are just around the corner,” noted Martha Deacon, Chef de Mission for the Games in Delhi, India, from October 3rd to 14th, 2010. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Canadians to support our top summer athletes who are now preparing to deliver outstanding, medal-winning performances in Delhi!”

Ms. Deacon added that the baton plays another important role, in that it carries Her Majesty’s ‘message to the athletes’ from Buckingham Palace to the Games’ Opening Ceremony.

Athletes participating in QBR activities include:

  • Benoit Huot, Swimming – 3-time Commonwealth Games medalist and 8-time Paralympic Champion
  • Shahier Razik, Squash – Pan Am Champion and Canada’s #1 ranked player
  • Chelsea Gotell, Swimming – 2-time Paralympic Champion (2008)
  • Ohenewa Akuffo, Wrestling – World Championship bronze medalist (2010 Commonwealth Games to include first-ever women’s wrestling event)

Highlights of the Queen’s Baton Relay in Canada are listed below.

Wednesday, April 14th - TORONTO

9:00a.m. - TSX market open
130 King St. W.

3 p.m. - QBR Relay
Metro Hall Square
55 John St

Thursday, April 15th - OTTAWA

10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - QBR Relay
Parliament Hill

12 p.m. – Parliamentary Luncheon
Co-hosted by the Speakers of the House of Commons and the Senate, and India Tourism Toronto

Complete details on all public QBR events will be made available next week.

For further information about the Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi, visit:
www.cwgdelhi2010.org.

 

 

About Commonwealth Games Canada

Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the international franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. The mission of Commonwealth Games Canada is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth, by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool.

For more information, or to set up interviews, contact:

Derek Johnston
Commonwealth Games Canada Communications
(613) 837-3377
derek@face-value.ca