Commonwealth baton to arrive in Bihar on 13

The Commonwealth baton will enter Bihar on 13th July from Uttarpradesh.The Queen’s Baton Relay for the 2010 Commonwealth Games will enter Uttar Pradesh Thursday and reach Lucknow the next day, an official said.

The baton relay will enter the state’s Bareilly district from Uttarakhand Thursday and reach Itaunja town on the outskirts of Lucknow at 4.15 p.m Friday.

‘The relay will be given a warm welcome at Itaunja, where the baton would be received by Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association (UPOA) members and other dignitaries,’ Lucknow District Magistrate Anil Sagar told reporters here Wednesday evening at a press-conference.

‘A number of cultural events will be organised in the state capital to welcome the Queen’s baton. Several photo sessions will take place at historic places in Lucknow to mark the arrival of the baton. Later, on the same day it will head for City Montessori School (CMS) Kanpur road, where the main function will be held,’ he added.

On the morning of July 10, the customary Queen’s Baton Relay run would be organised in Lucknow. The baton will later touch around 19 districts of the state.

‘The baton relay will arrive July 13 in Bihar and re-enter Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi district July 19,’ said UPOA general secretary Anandeshwar Pandey.

The baton travelled nearly 170,000 km through nearly 70 Commonwealth countries before arriving in host India for the Games scheduled Oct 3-14 in New Delhi.