The Malta Olympic Committee, which is also the Malta Commonwealth Games Association, has announced that once again the Queen’s Baton Relay will be arriving in Malta between 10 and 12 April.

The Queen’s Baton Relay is the traditional curtain-raiser to the Commonwealth Games.

The XVIII (eighteenth) Commonwealth Games will open in Melbourne, Australia on 15 March 2006 – that is a year from now – and the Queen’s Baton has started its journey around all the Commonwealth countries. Its arrival in a year’s time in Melbourne is expected to be one of the highlights of the Commonwealth Games 2006 Opening Ceremony.

With more than 4,500 competitors expected from 71 nations, the ‘Friendly Games’ will be the biggest multi-sport event ever held in Melbourne .

The baton, which contains Her Majesty’s message to the athletes, is on its way and already, the Malta Olympic Committee has set up an Organising Committee chaired by the MOC Secretary General Mr Joseph Cassar and assisted by Dr Lucienne Attard and Mrs Valerie Farrugia who are working on the programme and itinerary that the Baton will follow during its visit in Malta.

The Malta Olympic Committee is thankful for the local support it is receiving, and in particular the great collaboration from H.E. Mr Richard Palk, Australian High Commissioner as well as from the Australian Government and Tourism Australia, whose financial sponsorship has made the international element of the relay possible.