Countdown for Commonwealth Games begins, Queen Elizabeth II hands over the Baton to President of India
merisarkar news service
New Delhi, October 30, 2009
The formal countdown to next year's Delhi Commonwealth Games began on Thursday with the ceremonial Queen's Baton relay. Queen Elizabeth II handed over the glittering baton to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil in London.
A cultural show as per Indian traditions was organized at the majestic Buckingham Palace before the Queen handed over to the baton to Mrs. Patil to mark the beginning of a year-long relay.
This is the first time in the history of Commonwealth Games that a head of state has gone to receive the Queen's Baton personally.
President handed over the Baton to Sports Minister MS Gill, also present at the occasion which in turn handed it over to Suresh Kalmadi and Abhinav Bindra to take the Baton forward.
