HOST: Government of Orissa and Orissa Olympic Association.
DESCRIPTION:
* Queen`s Baton for the Delhi Commonwealth Games is scheduled to reach Orissa on August 8.
* Orissa will be the 18th state to receive the Queen’s Baton, which entered India at Wagah border earlier on June 25.
* During its 100-day nation-wide tour, the Baton will pass through the capital of all the 28 states and seven union territories, covering a distance of more than 20,000 kilometers.
* The historic relay would conclude its 240-day journey on October 3 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where Her Majesty’s message will be removed from the baton and read aloud to mark the opening of the XIX Commonwealth Games.
* The Baton’s Orissa journey, accompanied by the QBR convoy, comprising around 85 persons will be accorded a grand reception at Jamsola border of Mayurbhanj district on August 8.
* The relay team would then move through Baripada, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konark before culminating its journey at the state capital on August 10.
* Baton Relay, featuring eminent people of the state will take place at Baripada, Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.
* Evening cultural celebrations will be held on the occasion at Saheed Smruti Bhawan, Baripada and Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar on August 8 and 10.
* Around 268 sportspersons of national and international repute have been shortlisted to carry the Baton during its state-wide relay.
* Each baton-bearer would run around 200 meters, accompanied by 20 others.
* Hockey Olympian Dilip Tirkey, the all-time greatest sportspersons of the state, would be the first to carry the Baton at Jamsola.
* The Queen`s Baton contains Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth-II`s message to the athletes of the Commonwealth Games.
* The message has been symbolically engraved into a miniature 18 carat gold leaf, representative of the ancient Indian `patras`.
* Modern laser technology known as micro calligraphy has been used for the first time to reproduce the Queen`s message.
* Gold was included in the design to symbolise power, strength, perfection and achievement _ a representation of India`s past, present and future.
* Light emitting diodes embedded within the baton will make a transition inthe the colours of a country`s flag, whilst the baton is in that country.
* The batton has the ability to capture images and sound (featured on the Games website).
* The latest global positioning system technology housed within the baton will allow its location to be views on the Games website.
* Messages of congratulations and encouragement can be sent to the baton (feature on the Games website).
* The batons stands 66.4 cm tall and weighs 1.9 kg.